When it comes to hiring, finding the right person goes beyond matching technical skills. Sure, competence is crucial, but it’s only one piece of the puzzle. What happens when the person hired doesn’t fit with the team’s values or doesn’t “get” the culture? That’s a recipe for turnover, miscommunication, and let’s be honest, a whole lot of stress for everyone involved.
If you’re leading a team or managing a project, you know that bringing in the wrong person can set things back in ways that are hard to measure but all too easy to feel.
You have the vision, the goals, and the team you want to build. Our job? To be the sidekick who brings the right tools, insights, and support to make that vision a reality.
This leads us to one of our hiring clients.
When Traditional Recruitment Falls Short: A New Approach for Australian IT Hiring
Our client is a hiring manager with a tight-knit team and high standards. They came to us with a challenge:
They had partnered with another agency to fill a crucial role. But the agency’s approach was all checklists and credentials, without much thought to the culture or soft skills that make someone the right addition to a team.
What the client needed wasn’t just a technically sound candidate. They needed someone with a sense of the company’s values and the interpersonal savvy* to navigate complex stakeholder relationships.
This misalignment led to several misses, costing valuable time and effort, with candidates who could tick boxes on paper but lacked the people skills or team fit needed to truly contribute.
As it turns out, our client didn’t have to look far to solve their problem. Their colleague who had previously partnered with ThunderLabs for their recruitment needs passed on our name.
Within days, we were in, ready to turn things around.
How ThunderLabs Redefines IT Recruitment in Australia
Every client we work with is unique. When we come on board, our first step is always to understand exactly what makes their team and company culture tick. For this client, that meant focusing on three core qualities, the “3 Cs” as we call them: candidates who are aligned culturally, credibly, and commercially. Competence is the baseline. It’s the ability to embody these three Cs that matters most.
- Cultural fit. We invest time in understanding the client’s team dynamic and organisational culture.
- Credibility. For this role, stakeholder management was crucial. So we searched for professionals with the gravitas to make an impact in boardrooms, conveying ideas and solutions with confidence and clarity.
- Commercial alignment. Beyond technical ability, candidates needed the commercial sense to understand and align with the client’s objectives.
Our process is packed with touchpoints to ensure both client and candidate are prepared and aligned. Here’s what it looked like for this client (and for candidates):
- The initial call. So we start by building a detailed understanding of the client’s needs. We got on a call with the hiring manager to truly understand what success looked like for them. We dove deep into the details — the hard-to-capture nuances that don’t make it into job descriptions but make all the difference in finding the right fit.
- The search. Once we’re aligned on the essentials, we dive into candidate outreach, looking for individuals who fit both the technical and cultural criteria. We then created a custom Trello board where we gather insights, resources, and updates in one place.
- Continuous communication. Throughout the recruitment process, we kept our client informed, providing insights on potential candidates and setting expectations on candidates’ strengths and areas for growth.
- Candidate prep. Candidates aren’t just thrown into interviews. We brief them thoroughly, ensuring they’re ready to meet the client’s expectations and understand the nuances of the role.
- Client prep. Before every interview, we give clients a snapshot of each candidate’s strengths, areas for development, and overall fit. That way, there are no surprises, and clients are ready to dive into meaningful conversations with candidates.
- Two-part interview prep. We arranged a two-part interview process that began with a casual cultural fit meeting, followed by a technical interview for shortlisted candidates. We prepped both the client and the candidate to ensure they walked in understanding each other’s expectations.
- Ongoing feedback. Post-interview, we gathered feedback from both sides, refining our approach with each interaction to ensure the best outcome for everyone involved.
Through each touchpoint, we aim to create a recruitment process that’s as smooth and transparent as possible. So when the client and candidate finally meet, it’s not just an interview; it’s a well-prepared conversation where both sides already have a sense of what to expect.
Results and Client Testimonial
Just three weeks after that initial call, the client had found their match, a candidate who met technical expectations and aligned perfectly with the team’s culture and energy.
In our client’s words:
“ThunderLabs go above and beyond ensuring that all the specifics I provide are covered, in particular the cultural/behavioral element. Other panel members seem to predominantly focus on very high-level technical aspects.”
When we get those elements right, we know we’ve done our job because we know the client and candidate will look after each other.
That’s the difference ThunderLabs brings to the table. We’re not just looking for the most qualified candidate on paper. We’re looking for the person who will fit in, contribute, and ultimately help our clients move forward.
Not only do we advocate for our hiring clients; we also advocate for our candidates. We’ll never put a candidate forward if the organisation isn’t aligned with their values and goals. Our priority is finding the right match so they’re not back in the job market three months later.
It’s this commitment to the whole person (technical skills, soft skills, and cultural fit) that makes our process more than just recruitment. It’s a partnership that values genuine connection.
Your Trusted Partner for I.T. Recruitment in Australia: ThunderLabs
At ThunderLabs, our clients are the real heroes of the story. Our role is to be the trusted ally who brings clarity, speed, and empathy to the hiring process.
Whether it’s the swift turnaround, the tailored communication, or the deep respect we have for both the client and candidate experience, our approach is simple: make hiring feel less like a chore and more like an opportunity.
If you’re looking to bring in talent who will truly fit (not just on paper but in practice), ThunderLabs is here for you. We’re here to make your job easier, your team stronger, and your goals more achievable.
So let’s chat, grab a coffee, and talk about what makes your team unique.
We’ll handle the hiring while you handle the mission. Contact us.
*Interpersonal savvy is your ability to build and maintain solid working relationships with colleagues, superiors, and direct reports.
