How (not) to hire a Senior Developer
A (sometimes educational) pamphlet on recruitment. Or not. Depending on you.
Define the real need within the department or simply invent a role without it being vital;
Make sure you have the budget approved. If it's not approved, recruit anyway and figure out what to tell the candidate later.
Create a job description by copying and pasting from the internet and include all technologies in the description – make sure it's vague, nonsensical, and unrealistic – don't forget to post it without validating it with the Hiring Managers.
After you start headhunting, realize that you haven't actually targeted the right people.
When you get a referral just ignore it completely.
About a month after failing to find anyone, you can start working with 4 recruiting agencies hoping to fill the role with suitable candidates.
If the agency has additional questions, make sure you're as vague as in the job description.
As a hiring manager, when you've found the right person, don't forget to ask them theoretical questions from their first year of college to disqualify them.
If you've lost the right person, strive to find 2-3 more, compare them, and extend an offer with 20% less, hoping that the "work environment" will make them accept the proposal.
When the person rejects your offer, redirect and look for a junior;
If they do accept your offer: Congratulations, you've done a wonderful job.