Beyond the Shortlist: How HDD Solutions Met Their Next Hires in Person
A shortlist. A round of interviews. A stack of paperwork. That's the recruitment process most employers know, and it works. But some of our partners want more than what they see on paper, or on a screen. That's exactly why we built Client Recruitment Trips (CRTs).
HDD Solutions from Wangara WA, has been a TPRC client since 2023, and this year they took their hiring process a step further than most.
A Trip Built Around Certainty, Not Requirement
On March 11 and 12, 2026, the HDD Solutions team flew to the Philippines to meet and assess candidates face to face, before a single piece of visa paperwork was lodged. Nothing about the process required them to be there in person. They chose to be, because they wanted to see the candidates' skills up close, not just read about them.
That's the whole idea behind a CRT. It gives employers the chance to watch candidates work, ask questions in real time, and make a final call with real confidence, rather than relying on assessments alone.
Two Venues, Two Trades, One Purpose
The two-day CRT was split across two purpose equipped venues. At MFI, candidates went through hands on assessment for the boilermaker role. At CXT, candidates were tested for the heavy-duty mechanic role. Both sites gave candidates the space to properly demonstrate their capabilities, under conditions close to the real thing.
From 23 Candidates to 4 Final Selections
HDD Solutions started with a strong field: 14 heavy duty mechanic candidates and 9 boilermaker candidates. After two days of direct, hands on assessment, they narrowed that field down to just 4 final selections across both roles.
Every one of those four was chosen after HDD Solutions had already seen them work.
Why This Matters for Employers
A resume tells you what a candidate has done. A CRT lets you see what they can do. For roles where technical skill and hands on capability matter as much as experience on paper, that difference counts.
Client Recruitment Trips are a great way for clients to go beyond the usual hiring process and get to know their candidates firsthand. The result is a stronger, more confident selection, and a hire that the employer has genuinely met before they land on the job.
Considering a CRT for Your Next Hire?
If you're weighing up whether a face to face assessment could sharpen your own recruitment process, we'd be glad to talk you through how a CRT works and whether it fits your next hiring round.