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 2 years 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

If I Wanted to Find the Best Recruiters, This Is What I’d Look For

4 min read
Published 8 months ago

If I stripped everything back and ignored the branding, the content, the claims and the noise, this is the question I’d ask:
Are they actually good at getting people jobs?
Because when you remove...

Read More
Insights

Salary Benchmarking: Are You Accidentally Underpaying Your Team (And Losing Them)?

6 min read
Published 2 years ago

Surprise! Your Team Is Job Hunting.
You might think your employees are happy, loyal, and totally not scrolling LinkedIn job ads on their lunch break.
Reality check: If you’re underpaying them,...

Read More
Insights

Why You Didn’t Get the Interview (And What To Do About It)

6 min read
Published 5 months ago

Let’s be honest for a moment.
A lot of recruitment advice floats around telling candidates to “stay positive”, “keep applying”, and “believe in yourself”. None of that is wrong, but...

Read More
Insights

How Long Should It Take to Hire a Financial Controller in the UK?

6 min read
Published 3 months ago

One of the most common questions we hear from hiring managers is: “How long should it take to hire a Financial Controller?”
The honest answer? Longer than most businesses expect.
Many...

Read More
Insights

The April Refresh: How to Spring-Clean Your Career

2 min read
Published 6 months ago
Closet decluttering

The April Refresh: How to Spring-Clean Your Career
Spring isn’t just for cleaning your home. Your career deserves a refresh too. April is the perfect month to declutter outdated habits, refresh...

Read More