Some good tips for how to write a good job ad for technical positions. In short:
- Include a salary ballpark so you don't waste your and their time
- Mention if you're comfortable with remote work (and try to make that a yes)
- Don't require a degree, many great programmers don't have one
- Emphasise that the job doesn't require more than 40 hours a week, so people with families apply too
- Guarantee a response
- Don't look like a recruitment agency
- Off to train people up in a new language
- Avoid "Rock star", "Ninja", "Guru", etc
I agree with all of them, except perhaps guaranteeing a response. I don't think that necessarily does much more than lead to extra workload on your part, in exchange for a small, vague, barely noticeable, fuzzy warm feeling in the applicant.
See also the discussion on HN for more suggestions.
For a good example of how to get it all completely wrong, see this good old article of mine.