INTERMEDIATE LEVEL

How do you collaborate with product and development teams to gather information for documentation?

Sample answer to the question

In my previous role as a Technical Writer, I collaborated closely with product and development teams to gather information for documentation. I would attend regular meetings with the teams to understand the details of the project scope and product technologies. I would also work directly with the technical staff to ensure accurate product descriptions. When gathering information, I would ask thoughtful questions to get a deeper understanding of the product and its features. I would also review and revise technical documents for consistency and compliance with standards. Overall, my collaboration with the teams helped me to create clear and concise documentation that met the company's standards.

A more solid answer

In my previous role as a Technical Writer, I collaborated extensively with the product and development teams to gather information for documentation. I would actively participate in team meetings and design discussions to understand the project scope and product technologies. I would also engage in one-on-one discussions with the technical staff to ensure accurate product descriptions. To gather information, I would ask probing questions and conduct research on the product and its features. I would use documentation and publishing tools such as Markdown and Adobe FrameMaker to organize and present the information effectively. Additionally, I would review and revise technical documents for consistency and compliance with standards, ensuring clarity and ease of understanding for the end users.

Why this is a more solid answer:

The solid answer provides more specific details about the candidate's collaboration process and the tools they use. It also highlights their ability to ask probing questions, conduct research, and review documents for clarity and compliance with standards. However, it could still provide more examples of how the candidate has successfully collaborated with the teams and gathered information in the past.

An exceptional answer

In my previous role as a Technical Writer, my collaboration with product and development teams for gathering information was highly comprehensive and effective. I would proactively engage in regular meetings with the teams, offering my insights and suggestions to ensure the documentation accurately reflected the product and its features. I would participate actively in design discussions, providing valuable input on how to convey technical concepts in a user-friendly manner. When gathering information, I would not only ask thoughtful questions but also conduct thorough research. I would review product specifications, consult with subject matter experts, and even test the product myself to gain firsthand knowledge. I would use a variety of documentation and publishing tools, including Markdown, Adobe FrameMaker, and MadCap Flare, to organize and present the information in a clear and visually appealing manner. Furthermore, I would collaborate with translators to produce multilingual versions of the documents, ensuring that our global customers had access to accurate and user-friendly content. Overall, my collaboration and information-gathering strategies have proven to be highly successful in creating documentation that meets both internal and external requirements.

Why this is an exceptional answer:

The exceptional answer provides a comprehensive and detailed account of the candidate's collaboration process and information-gathering techniques. It demonstrates their proactive approach to participating in meetings and design discussions, as well as their use of research and consultation with subject matter experts. The answer also highlights their proficiency in using various documentation and publishing tools and their ability to produce multilingual versions of documents. It provides strong evidence of the candidate's success in creating documentation that meets both internal and external requirements.

How to prepare for this question

Familiarize yourself with documentation and publishing tools such as Markdown, Adobe FrameMaker, and MadCap Flare. Highlight your experience and proficiency in using these tools during the interview.
Practice asking thoughtful and probing questions to gain a deeper understanding of the product and its features. This will showcase your ability to gather accurate and comprehensive information for documentation.
Research and stay updated on industry best practices for technical writing. Be prepared to discuss how you incorporate these practices into your documentation process.
Share examples from your past experience where your collaboration with product and development teams resulted in successful documentation. Be prepared to provide specific details and outcomes of those projects.

What interviewers are evaluating

Collaboration with product and development teams
Gathering information for documentation