The road to securing the right talent for your programming needs can be fraught with uncertainty, especially when the language in question is Perl, often referred to as the "Swiss Army Chainsaw of scripting languages." While it might not be the newest or shiniest tool in your development kit, Perl’s power, flexibility, and text manipulation capabilities make it a crucial asset for certain projects. In order to ensure that you secure the right talent for your Perl project, we present twelve essential points of inquiry that you should consider when you are looking to hire a Perl developer.

• Perl Experience : The first port of call in your interrogatory journey should be to ask about the developer's experience with Perl. While it may seem somewhat obvious, it is pivotal to uncover whether they have worked with Perl extensively, merely touched upon it in passing or fall somewhere in between these two extremes. Depth of experience in Perl is a strong indicator of their ability to handle complex tasks and troubleshoot problems effectively.
• Understanding of CPAN : A proficient Perl programmer should be well-versed with Comprehensive Perl Archive Network (CPAN), a rich repository of Perl software and modules. Query about the developer's familiarity with and usage of CPAN. It not only shows their proficiency in Perl but also their ability to leverage existing code to increase efficiency.
• Knowledge of Modern Perl Practices : Perl has evolved significantly since its inception in 1987. As such, it is important to probe the developer's understanding of Modern Perl practices. This includes their knowledge of concepts such as Moose (an extension of the Perl 5 object system), Plack (a Perl web toolset) and PSGI (Perl Web Server Gateway Interface), among others.
• Perl Debugging Skills : Debugging is a critical skill for any developer, and Perl is no exception. Ask the candidate about their approach to troubleshooting issues in Perl code. This will offer vital insights into their problem-solving skills and their ability to handle pressure situations.
• Familiarity with Perl Documentation : Perl’s documentation is comprehensive and is a crucial resource for any Perl developer. The developer's ability to utilize Perl's documentation indicates their self-reliance and capacity to resolve issues without external support.
• Understanding of Regular Expressions : Perl is renowned for its text processing capabilities, chiefly powered by regular expressions. Any competent Perl developer should be proficient in creating and manipulating regular expressions.
• Knowledge of Other Programming Languages : Ask about their proficiency in other languages. Perl integrates with other languages like Python, PHP, or JavaScript, and a developer with a multiplicity of language skills can bring a broader perspective to the project.
• Version Control System Experience : It’s essential to consider a developer's experience with version control systems like Git or Mercurial. The ability to manage code changes, track revisions and resolve conflicts is indispensable in a collaborative development environment.
• Perl Testing Experience : Evaluation of a developer's testing skills is vital. Inquire about their experience with Perl testing frameworks like Test::More or Test::Simple to gauge their commitment to delivering robust, reliable code.
• Real-world Problem Solving : Beyond technical skills, it's important to measure a developer's ability to solve real-world problems. Propose a hypothetical, yet plausible, scenario and ask them to outline a potential Perl-centric solution.
• Past Projects and Code Samples : Request for previous Perl projects or code samples they've worked on. This can provide a tangible representation of their coding style, efficiency and the complexity of projects they've handled.
• Communication and Teamwork Skills : Lastly, ask about their experience working in a team. Perl projects often require collaboration and effective communication is key to a project’s success.

In conclusion, finding a competent Perl developer requires a comprehensive understanding of the language's intricacies, thorough questioning, and careful examination of the candidate's technical and soft skills. This multipartite approach to hiring will not only help uncover the developer's level of Perl knowledge, but also their problem-solving skills, their ability to learn and adapt, and their potential fit within your team. Happy hiring!