Writing Provided the Credentials Necessary to Get the Job

My first employer out of college had built the facilities I'd designed and no longer needed a manufacturing plant planner, so I jumped into the first job that came along. Unfortunately, it was production planning, where as my degree was in engineering. It was essentially picking out parts per engineering specifications and buying and testing and arranging pick up of parts. I was capable and competent at it. However, my training and interests were in process improvement.

As an outlet, I began writing process improvement concept articles for the industry magazines. This was not a critique of my own company, just written as a how to do things right in the area. The articles ranged from electrical subcontracting or assembly outsourcing or writing software manuals per job category instead of "dumb user, engineering guru, system admin" levels. That many of the articles originated as projects my own supervisor shot down wasn't relevant.

Along came an interview with an engineering supervisor I had acted as a liaison with. However, the exact position wasn't exactly a match with my experience, only my training and skills. However, I described in details many improvements I could see could be made in his department (process improvement gears a turning). "Are you sure you're qualified to do that?" he asked.

"Do you have access to the Internet?"

"Yes, why?"

"If you can get to the Institute of Industrial Engineering website, you will see that I've written for them, and several other magazines, on the very subject I've been discussing with you here."

The website listed several articles on process improvement on the product area I was interviewing with. "If they think I'm qualified to write about process improvement in this area, surely you can give me a chance to prove my skills with your group."

My technical publications gave me the credentials to get the job. It also established a verifiable reputation for the time I was working, where a plain resume would not have. And I did get the job.