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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.

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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

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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!

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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

Hiring Strategy for SMEs: Getting the Role Right Before You Recruit

  • Michelle Denny
  • 2 days ago
  • 2 min read

Across Norfolk and Suffolk, many of the conversations we are having with business owners at the moment centre around one thing - the pressure to hire quickly.


When teams are stretched or growth is happening faster than expected, the instinct is often to move fast and bring someone in.


Completely understandable.


But in practice, hiring quickly without first shaping the role properly can create more challenges than it solves.


Workspace with laptop and notebook by window, symbolising planning and hiring strategy for SMEs


Why Hiring Strategy for SMEs Matters More Than Speed


A rushed hire rarely looks like a risk at the time.

It often feels like a solution.


Someone to ease the pressure, take on tasks, and help move things forward.


However, without clarity around what the role actually needs to deliver, businesses can find themselves:


  • Recruiting again within a short period of time

  • Paying for experience they don’t fully utilise

  • Creating confusion within the team about responsibilities

  • Spending time managing issues that could have been avoided


Taking a little more time upfront can prevent a great deal of disruption later.


Four Questions to Ask Before You Hire


Before moving forward with recruitment, it is often helpful to step back and sense check the role itself.


Here are four simple but effective questions we regularly talk through with clients:


  1. What does success look like in the first 3 - 6 months?


This helps shift the focus from filling a gap to defining outcomes.

What needs to be achieved?What will make this hire a success?


  1. Does this need to be a full time role?


Many roles can be structured differently.


Sometimes the requirement is:

  • A few hours each day

  • A number of days per week

  • A more experienced individual working reduced hours


Structuring the role correctly can open up a wider and often stronger candidate pool.


  1. What level of experience is genuinely needed?


It’s easy to default to wanting someone highly experienced.

But in some cases, the role may not require that level day to day.


Being clear on what is essential vs desirable helps ensure you attract the right candidates and manage salary expectations appropriately.


  1. Where will this person add the most value?


Understanding where this role fits within the business is key.


Is it about:

  • Supporting leadership

  • Improving processes

  • Managing workload


Clarity here avoids overlap and helps the new hire integrate more effectively.


Taking a More Considered Approach


Hiring does not need to be slow.

But it does benefit from being considered.


Taking the time to shape the role properly often leads to:

  • Better long term hires

  • Stronger team structure

  • More efficient use of budget

  • A smoother onboarding experience


For owner managed businesses in particular, this clarity can make a significant difference.


Final Thoughts


If hiring is on your mind at the moment, even if you are still working through what the role should look like, it can be helpful to talk it through.


A short conversation at the outset can often bring clarity and save time further down the line.


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