TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
While I appreciate your experience (and had plenty of similar nightmares as
a hiring manager), I have to tell you that neither writing courses nor STC
membership are any guarantee of quality candidates. I'm sure you'll get an
earful of pro/con STC membership to your post (or if you care to read what's
been said in the past, scan through the archives).
I had one "technical writing" class on my college transcript (taken to fill
the English credits required for my major), and only joined STC a year or so
ago when I took a job with an employer who was willing to cover the
membership fees. By your current interview criteria, I would have been
ineligible for most of my TW career (15 yrs.), and only marginally qualified
now.
Bottom line: In this market, anyone/everyone who thinks they're a tech
writer will respond to your ad. Unfortuantely, that means you have to sift
through the dregs to find the quality candidates.
I may have become biased, or just smarter, but I decided I will only
interview people with writing courses and who are members of STC or a
writing association. I interviewed two people that just graduated from a
professional writing degree program, and I could see a huge positive
difference in their writing samples. They were great writing samples.
