[wolco]

Lessons #1. Tricking candidates is a fake filter. It doesn't get you better candidates. Why not take every 2nd application and toss it out for no reason. Or only call back names that start with a vowel? Same effect.

Lesson #2. Would we make a good coffee date? Why not base it on if they would make a great bowling buddy or dance contest partner? Are they single? Do they have good looking friends that they could set me up with?

Lesson #3 References are a degree more useless for remote candidates. Easier to make up and fake. It worked well 100 years ago when everyone knew everyone less so now.

Lesson #4 Having someone do a test closely mirroring your process is great for temp contractor not so good if you are looking at someone to take your codebase to the next level.