[raw_anon_1111]

What are the top 20 candidates if you just need a random “full stack developer”? All of their resumes look exactly the same.

[operatingthetan]

If they are actually "exactly the same" and your criteria is a "random" developer then does it matter which you pick? Look for extracurriculars like active github, personal website/blog, open source contributions, vibe coding skills, etc. I bet 75% of the job market right now is being done on referrals anyway. Tap your network.

[throwawaysleep]

Keep raising the bar until all but 20 are excluded.

[fn-mote]

That’s not enough.

Surely you will not manage to hire one of the top 20 developers matching any given criterion unless you are paying too 1% compensation. (I made this number up.)

One of the criteria somehow is “will show up for work and not ghost us”.

[throwawaysleep]

They applied for the job, so there’s at least some signal that they’d be willing to work there.

[ikiris]

If you're truly looking this generic, then what is the problem exactly with taking the bottom 20% of the stack since that's what your pay is going to be anyway?

[raw_anon_1111]

In any second tier city the range for mid range developers is only $10K-$20K. You don’t really need rockstar ninja developers to do your standard CRUD LOB or SaaS app.