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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

Why hiring feels harder than it used to – and what you can do about it.

  • Michelle Denny
  • Jan 17
  • 2 min read

If you’ve recruited before, you may be finding that recruitment doesn’t quite feel the same anymore – even when the role itself is a good one.


Roles are taking longer to fill. Shortlists feel thinner. Candidates are more cautious, quieter, and less likely to make quick moves. Even well-run hiring processes can feel heavier than they used to.


You’re not imagining it – hiring has changed. But it hasn’t stopped working.



Why hiring feels harder in today’s market


Many good candidates are staying put unless a move really makes sense for them. They are weighing up stability, culture, workload, progression and flexibility far more carefully than they did a few years ago.


That means fewer applications, less noise, and more considered decisions. Silence doesn’t always mean a lack of interest – often it just means people are thinking things through, talking it over at home, or weighing up whether now is the right time.


At the same time, employers are competing less on volume and more on clarity. Clear roles, honest conversations and well-run processes are now what stand out most.


Where employers can easily get stuck


When hiring feels harder, it’s natural to tighten expectations or wait for the perfect person to appear. In reality, this can slow things down even more.


Some of the sticking points we see most often include:

  • Job descriptions that try to cover everything, but don’t clearly explain what the role is really there to do

  • Processes that lose momentum once a strong candidate appears

  • Uncertainty around flexibility, progression or what success actually looks like in the role

  • Assuming candidates will automatically show enthusiasm, without much engagement in return


None of these are mistakes – they’re understandable responses to a changing market. But they can quietly work against you.


What does help in today’s market


The employers who are hiring well right now are doing a few simple things consistently.

They are clear about what the role is really there to do. They are honest about the reality – the good and the challenging. They move with intent once someone good comes along. And they treat recruitment as a conversation, not a test.



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A final thought


Hiring may feel harder than it used to, but strong teams are still being built every day.

In many cases, it’s not about changing everything – just adjusting how you approach the process, asking the right questions, and having the right support around you.

If recruitment feels more complicated than it should right now, a straightforward conversation can often bring clarity.


If you’re hiring and finding the process slower or more uncertain than expected, we’re always happy to talk things through and offer an honest perspective.

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