To find reliable programmers, start by being a reliable recruiter... DO: 1. Check with your inner circle first. You know their interests, skills, and reliabi

To find reliable programmers, start by being a reliable recruiter... DO: 1. Check with your inner circle first. You know their interests, skills, and reliability. If they're not available, ask if they would vouch for anyone they know that might be interested and available. 2. Broaden your search to past associates who you have reason to believe would appreciate hearing about the opportunity. 3. Check the list you've been maintaining (!) of programmers whose public work you admire and who have indicated availability for consulting work. 4. Present the opportunity to relevant user groups or communities. Be sure their policy welcomes such queries, especially if you're not a regularly contributing member. 5. Be upfront and explicit about available compensation. It wastes both party's time trying to get a max $25/hr opportunity together with a min $125/hr consultant. 6. Consider permitting remote work. Some of the most effective teams I've worked with have been distributed geographically. If you can make this work, you've increased your pool of possible matches tremendously. DON'T: Assume that your need to find someone gives you license to be pest. The one person who ends up in the position will appreciate that you found him/her. A small group will appreciate the consideration. A somewhat larger group will tolerate the intrusion. Most of the rest of the world won't want to be interrupted. Try not to bother them.