When hiring technical writers, recruiters often look for individuals who have specialized knowledge about their field, but not necessarily in the same sense as developers and programmers. According to the specialists in temp agencies, it helps to know what you are looking for when recruiting new writers for your organization. Here are a few tips about hiring the right candidate for the technical writer position.
Preparing a Job Description for Technical Writer
Before you start calling writers for interviews, decide whether you want to hire a freelance technical writer or employ them on a regular contract basis. Also, come up with a detailed job description for the position. This way, you can be assured about hiring the right individual. Listed below are a few details that you could mention:
- Specific responsibilities and goals
- Resources and qualification for the job
- General duties
- Knowledge of the software tools required to complete the work
- Estimated deadline
- Whether or not they have to work within a team
- Payment details
Things to Look for When Hiring a Technical Writer
- Overall Experience
It often helps to hire a technical writer with more than 3-4 years of experience in the field. This can help you save time and money on training them and assure you about their knowledge and expertise. - Knowledge About the Industry and Subject Matter
If you want to hire a temporary writer, it helps to look for an individual who understands your business and terminology to get the results you desire. - Writing Ability
Excellent writing skills are a priority. Ask for their recent writing samples to get an idea about their quality of writing. Ask them about their role in the assignment and the process they follow to develop a piece of content. You could also ask them to prepare a short writing assignment on any given topic to ensure that they have the skills that you are looking for in a technical writer. - Personality Fit
Depending on the length of your assignment, you may consider the personality fit of the individual by conducting at least one interview with the persons involved with the project. This can help you decide whether they are the right fit for your organization. - Rate and Payment Information
Consider how effectively an individual will be able to work for you within the given deadlines. It does not always help to hire a technical writer with a lower hourly rate. Consider their skills, experience, and quality of work when deciding how much to pay them. - On-Site or Off-Site
Be open to hiring technical writers who want to work off the site unless you want them to be on-site. This way, you will have a larger pool of candidates to choose from. It will also help you to reduce the costs involved in setting them up with a separate workspace. - Availability and Time Requirements
Decide whether you want the technical writer to work full-time, 30-40 hours a week, or varied hours. In addition to this, determine the length of the project and choose the candidates accordingly. This will make your hiring process hassle-free. - References
It is essential to check the references of potential candidates to know them better. Ask them if they did a good job for their organization and whether they would hire the individual again.
Let Us Help You Find the Right Fit for Your Organization
Winters Technical Staffing is a leading temp agency in Toronto with over 40 years of experience in helping organizations looking for employees to find the perfect fit. We have the resources and expertise to help you hire the right candidate that meets your requirements.
For more information about our staffing agency in Toronto and our recruitment services, call us at 647-556-2408 or fill out our online form.
