Consider using a finder's fee for tough recruitment. Find sources that are likely to come across such applicants and stay in touch with them. Act quickly and decisively. The last thing a skilled, motivated applicant wants to see is indecision on your part. If you have many applicants and do many interviews do not neglect the opportunity to find out about your competitors, industry and other important information.
Applicants can be very articulate about how they are managed.
This is very hard to do if the need is severe. Just remember that recruiting gets easier when staffing is improved. The most difficult stage is the beginning stage. Like anything recruiting is a skill that can be improved with practice. Don't forget to analyze why a poor hire did not work out.