Advertising an opening and sorting through resumes is the traditional way to find employees, but it can be hard to judge talent by what's on the page. So what are some more reliable ways that you can find employees? Internships are one good way, according to Maryalene LaPonsie at Small Business Computing. If the position is a good fit for a college student or recent grad, you may be able to find an intern through a local college. You can offer college credit or a reasonable wage; make sure you don't run afoul of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act, though. If the intern works out, you've found a great hire. Tap your network for recommendations and offer employees a bonus for qualified referrals. Or you may know a former co-worker you'd love to work with again; even if they don't want the job, they may be able to recommend someone. Asking people whose work and abilities you respect can increase the odds that you'll find qualified candidates. You should always be networking, of course - and in the course of your networking, keep an eye out for talent. Don't be afraid to poach your competition. In the course of our jobs, we all meet people whose work is so good that we'd love to hire them. Those people may be happy where they are, but you'll never know unless you ask. And when you get that promising candidate in for an interview, put them through a test or tryout to give you a better sense of whether they're as good as they seem. Adapted from How to Find Your Next Star Employee at Small Business Computing.