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 team.

“The whole staff is just much happier being valued by our clients,” Tom shares. And as Sean puts it: “It’s night and day compared to contingent recruitment.”

We also dive into the practical side—how to:
🎙️ Evaluate opportunities more critically
🎙️ Build the confidence to turn down contingent work
🎙️ Structure retained engagements that actually work

Their advice? “Don’t settle. Value yourself. Demand to work at the level you deserve.”

If you’ve ever felt undervalued or stuck in the contingent cycle, this conversation is for you.

Curious about making the shift to retained? Check out our Search Foundations program to consistently win and deliver retained search projects.

If you have any questions, connect with Sean Locke & Thomas Hudson on LinkedIn.

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Want to know more about our retained search training? Talk to us: https://retrainedsearch.com/book-a-demo/

Check out our reviews: https://retrainedsearch.com/reviews/

Join our upcoming masterclasses: https://retrainedsearch.com/webinars/

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LinkedIn

Connect with Louise: https://www.linkedin.com/in/louise-archer-48612844/

Connect with Jordan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/retainedsearchcoach/

Follow Retrained Search: https://www.linkedin.com/company/retrained-search/