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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

THIS WAY TO HIRE

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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

Behind the Scenes: How MDR Prepares Your January Hiring

  • Michelle Denny
  • 24 minutes ago
  • 2 min read

December often feels like a strange month for recruitment. Workloads lift and dip, people are pulled in every direction, and the natural instinct is to pause anything that feels too big or too energy-draining.


Yet for many local businesses, January brings a fresh list of plans and pressures and hiring is often one of them.


What most people don’t see is the quiet groundwork that can make January hiring far easier, calmer and more productive. At MDR, much of that preparation happens in December, behind the scenes, while businesses focus on closing out the year.


Manager in a Santa hat planning January hiring preparation during the festive season.
Manager in a Santa hat planning January hiring preparation during the festive season.

Here’s a look at what that actually involves.


1. Clarifying the brief so January starts with clarity


A well-shaped role is the difference between a smooth campaign and a stressful one. December is a great time to tidy the essentials:


  • what the role genuinely needs

  • which skills matter most

  • where flexibility can open the door to better candidates

  • how the role will support the wider team in the new year


With the brief agreed upfront, the January rush loses its edge. Everyone already knows what they’re looking for.


2. Why December is ideal for early conversations


While it may feel counterintuitive, candidate engagement is often stronger in December. People naturally reflect on the past year and what they want from the next one, which makes conversations open, honest and productive.


These aren’t heavy interviews. They’re simple, human chats that help shape a shortlist quietly in the background. By the time January arrives, interest is already established and momentum is steady.


3. Keeping your time protected in a busy month


December doesn’t need more noise. Part of MDR’s role is to reduce the mental load for clients:


  • no inbox full of CVs

  • no unnecessary meetings

  • no pressure to make decisions when headspace is elsewhere


Everything is gathered, filtered and refined so you’re met with a thoughtful shortlist when you’re ready for it.


4. Setting up interview plans that won’t derail your diaries


Coordinating interview stages in January can be surprisingly difficult, especially when senior teams are already stretched.


December preparation means:


  • interview steps mapped out

  • decision-makers identified

  • timelines agreed

  • questions and focus areas outlined


It removes the scramble, leaving a clear and manageable plan for the new year.


5. January hiring preparation: what’s ready for you


By early January, everything sits neatly in place:


  • a refined brief

  • engaged and relevant candidates

  • interview plans arranged

  • a clear timeline from first conversation to offer


This early groundwork means your January hiring preparation is already in motion before the year has even begun.


It’s hiring that feels steady and structured - exactly what most businesses need at the start of a new year. It’s also what #RecruitmentMadeSimple looks like in practice.


A calmer way to begin the year


Hiring doesn’t need to begin with urgency. When the groundwork is done quietly in December, January becomes far easier for everyone involved.


If you’re planning to recruit in early 2026 and would like support shaping the early stages, MDR is here to help with straightforward, down-to-earth guidance, simply get in touch.




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