Experience is insanely overrated.

Most of the really amazing or great things were done by people doing those things for the first time.

When hiring (and “hiring” means any time you bring somebody on to a team, whether it involves pay or not: think churches, organizations, or clubs) look for aptitude. Look for excitement. Look for interest and curiosity. You want people with aptitude, interest, excitement. You can train them later to do a given skill.

You can’t train them for aptitude or curiosity or persistence.