Submitted on Thu 10 Jul 2025
You know what they say, Santa sees everything. And this Christmas in July, so do we. At The Recruitment Company, we spend our days elbow-deep in the hiring trenches, helping clients find those awesome tech superstars that make all the difference. But every now and then, we spot a few hiring habits that could land even the nicest hiring manager squarely on the Naughty List.
So, in the festive spirit (and because we believe that everyone deserves a second chance at greatness), here are five hiring habits that’ll earn you a lump of coal, and how to dodge them like a rogue Christmas pudding rolling down a hill.
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Ghosting Candidates
You know the feeling when you send a heartfelt text... and it’s met with silence? Now imagine doing that after a job interview. Ouch.
Ghosting candidates is the fastest way to torch your employer brand faster than a dry Christmas tree near an open flame. Even if they’re not the right fit, a simple “Thanks but no thanks” keeps the goodwill (and your reputation) intact.
Top Tip: A quick rejection email = instant spot on the Nice List.
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Taking Too Long to Make a Decision
If you think your dream candidate will sit around twiddling their thumbs while you hold seventeen internal meetings about internal meetings, think again.
Good candidates are like freshly baked gingerbread, everyone wants a piece, and if you leave them out too long, they’ll be snapped up.
Top Tip: Streamline your process like you’re racing Santa's sleigh. Trust your instincts (and your recruiter... hi, that's us 👋).
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Writing Job Ads That Sound Like They Were Copied from a 1997 Textbook
We’ve seen job ads drier than last year's leftover fruitcake. Candidates want to feel excited about your company, not confused about whether the role involves time travel back to 1992.
Top Tip: Speak human. Be clear. Be real. And for the love of Rudolph, stop asking for “ninja rockstars.” (Unless you're literally hiring for a rock band of martial artists — in which case, call us immediately.)
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Hiring Based on "Culture Fit" (Code for "People Who Are Just Like Us")
Culture fit is important, sure, but using it as a euphemism for hiring a carbon copy of Dave from Accounting isn’t doing you any favours. Diverse teams perform better, innovate faster, and bonus, make way better Christmas party playlists.
Top Tip: Hire for culture add, people who’ll bring something fresh to your table (and maybe a killer trifle recipe).
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Forgetting It’s a Two-Way Street
Spoiler alert: You’re not the only one doing the choosing. Candidates are interviewing you too. If you treat interviews like interrogations or spend more time listing demands than building connections, don’t be surprised if they sleigh away into someone else’s offer.
Top Tip: Show candidates why your team is the place they’ll want to hang their Christmas stockings (and their career dreams).
Why Christmas in July Matters to Us
At TRC, we’re all about shaking up recruitment and making the experience enjoyable again, for clients, candidates, and everyone in between.
But we also know that while we're busy building careers and celebrating mid-year festivities, many Australians are doing it tough, especially through the colder months. That’s why Christmas in July is so important to us. It’s not just about ugly sweaters and gingerbread competitions (although we do take our those two things very seriously), it’s about giving back and spreading real warmth where it’s needed most.
This Christmas in July, we’re proud to partner with Dignity, supporting Australians experiencing or at risk of homelessness with essentials, comfort, and care.
Here’s how you can get involved:
🎁 Donate online: Every dollar goes towards Food Relief Hampers packed by our team during our Pack4Dignity volunteer day in early August.
👉 https://donorbox.org/trcgroup
🎄 Drop off a donation at our Wishing Tree Appeal:
We’re collecting winter essentials at our office, Level 15, 1 Castlereagh Street, Sydney.
Items needed:
👉 Adult tracksuits
👉 Kids’ pyjamas
👉 Socks & underwear (adults + kids)
Let’s turn Christmas in July into something truly meaningful. Together, we can spread warmth, kindness, and a whole lot of festive spirit where it’s needed most.
The Recruitment Company – Making people enjoy the recruitment experience again
We are a Specialist Recruitment IT Recruitment Agency in Sydney within Information Technology, Project Services, IT Infrastructure, Software Development, SAP, Data and Analytics, Devops and Cloud.
