Hi Jayne,

Sometimes I actually write what I mean.  The parallel in both scenarios is
that job applicants are responsible for their mode of presentation - whether
the submission of appropriate writing samples or appropriate dress for an
interview.

No, we cannot expect job applicants to be psychic.  However, we can expect
taht applicants will understand the nautre of the job for which they are
applying.  If one submits an applicants for an exhibition development job that
stresses writing skills, one might submit:

     * an exhibition proposal
     * some label copy
     * wall signage
     * a brochure/pamphlet

If one submits an applicants for a education/multimedia job at, say an art
museum, one might send:

     * an academic paper
     * a less formal paper (a published review of an art book)
     * print outs of web pages
     * a brochure/pamphlet
     * a visitor survey

(I'm not being creative here, as this was what I did for my current post.)

While it's good to have employees who follow rules, it's probaly more a propos
in the museum field to seek employees who can learn the style of the
instutition, then improvise within limits.

As I wrote in my first message, most museums are very small . . . so one
person (e.g.: Director, Chief Curator) cannot provide step by step
instructions for every assignment . . . including the most important
assignment of all: "How to apply for a job."

Best wishes, sincerely,

Jay Heuman
Assistant Curator of Education
Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art
Utah State University (in Logan)
www.artmuseum.usu.edu
t 435-797-0165


>Jay,
>Are you actually saying an applicant who gives a scholarly writing sample
>when no specific form of writing was indicated is "similar" to the above
>[JIH - moved below]?
>We can't expect applicants to be psychic. I would think one of the first
>requirements or tests would be the ability to take direction. Giving them a
>specific assignment or asking for a designated writing sample is surely the
>best way to test their performance, no?
>Janey
>
>
>Jay wrote:
>> Similarly, an applicant who shows up for an interview late, wearing torn
>> jeans, a wrinkled tie-dye T-shirt, with offensive odors (pot, booze, body
>> odor, and/or "other") is unlikely to get hired....

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