The Retained Search Show

Contingent or retained - what’s the better recruitment model?  It's a question that’s sparked debate for decades. But maybe we’ve been asking the wrong question all along. Our host for this episode, Hishem Azzouz, steps into the role of moderator and questions two industry experts with very different experiences and perspectives: Louise Archer, a passionate advocate for retained search, and C...

What would you do if you got fired while sipping wine on vacation in France - even as the top biller at your firm? For Benjamin Mena, that shocking moment became the spark he needed to bet on himself and build a thriving government contracting recruitment agency. In this heartfelt and unfiltered conversation, Benjamin shares the real story behind his career pivot, from a struggling rookie recruite...

Nick Hoadley shares his transformative journey from insurance broker to founder of Insurance Search, a successful retained executive search firm serving the UK, US, and Bermuda insurance markets. But the path wasn’t linear. Nick opens up about how working in contingent recruitment chipped away at his confidence and professional identity. “You don’t really want to mention to people that you’re a re...

In this LinkedIn Live replay, Ryan and Paul reveal how they transformed their recruitment businesses by shifting from contingent chaos to retained success, right in the middle of Japan’s notoriously tough talent market. One hit his annual target by Valentine's Day. The other landed a $700,000 single fee. What changed? Everything. Japan’s recruitment market is no walk in the cherry blossom par...

From members who've doubled their revenue after transitioning from contingent to retained work, to recruiters who've fallen back in love with their profession, the transformations are nothing short of remarkable. One of our members went from struggling to bill £140K in contingent work to effortlessly generating £300K through retained search—while working fewer hours and with greater sati...

All the way from New York and New Jersey, Sean and Tom from The Locke Group joined us to share their journey—from feeling stuck in the contingent grind to becoming valued partners in retained search. The contingent model held them back from offering the consultative partnerships their clients truly needed. Shifting to retained search changed everything—not just for their business, but for their te...

In this episode, we’re joined by Gemma Beasley, who shares her journey from the corporate world to launching her own recruitment business, Hudson Cooper Search, specializing in construction recruitment. We’ll explore how she made the leap from the UK to the U.S. market, the unique challenges she faced, and the realities of building a business focused on relationships over transactions.  Gemma also...

Ever felt the frustration of chasing contingent recruitment leads only to see them slip away? In this episode of The Retained Search Show , we sit down with Ross Sanderson, Group Director of Solutions at STR Group, as he shares his transformative journey from contingent recruitment to mastering retained search. We explore the challenges, the mindset shifts, and the impact on both business success...

Stuck in the "Contained" or "Retingent" Haze? We're here to peel back the layers of this complex journey, spotlighting halfway retained adopters who find themselves stuck in a limbo of mixed results. We want to help you unlock the full benefits of completely transitioning to retained search by understanding the processes, pricing, and commitment required. Stay tuned—there’...

Join us for an inspiring and insightful journey into the shift from contingent to retained search, as we celebrate real-life success stories from our community and share actionable strategies for setting and achieving your goals in 2025. In this episode, we reflect on how personal experiences shape professional growth, the pivotal role of supportive leadership in nurturing talent, and the power of...

Curious about how to redefine your recruitment strategy and achieve outstanding results? Discover transformative insights from the vibrant community at Retrained Search as we explore the journey of recruiters transitioning from contingent to retained models.  This episode celebrates the significant milestones achieved by our members. Alongside industry experts Paul and Rowan, we unpack the complex...

Join us as we celebrate remarkable recruitment journeys and exciting milestones in the retained search world. From inspiring career transitions to transformative strategies, this episode is packed with stories that redefine success. You'll hear how Josh overcame a recruitment freeze to secure a placement against all odds, Kelly's shift from contingent to retained work that launched a maj...

Josh Foulkes from Sonder & Metric joins us for an inspiring episode on The Retained Search Show. Imagine a David versus Goliath story where a small recruitment firm triumphs over industry behemoths like Russell Reynolds.  Through market insight and client-centric service, this firm redefined what's possible in executive search.  We explore how their tailored approach not only met client n...

Retained recruitment isn't just an option; it's a powerful strategy that can redefine your success in any industry, market and client-base.  We promise you'll learn how to break free from the misconceptions that have held you back. From concrete to mining, we've got compelling statistics and real-life stories that prove retained recruitment is not only possible but the best sol...

Meet Harriet Janman, who joins us to share her inspiring story of transitioning from contingent recruitment to retained projects, where her fees have nearly doubled. Harriet's journey is about overcoming fears, adapting to a retained model, and finding success. She openly shares her experiences and growth, offering valuable insights. Harriet explains how she conquered her nerves about working...

Ever wondered how temp revenue can be a game-changer for recruitment businesses?  Join us as we chat with Sophie Robertson, a veteran in temp and contract staffing, who takes us through her incredible career journey from a temp recruiter in Sydney to becoming a branch manager and esteemed coach. Sophie shares her expert insights on how temp revenue not only boosts business strategies but also adds...

Our summer was a whirlwind of holidays, family illnesses, and even sporting triumphs, with Louise celebrating her tennis team’s string of victories.  Plus, we’re thrilled to introduce our new team member and share the rigorous interview process that led us to this exciting addition. We’re also diving into how business growth and leadership structures can be game-changers. Discover how the Entrepre...

In this episode, we dive into the journey of TJ Crosby, a seasoned HR professional who transitioned into the world of recruitment. With a strong background in HR, TJ decided to embark on his entrepreneurial journey by buying into a well-established recruitment firm, Concrete Careers, which has been active in the US and parts of Canada for nearly 50 years.  In this episode, TJ shares:  His motivati...

We're delighted to have Rod Hore, M&A Advisor at HHMC Global, on our show! Have you ever wondered what it takes to build a successful recruitment business, balancing both personal and professional goals? Join us for an engaging conversation with Rod, a seasoned expert in buying and selling recruitment companies. In this episode, we uncover: The profound benefits of building genuine client...

Want to learn how to scale your retained search business or function with digital marketing? Then, you need to listen to this powerful episode! Our guest, Sarah Chester Nelson , takes us through her inspiring journey from graphic design to becoming a digital marketing powerhouse in retained recruitment. Sarah’s strategies have been game-changing for Retrained Search and our community. In this epis...

We were delighted to have Greg Simidian, Co-Founder and CEO of The Ally Venture, on our podcast. Greg has been in the financial data space for over 30 years, supporting and selling data products to the global investment banking, legal, and professional services sectors. Now, he has what he calls his "later life experiment": applying the standards and lessons learned in his past life to s...

We're excited to be joined by Hishem Azzouz, founder of Hector, the all-in-one training platform that's powered by current top performers. Hishem is also the host of The Recruitment Mentors Podcast, one of the leading podcasts globally aimed at Recruiters who want to level up their performance. Our chat with Hishem delves into: What the best recruiters are currently doing to be successfu...

We're thrilled to be joined by Joe Curtis, Director & Co-Founder of 11 Investments and Recruiter Labs. He's helping recruiters launch businesses through investing, back-office support,  services and more! We talk about the electrifying world of sales and startup culture in the recruitment sector, and Joe gives his expert perspective from his ventures at 11 Investments and Recruiter L...

In episode 19 of Retrained Search, The Podcast, we're delighted to have Jo Shapley, Director & Principal Consultant of Turning Stones Recruitment & Search, join us all the way from Australia. We discuss how Australian recruitment companies are currently operating and the potential for retained search to help consultants: Develop stronger partnerships with their clients and really help...

We're excited to tell you all about our in-person Recruitment Masterclass for High Performers and Leaders. We'll be sharing advice right from content creation, business development, and prospecting to pitching and closing clients and getting the money in the bank! What more could you want? All our Australian listeners who can make it to Sydney on the May 15, 2024,  for four powerful in-d...