> I would have ended up teaching them how to do the bulk of the job had we hired them.
Is that really a bad of thing? If they're good programers and quick to pickup new technologies wouldn't you be better off getting them, training them, and when they succeed making sure you're compensating them enough to keep them onboard?
If what you wanted was someone completely versed in all your technologies and systems to just pickup and do the task, I'd say get a contractor who has the skills you need.
Is that really a bad of thing? If they're good programers and quick to pickup new technologies wouldn't you be better off getting them, training them, and when they succeed making sure you're compensating them enough to keep them onboard?
If what you wanted was someone completely versed in all your technologies and systems to just pickup and do the task, I'd say get a contractor who has the skills you need.