When it comes to procedure writing, safety is the most crucial factor to consider and must be at the top of one’s mind when searching for the right candidate.
In a world of many variables, our number one priority as a procedure writing company is to ensure that our clients and their colleagues return home safely at the end of the day. Some might say that not all industries need a procedure and that this guidance is only for high-risk industries, but when it comes down to the people performing their daily tasks for work, we all use procedures even if they are not officially written down.
When a company upgrades old procedures or writes new procedures, our experts help to ensure safety and regulatory compliance. Who would know the ins and outs of an industry’s operations better than someone who has done it themselves? This is why we train and hire procedure writers at our company based on their relevant experience, the valuable skills they can contribute to our team, and their proven knowledge of the industry methods and fundamentals.
Setting Qualifications for Hiring Procedure Writers
Many of our candidates are former students of our Procedure Professionals Association (PPA) Procedure Writer Certification Course. This professional development course is attended globally by students from a variety of industries and all experience levels. The hands-on experience and procedure writing skills they learn make them a valuable asset to their industry due to the consistent and well-researched content of the course.
Procedure writing is not to be confused with technical or administrative writing. While procedure writing and technical or administrative writing have a similar purpose where the writer is writing for a particular subject that requires directions, instructions, or explanation, there is one unique distinction.
Procedure writing follows industry-accepted rules that consider any failure mechanisms that can challenge the reader’s comprehension during work activities. Procedure writers also have to consider possible human performance errors that can cause catastrophic consequences if not performed correctly.
It all comes down to the procedure: is it more general or specific to a piece or part of equipment? This information helps determine what skill level of procedure writer is needed. It comes down to the safety of the people using those procedures every day. This emphasis on safety is why conducting a thorough check is essential to ensure you hire the most qualified writer for the job.
Our Hiring Process
There are many ways to select the right people during the recruiting and hiring phase. It’s important to begin by assessing a candidate’s background to determine if they are well-versed in the specialty your team will be writing about. You should also account for their years of experience in that specific field and how niche the procedure project will be. Consider any certifications that you desire or require for the position. For instance, we require our procedure writers to be PPA Certified Procedure Writers. This certification sets a standard for our procedure writers that ensures we continue to offer our clients the highest quality and consistency of writing.
While assessing a candidate’s experience and skills is an important foundation for the hiring process, evaluating their writing skills with a hands-on approach is equally important. For example, we give all our potential candidates a written exercise test. This rewrite exercise is an excerpt from an actual procedure that they rewrite using the PPA methods and fundamentals they learned about when they received their Procedure Writer Certification. This will give them a taste of the procedures they will be working on for our company.
Our in-house procedure experts grade the rewrites and determine if that individual understands and can write to the PPA standards. This exercise is a fantastic tool for hiring, and more companies and industries can benefit from implementing a hands-on procedure as part of their recruitment process. This hands-on approach allows the employer to evaluate if the candidate is able to perform the basic functions of the job and helps the candidate gauge if this work is a good fit for them.
Hiring is not always a straightforward process, and there is no one-size-fits-all approach to finding the right candidate. There are many factors to consider, including experience level, valuable skills, and knowledge of the latest industry trends. When it comes to procedure writing, safety is the most crucial factor to consider and must be at the top of one’s mind when searching for the right candidate. Whether you’re a procedure writer seeking employment or a recruiter searching for the right candidate, we hope this insight into how a small procedure writing and consulting company can produce quality work and customer service inspires the way you hire, too.
