Ask HN: How can you find the best hackers?

Problem: The best hackers do not look for work. In my experience, they do not care about badges or rankings (Hacker Rank, Hacker Meter), nor do they have the time because they have actual gigs. On that note, badges and rankings have little to do with performance. Technical skills are easy to find. Soft skills are not. Someone who finishes what they start, who will pick up the phone and actually call an employer when there is a problem rather than ignoring it altogether .. Open source contributions are great, but, again, I've met some amazing open source developers who have poor social skills. Rankings only tell half the story. As both a hackers and a hirer, I do not really care if someone is number 1 or 50. There's little difference between them. Plus, if sites do not disclose the ranking algorithm, it doesn't mater anyway. Heck, I've been hired to write ranking algorithms that used trivial measures. The site didn't care: They just wanted a ranking system. Their argument was that people don't care. And in a way it's true. I see how many people use search engines - not looking to find the right answer, just some sort of answer that they can mold to fit their needs. Anyhow, I quit that gig. So - How do you find the best hackers? Solution: You can't through an open job board. It must be closed to developers. It must be a cross between a consulting firm and a job board stacked with good developers who are even better hustlers with killer soft skills. Perhaps having 10 of them who have a reputation of finishing gigs and who can talk to clients. That's a job board that I would pay a lot of money to use. Does this exist? Oh - and GroupTalent is not the solution either. Try before you buy? I shouldn't have to try - and I'm not looking to hire someone full time.