What was your best source of top engineering job candidates?

I once hire a guy who was great. Don't remember where we found him.

He got two of his ex-colleagues to join. They were really good as well.

He was my source :). Networking works. Ask you best people if they know anyone who they would like to work with again.

I think people contributing to large well known projects on Github is a fantastic way to find good engineers. Anyone can throw up a simple application on their own github, but it takes a myriad of skills to successfully contribute to the aforementioned type projects.

You have to dive into an unfamiliar codebase you didn't write, identify a problem or missing feature, write out an issue, discuss it with a group of people, send a PR, write unit tests, follow a style guide, discuss inline on implementation, and more.

This is a lot closer to real world software development (at least at most larger or medium sized companies) than just writing a toy demo of something.

Networking, it’s rare a recommendation is bad because people put themselves on the line to make it in the first place. They might have friends who are looking for work but they’re unlikely to recommend them if they think they might be a liability…

The network, for sure. There's a reason you should connect with all your old work colleagues on LinkedIn whenever you switch jobs.

I've always wanted to try this: https://review.firstround.com/mine-your-network-for-early-st...

Never done that, but it seems like a great way to systematize the network hiring process.

throwing money on the floor outside Manchester Piccadilly train station

Why not the “who wants to be hired thread”?

Ivy League and top-tier schools for new grads and interns. Referrals for professionals.

Interns are a great way to filter good from bad.

Tech conference: BAR CAMP, et el.

other fellow founder friends who reco'd folks they worked with and could vet for the new hires

don’t require coding interviews and hire based on experience