40-Point Technical Writer Evaluation: Does This Writer Understand Field Work?
Score technical writers on trade experience, not corporate portfolios. Prevent $40K documentation disasters with field-focused evaluation criteria.
Scoring Framework
Score each question 1–5 based on writer responses and portfolio examples. Writers scoring below 3.5 overall will deliver unusable corporate documentation. Focus heavily on field experience weight—it predicts success better than writing credentials.
Evaluation Criteria
Field Work Experience and Trade Knowledge
30% weightEvaluate specific experience with construction trades, understanding of field conditions, and knowledge of how technicians actually work. This is the strongest predictor of documentation success for contractors.
Sample Questions
- Can they explain why standard procedure formats fail when technicians wear work gloves and safety equipment?
- Do they understand OSHA 1926 construction standards and how they affect procedure documentation requirements?
- Can they describe the difference between apprentice and master technician information needs for the same procedure?
- Do they know how local code variations affect procedure documentation across different jurisdictions?
- Can they explain why emergency procedures require different writing techniques than standard operating procedures?
Mobile and Field Usability Design
25% weightAssess ability to create documentation that works on mobile devices in real work conditions. Most corporate writers optimize for desktop reading, making field documentation unusable.
Sample Questions
- Do they show examples of single-step screens optimized for phone navigation with work gloves?
- Can they demonstrate procedures that work offline when WiFi is unavailable in basements or remote locations?
- Do they understand touch target sizing and gesture navigation for technicians with limited hand mobility?
- Can they format complex multi-step procedures for minimal scrolling on small screens?
- Do they plan for voice command integration when hands-free operation is required?
System Integration and Workflow Connection
20% weightEvaluate plans for connecting documentation to existing field management systems like ServiceTitan or FieldEdge. Standalone documents in knowledge bases go unused.
Sample Questions
- Can they show specific examples of field service platform integrations with automatic procedure triggering?
- Do they understand API connectivity requirements for workflow automation with existing dispatch systems?
- Can they demonstrate how technicians access relevant procedures automatically based on job type assignments?
- Do they plan for integration with inventory management and parts ordering systems?
- Can they connect procedure completion tracking to job reporting and quality control processes?
Performance Measurement and Business Results
15% weightAssess ability to measure documentation impact on business metrics like job completion time, rework rates, and safety incidents. Writers focused only on deliverables miss ROI opportunities.
Sample Questions
- Can they propose specific metrics for measuring procedure effectiveness with baseline measurement plans?
- Do they show before/after data from previous contractor clients with measurable business improvements?
- Can they explain how to track documentation impact on technician productivity and job completion rates?
- Do they understand the connection between procedure clarity and customer satisfaction scores?
- Can they measure training time reduction and knowledge retention improvements from better documentation?
Maintenance and Long-term Usability
10% weightEvaluate systems for keeping documentation current when busy supervisors need to update procedures for part changes or code revisions. Complex maintenance kills long-term value.
Sample Questions
- Do they provide simple editing interfaces that non-writers can use without breaking formatting?
- Can they demonstrate change tracking and version control systems appropriate for field supervisors?
- Do they plan for content ownership and export capabilities if you switch writers later?
- Can they show template systems that maintain consistency when multiple people make updates?
- Do they understand the difference between maintenance capabilities and ongoing service dependencies?
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