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

Why a CV Isn’t the Same as Candidate Fit

  • Michelle Denny
  • Jul 27
  • 3 min read

Part of our 'How to Hire Better' series for HR leaders and hiring managers


When a CV lands on your desk that ticks all the boxes, experience, skills, qualifications, it’s easy to think, “This is the one.” But a strong CV doesn’t always equal a strong hire.


At Michelle Denny Recruitment Consultancy, we’ve seen time and again how businesses come unstuck by hiring solely on paper. Why? Because fit, real fit, lives and shows up in the spaces a CV can’t capture.


ree

In this blog, we’re digging into what “fit” actually means, why it’s crucial to get right, and how to avoid costly mis-hires that cost time, money and morale.


Let’s define ‘fit’, properly


Fit isn’t about who you’d want to have a drink with. It’s about alignment. Between your expectations and the candidate’s behaviours. Between what the job really needs and how the person operates when the pressure’s on. It’s the blend of competence, communication style, pace, values, flexibility, and whether those things slot into your culture, team dynamic and strategic direction.


CVs tell you where someone’s been. Fit tells you whether they’ll thrive where you’re going.


What you miss when you rely on the CV alone


A CV is, by design, a sales document. It shows what the candidate wants you to see. It rarely shows:


  • How they behave under pressure

  • Whether they collaborate well (or prefer solo work)

  • How they lead, or follow

  • How they learn, take feedback, handle ambiguity

  • Whether they’ll challenge ideas productively, or push back disruptively


These are often the reasons someone stays or goes. Thrives or folds. Elevates a team or causes weeks of recovery work.


The risk of getting it wrong


A mis-hire is more than just a regret. It’s expensive.


The CIPD estimates the cost of a failed hire at senior level is well into five figures. But it’s the hidden costs that sting:


  • Weeks of onboarding that don’t go anywhere

  • Drop in morale and engagement from the team

  • Project or client delays

  • Damage to internal trust and decision-making confidence

  • Having to restart the process, with reputational knock-on


And if you’re a growing business, one misstep can seriously slow your momentum.


What we do differently at MDR Consultancy


We’re not in the business of “get ‘em in, send ‘em over” recruitment. As we always say, we are no a CV sausage machine. Our consultancy-led process is designed to uncover fit, not just find a match.


Here’s how we approach it:


Behavioural Role Analysis:

We dig into the actual needs of the role, beyond the job spec. That includes behaviours, dynamics, and success measures.


Role-Specific Psychometrics:

For strategic or business-critical hires, we offer a Role Survey that helps map the ideal profile and assess candidates objectively against it.


In-depth Discovery:

We spend time with both you and the candidate. Not just to verify capability, but to test alignment, expectations, pace, leadership, mindset.


Video and Scenario Assessments:

Where appropriate, we give you more than words on a page. You see the person in action, how they think, how they communicate, how they handle challenge.


The result? You’re not guessing. You’re hiring with clarity and confidence.


Why this matters for your business


Well, hiring is a risk. It always will be.


But you can reduce that risk significantly with a process that goes deeper than the CV. A process that helps you see, not just read, the people you’re choosing from.


When you work with MDRC, you’re getting more than candidates. You’re getting consultancy, challenge, and an honest lens on what will (and won’t) work. That’s what makes the difference.


Not sure where to start?


We’re always up for a coffee and a conversation. No pressure, just honest advice.


📩 Or drop us a message if you're hiring now or planning ahead.

 

Comments

bottom of page