Know-How Exchange : Copywriting

Do they have any certifications like CSI (construction specifiers institute)? I've helped manufacturers prepare docs for their A/D binders and that is the first place I go. You can see their material on www.csinet.org.

If you like their writing and don't have this credential, make a condition they complete certification for an org like this in 6 months (plus/minus). In the nonprofit I helped start in this industry (Co Chapter US Green Building Council), we were fortunate to hire as an exec director a woman with a law and engineering degree- -she wrote very precisely.

I just spoke with a firm I may be consulting with. Our evaluation is based not just on clarity, but they must write with authority. No statements can be candid or spoken lightly, but at least referenced by an ASTM doc or something similar. You don't want creativity as much as clarity and precision in this litigatious society. Websites can be creative, but white papers etc must be writen with extreme credibility. You want your reader (most with advanced degrees) to learn something. And for that you need not only the credentials but how to write to this audience.

Provide the writer with something you already have (or an article) and ask if they can provide a summary or rewrite of it - just 100 words. This will test their accuracy and understanding and their linguistic competence as limited word summaries are one of the hardest writing challenges.

Saul

Give them a paid assignment as a trial with a real deadline. There's nothing like the real thing.

I agree with Jay. Nothing like the real thing. Another possibility would be to give them an assignment based on a current project (or a completed project) with either one of your company's architects as the interviewee or someone whom will agree to be interviewed, then judge their writing compentency based partially on that.

Good luck.

I would hesitate to ask for them to write at the interview. Writers have different styles as far as creativity. But giving them paid assignments and then selecting the best one for hiring makes great sense.

Let them spend some time at it. This will also show you their willingness and ability to research and that thought process.

Generally we look at their past work through their portfolio. Also check previous companies mentioned in their CVs. Then if becomes a good candidate we give a trial period of two (2) months which we find enough to detect writing capabilities. One thing we do is go beyond the "know how" testing and try learning about the person life experiences such as schools, friends, connections, main goals in life, most proud achievements, etc. It give us a wider picture of the person and its ability to perform in a team.