A look inside Datacom’s hiring and recruitment process

• Datacom’s recruitment process is clear, consistent, and designed to support candidates from application through to onboarding.

• The company looks for people who align with its values, show initiative, and bring a strong growth mindset.

• New hires are supported from day one and encouraged to take ownership of their career development within a collaborative, people-first culture.

We spoke with Nicole Lange, Talent Acquisition Manager – Early Careers, and Rachelle Parrott, Recruitment Advisor, to explore Datacom’s hiring approach — how candidates are selected, what sets strong applicants apart, and how new starters are supported to succeed.

Nicole: For early career hirers, our graduate intake is mostly consolidated into cohorts. For this style of recruitment, we advertise broadly and partner with people throughout the recruitment process, making sure we match them with opportunities that align with their skills and interests. We shortlist graduates through a recruitment review, followed by video interviews and a behavioural and skills interview with the line manager.

Rachelle: When a candidate applies, we like to get back to them as soon as possible with an update on their application whether they have been shortlisted or not, we will either phone or email the candidate with next steps.

Nicole: The recruitment team will touch base with a candidate with an initial phone call. After that, there’ll be an interview followed by a reference check. Regardless of the area, the process is standard—we aim for consistency.

Rachelle: Depending on the type of role there may be technical tests involved, or the candidate may be asked to create a proposal or presentation in their interview. Ultimately the hiring manager wants to assess the capabilities of the candidate relevant to the skills, knowledge, and level of experience required. 

Nicole: The graduate hirers that stand out are those that are motivated self-learners—they’re actively learning in their own time, and taking every opportunity to be across the latest tech. My biggest tip for anyone in their early career is to stay visible once you secure the role, it’s important for your career progression and growth.

Rachelle: At Datacom, our values and culture shape everything that we do. We shortlist the candidates who not only meet the criteria, but who also align to our company values. The qualities I value in a candidate who would be a great fit for Datacom include authenticity, kindness, respect, a collaborative spirit, and a strong growth mindset. 

Nicole: I speak with the team leads to get a clear understanding of exactly what they’re looking for—not just the required skills and career path, but also team fit and the ideal behavioural traits. I want to make sure we’re setting our future employees up for success, so I aim to understand the role in depth to ensure I can set clear expectations with them from the start.

Rachelle: The interview process is a two-way street; we are interviewing them, and they are interviewing us! Clear job ads are key, and it’s important the role is a good fit on both sides. As advisors, we stay in close contact with candidates from application to their first day, making sure they understand the role and clarifying any questions along the way.

Nicole: We designed the Talent Elevator to give our graduates the best possible start. We bring them together at one of our HQs (Auckland for New Zealand and Sydney for Australian hirers) for a week of learning practices, soft skills, and understanding the wider business. Most importantly, we build relationships—knowing your peers and having friends at work is a key part of onboarding. It’s important new hires know they can ask for help. At Datacom, people are always willing. We build that mindset into the early careers programme, so they know who to go to and that we’re here to support them.

Rachelle: Our wonderful Onboarding team, along with the help of our hiring managers and Facilities teams, ensures our people are well looked after throughout their onboarding process. They handle everything from first-day instructions to a assigning a buddy and making sure each new hire is set up for success from day one.

Nicole: There are always opportunities at Datacom and people are happy to support your growth and development, but ultimately you must drive your career. If you want to build or expand your skillset into new areas, then networking and taking part in Datacom’s mentoring programmes helps!

Rachelle: So many opportunities! Datacom is a large organisation, and not only do we have our internal Job Board where we post new roles all the time, but we also offer lots of opportunity to learn, grow, and develop. We’re very fortunate to have the Career Framework at Datacom, which is designed to help you map out your individual career path and understand where you are in the business and where you can move throughout.

Nicole: Datacom is a relaxed, welcoming environment. It’s the best of both worlds—a large organisation, but small enough that you’re not just a number. I think if you were to ask anyone at Datacom what they like most about the organisation, it’s the people.

Rachelle: I would say that we are a values-driven organisation, and we are renowned for our friendly and inclusive culture. We have so many talented people here at Datacom and everyone is super nice and willing to help each other out.

Nicole: Candidates are often surprised that the interviews feel more like a friendly conversation than intense questioning. We help them relax quickly, which allows them to perform at their best.

Rachelle: New starters often tell us how much they loved their first day or week and how smooth the process was—all thanks to the magic of our onboarding and shared services team working behind the scenes.

Nicole: In my role as Talent Acquisition Manager, I look over Early Careers at Datacom. The roles that fall within that remit are graduate, trainee, work experience, and intern. I manage Australia and New Zealand, overseeing attractions such as Careers Fairs, events, and sourcing programmes, Talent Elevator induction, Early Careers Programme support, and all related initiatives within that space.

Rachelle: As a Recruitment Advisor, my role is to manage the end-to-end recruitment process for open roles within Datacom. This includes sourcing, posting job advertisements, screening applicants, scheduling interviews—all the way through to the offer stage. Our Recruitment team work diligently and collaboratively with our internal stakeholders to make sure that we find the best employees that meet our business requirements.

Nicole: Before applying for any role, take a moment to reflect on what truly matters to you in a workplace. Is it the company’s sustainability goals? Their culture and values? Diversity and inclusion efforts? Parental leave policies? Or maybe it’s something as simple as how cool the office is. Once you know what’s important to you, do your research. Check out their website and social channels to see if the organisation aligns with your values. And of course—read the job ad carefully. Be prepared in case a recruiter calls—you don’t want to be caught off guard or forget which role you applied for!

Rachelle: My biggest tip would be to please read the job advertisement—this will set you apart. Extra points if you reach out to the recruitment team and ask us questions and tailor your resume to the role, highlighting your relevant skills and experience.

With over a decade of experience in the industry and now in her fourth year at Datacom, Nicole Lange (right) leads Datacom’s Early Careers program across Australia and New Zealand. Lange thrives on the dynamic nature of this role—whether it’s managing projects, planning events, coordinating logistics, recruiting, or collaborating with hiring managers, no two days are the same. What drives her most is being part of someone’s career journey—from meeting graduates and interns on day one to seeing them grow into confident, valued team members. She sees it as a privilege to help shape the future of tech talent at Datacom.

Rachelle Parrott (left) is a Recruitment Advisor at Datacom. She enjoys matching the right people with the right roles and has been in the recruitment space for five years, working with hiring managers to find great people and helping candidates put their best foot forward. Whether it’s refining a job advertisement, screening applicants, or prepping someone for an interview, she loves being part of the process. Rachelle is all about clear communication, honest advice, and making hiring a smoother experience for everyone involved.