Advice Hub

Christmas Podding: Day 12 – Wrapping Presents, Wrapping Interviews, and Carol Singers 🎄

Video

Welcome back to the We Do Grotto, where today’s episode brings festive frustrations, recruitment tips, and some light-hearted laughs.

First up: Wrapping presents – do you DIY or delegate?
DIY struggles: Sellotape on your knee, lost folds, and wrestling with awkwardly shaped gifts (looking at you, Lush Snow Fairy bottles).
Top tip: Stick it all in a box – easier to wrap and less stress.

But what about wrapping up interviews that aren’t going well? Here’s our advice for clients:

  • Be polite and direct. Thank the candidate for their time, explain why the fit isn’t right, and avoid wasting anyone’s time – including yours.
  • Give people a chance. First impressions matter, but nerves can get in the way. Some candidates may take time to warm up, so don’t rush to cut things short.
  • Use tools to streamline. Pre-interview video clips from candidates can save time and ensure alignment before the first meeting.

And finally, the ultimate Christmas conundrum: what do you do with carol singers?
🎶 Let them finish? Shut the door? Bribe them to stop? We’ll leave that one up to you.

More from our Advice Hub

Insights

How to Spot a Finance Candidate Who Looks Good on Paper (But Will Be a Nightmare to Work With)

6 min read
Published 12 months ago
Conflict at work

Because Not Every ‘Perfect’ CV Leads to a Perfect Hire
You’ve been here before.

The CV looks flawless.
Their experience ticks every box.
They aced the technical questions in the...

Read More
Insights

Beyond the CV: Crafting Your Personal Brand in Finance & Accounting

3 min read
Published 2 years ago

Standing out in finance and accounting is about more than a list of qualifications on a CV. It’s crafting a personal brand that highlights your unique value, transforming you from a potential...

Read More
Insights

Want That Promotion? The 6 Hidden Roadblocks Stopping You (And How to Overcome Them)

6 min read
Published 4 months ago
Team working at desk

Think You’re Ready for a Promotion? Read this first.
You’ve been working hard. Delivering results. Taking on extra projects. Maybe your boss is moving on. Maybe that next big role has just...

Read More
Insights

Stop Blaming the Market: 10 Hidden Reasons You’re Not Making the Hire

7 min read
Published 3 months ago
Woman at laptop looking frustrated

Every hiring manager knows the struggle.
“We’ve had 37 CVs and no one’s right.”
“There’s no one out there.”
“The market’s dry.”
“Candidates just aren’t good enough.”
We...

Read More
Insights

Why the End of the Year Hits Finance Teams Hard – and How to Fix It

6 min read
Published 2 months ago
Team board meeting

December shouldn’t come as a surprise. Every business knows the pressure is coming: tighter deadlines, heavier reporting cycles, board packs, budgets, audits, and decisions that can’t slip into...

Read More
Insights

The Truth About Salaries, Expectations, and Why Your Applications Aren’t Landing

6 min read
Published 2 months ago
Man on phone

Few topics in recruitment get people more defensive than salaries. Everyone wants transparency, but when it comes down to it, very few people are fully honest – with themselves, their...

Read More