I am regularly asked by folks throughout the UK CF community, "We're hiring, do you know anyone?"

Typically, I'll tell them to explore the various avenues of mailing lists and user groups, I'll blog about the job and I'll have a quiet word with various contractors etc, that I know in case they are interested.

Lately I've been changing tactics, and today was the latest situation that I gave a different response. I was again asked, "We're hiring..."

My response was "Do you want access to 100+ potential ColdFusion developers? Then attend a conference."

Seriously. Conferences are a great place to find talent, regardless of whether you are after an experienced developer or someone to cross train.

Sure, my answer is another way of pushing Scotch on the Rocks, but it's a genuine answer. You've got a venue packed full of developers. Instead of shelling out X amount of money on a recruitment agency, why not put that money to good use yourself and head along to a conference; Scotch, Flash on the Beach, dConstruct, whatever...

The simple fact is the best developers are very rarely available. They won't be sitting on a recruiters list as they will be snatched up before the recruiter even gets the chance to pick up the phone, so you need to be pro-active about finding someone - head to where the developers hang out.

You're going to have to poach them, and a conference is one, if not the best way of doing so.

I'm sure a few managers are thinking,"God, my guy could get poached by going to Conference X". Sure, if they're not happy with their job, in which case you've got bigger issues. If they're happy in their job, then you have nothing to worry about. One way of keeping them happy, is to send them to conferences ... it's a strange, almost catch 22 situation, but it's the truth. Invest in your developers, they've more important than you, the manager.

Back to the company who approached me in regards if I knew anyone available. I asked if they were coming to Scotch on the Rocks, and they said no. They're looking for a ColdFusion developer, yet they aren't attending an event that will pull in 100+ ColdFusion developers??? I asked them straight to the point, "Are you really that stupid?"

They're now sending two people. Even if they don't find anyone, the two guys coming along will have had 3 days of learning and networking. It's a win-win situation.