top of page

Partnering with SME companies throughout East Anglia, Michelle Denny Recruitment is a recruitment agency which specialises in personalised recruitment consultancy services in Norfolk and Suffolk to help you discover that elusive new member of staff at a budget that suits you.

​

With different campaign options to meet your requirements and innovative marketing strategies to captivate worthy candidates, we'll present you with a refreshing, no-fuss approach to recruitment. Whether you need a comprehensive recruitment drive with full support, or a simple campaign to find you candidates to review in-house, we'll work with you as an extension of your team, to understand your business and the people within it. 

Clients

THIS WAY TO HIRE

NellieStudio-32.jpg

We'll introduce you to companies with job opportunities across Norfolk, Suffolk and beyond that share your values and understand your career aspirations so you can feel confident in your job search. With guidance, support, constructive feedback and consistent communication as standard throughout our approach, Michelle Denny Recruitment Consultancy looks beyond your CV to discover what makes you, you!

​

With a clear direction, straightforward application process and ongoing recommendations, we’ll provide you with the ultimate match-making service to help you find the right job, in the right company, with the right team. Learn more, view our current vacancies and upload your CV to register for upcoming roles too.

Candidates

THIS WAY TO A NEW JOB

December CVs vs January CVs – what we really notice as recruiters

  • Michelle Denny
  • 54 minutes ago
  • 2 min read

The CVs we see in December vs the ones we see in January


There’s a noticeable shift in CVs at this time of year.

Not in formatting or qualifications. In mindset.


As recruiters, we see it every December and every January. Two very different types of CV land in our inbox, often for the same roles.


And the difference matters more than most people realise.


Snowflakes over message

December CVs – quieter, considered, intentional


December CVs tend to come from people who have taken a breath.


They are often:

  • Thought through rather than rushed

  • Clear on what they want next

  • Honest about what isn’t working anymore

  • Open to conversations, not just applications


These candidates are rarely panicking. They are reflecting. They’ve used the slower pace of December to look properly at their role, their team, their progression and their work life balance.


Their CVs usually read with intention. Fewer buzzwords. More clarity. A sense of direction.


January CVs – reactive, rushed, emotionally charged


January CVs feel different.


They often arrive after:

  • A difficult end of year review

  • Burnout finally surfacing

  • A return to work that feels heavier than expected

  • The realisation that nothing is changing


These CVs can still belong to excellent people. But they are often written quickly and emotionally.


We see:

  • Overloaded job descriptions

  • Unclear career direction

  • Applications to roles that don’t quite fit

  • A sense of urgency rather than strategy


January job searching is rarely planned. It’s reactive.


Why this matters if you’re hiring


If you’re recruiting in early 2026, the candidates who reach out in December are often the ones worth listening to closely.


They are not desperate.They are deliberate.


They ask better questions. They are clearer about what they will and won’t accept. And they are more likely to stay once they move.


That doesn’t mean January candidates should be dismissed, of course. But it does mean timing tells you something about mindset.


And mindset affects performance, engagement and retention.


If you’re thinking about a move yourself


You don’t need to apply for roles in December.


But using this time to reflect, update your CV properly and have a few honest conversations can make a big difference to how January feels.


A calm plan now often prevents a rushed decision later.


A final thought


There’s no right or wrong month to change jobs.


But December CVs usually come from people choosing change. January CVs often come from people escaping it.


As recruiters, we notice.


If you’re hiring for early 2026, or quietly thinking about your next step, December is a good time for a conversation. No pressure. No rush. Just clarity.



Comments

bottom of page