There is no easy solution to the problem, but I can tell you that if your standards are already high and strict, adding yet more elaborate screens to vett suita

There is no easy solution to the problem, but I can tell you that if your standards are already high and strict, adding yet more elaborate screens to vett suitable candidates isn't going to do much more than create more work for you. The best way to get people is to network. Are you and your developers going to conferences and being active in developer communities? Perhaps de-emphasizing "php" and emphasizing hardcore functional descriptions of the work you do might attract better people? In other words, is what you really want a "php guy" or do you want a capable developer who knows the core material. Can a competent front-end guy with demonstrated ability become quickly productive in a php shop even if he hasn't work in php? I think so.