once i get someone on the phone, i can tell if they know what they are talking about, i can also assess their social skills - which is extremely important to me.

depending on how big the project is, i typically use trello to project management and i've built my own invoicing system. i usually use git labs for private repos.

but again, my main concern is whether they can get the project done. for me that comes down to communication. i've noticed that in other cultures, if they don't accomplish anything, they'd rather not tell me. it's taken time, but i've been able to really pound it home that it is vital that i know exactly what is going on in case i need to jump in.