[cpt1138]

Another problem I wrestle with is how to hire someone with skills way outside your own skillset and outside anyone else's skillset in the company. For instance I'm in a situation where I can tell the people that have set up the infrastructure are not capable of doing it right because the infrastructure stinks by any outside measure. But without knowledge of how to do it myself, how am I supposed to hire anyone better?

[joncalhoun]

Here are a few things I would try:

a) Gain enough knowledge to make a more informed hiring decision. You don't typically need as much knowledge as you think.

b) Find someone who is knowledgable about the role and ask for help. If you know a company with a great infrastructure person, it is very likely that he would be willing to help filter out a few candidates for your company. At the very least he could explain what he does on an average day and what he looks for in a candidate.