The first thing to realize about finding good employees is that the best ones usually are working for someone else. Capable people don't stay unemployed for long. Once in awhile, you might bump into a top-notch person who just got laid off, moved into your area or for some other understandable reason, is in need of a job. Just don't hold your breath waiting for it to happen.
Most often, if you're looking to hire an employee who can be productive right off the bat, you have to hire that person away from someone else. Good ones seldom get fired and most responsible people do not quit their jobs without having another one lined up. If they do, it may signal impulsiveness or some other issue that might give you pause about hiring them.
This means that if you want to hire a top-notch person, you'll probably have to make a better offer to someone already employed by somebody else. Which opens up a giant can of squiggling worms.