Why bad hires happen
Almost always because vetting was shallow: a résumé skim, a chatty call, and a hopeful offer. Offshore just raises the stakes because you can't lean over the desk to course-correct.
The filters that actually work
- Read the code, not the CV — GitHub, real repos, a practical task.
- Senior-led technical interview on the actual stack.
- A scoped take-home that mirrors real work.
- Communication as a hard filter — unclear English is a no.
- Reference checks with people who shipped alongside them.
Red flags
- Can't explain their own past code.
- Vague, buzzword answers under follow-up questions.
- Slow or unclear written communication.
- No verifiable work or references.
The safety net
Even with great vetting, insist on a replacement guarantee. A partner whose vetting is on the line — and who replaces a bad fit fast and free — turns the biggest offshore fear into a non-issue.