What if the best path to growth is doing more with less?

We sit down with James Ward, founder of Clarity R2R, to unpack how a leadership-focused, values-driven R2R firm can scale in the United States without chasing headcount. From Manchester beginnings to a Miami base, James explains why a less saturated US market - with around 25,000 staffing firms serving 350 million people - creates space for specialist search across technology, life sciences, and financial services.

We get candid about hiring mistakes, the cost of premature ops hires, and the moment a management coach forced a hard reset on vision and values. James breaks down his operating spine - outbound searches for billing manager to board level, principals placed by referral, not volume. He shares how he qualifies clients for retained work, when exclusive beats contingent, and how to decide when a full search process is truly needed.

Expect practical insights on:

• Building a lean A-team that outbills larger firms
• Using deposits to protect focus and forecast revenue
• What top recruiters want from employers today
• Why being on the ground still matters in US expansion

If you’re exploring retained search or considering a US move, this is your playbook on client selection, capacity management, and building a high-performance culture.

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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/

Want to know why retained search works in one of the toughest arenas - search-to-search - and how boutique firms are turning that challenge into a competitive moat?

We sit down with Candice Bourne, Director at Bourne Consulting to unpack the real mechanics of retained search for recruiter-to-recruiter hires: from patient sourcing of passive originators to brand signals that actually move the needle.

Candice traces her pivot from a contingent background to a partnership-first model, showing how trust, process, and precision outperform volume when candidates are high-performing and time-poor. We explore what’s selling in today’s market - and what’s not - after a year that’s pushed delivery roles to the background while keeping demand for true originators front and center.

You’ll hear how SME boutiques can compete with global names through sharper storytelling, credible client rosters, and genuine cross-sell support - and how adjacent revenue lines like interim, leadership advisory, and mapping can smooth cycles and deepen client relationships.

Then we go tactical: two standout retained wins, from building a financial services practice in the UAE from a cold start to placing a CFO-practice consultant who later launched a New York office. Along the way, we talk sourcing BD talent, engaging passive candidates without breaking trust, and why informal first conversations often outperform formal interviews when the stakes are high.

We wrap with a look at where the action is next - the US and Middle East - and the recurring themes shaping the future of search, from AI’s impact on research to the evolving role of the researcher.

If you’re a recruiter considering the shift from contingent to retained—or already partway there - you’ll take away practical advice, global insights, and plenty of inspiration from someone who’s done it.

Follow the show, share it with a colleague debating retained vs. contingent, and leave a quick review to help more recruiters find us.

Got a story or question from the field? Email [email protected]
or connect with us 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/

Louise Archer, Sophie Robertson, David Wolstenholme and Adrian Byra come together to announce their exciting Sydney Masterclass Event taking place on October 23rd at the Sydney Harbour Marriott Hotel, designed to help Australian recruiters navigate changing market conditions with innovative strategies.

You'll Learn

• How to win exclusivity and commitment in cautious markets, avoid costly delivery pitfalls, and guarantee fill rates that keep clients coming back.
• How to uncover hidden temp opportunities, avoid margin-draining mistakes, and create the stability your business needs in uncertain times.
• How to leverage offshore teams and AI to cut costs, boost productivity, and keep margins healthy when revenue is under pressure.
• How to stand out with content that addresses clients’ biggest fears, builds authority, and wins trust when budgets are tight.

Join us at the Sydney Harbour Marriott Hotel on Thursday, October 23rd for a full-day masterclass that will transform how you approach recruitment in today's changing market. 

Book now to secure your spot. Spaces are limited: https://recruitment-masterclass.vercel.app/

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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/

Pete Watson, founder of Mint R2R and Recruitment United, offers a refreshingly honest look at the realities of Australian recruitment today. With over 21 years building Australia’s longest-serving Rec to Rec business, Pete brings a unique perspective on how the industry is evolving and why community might be the secret ingredient most recruiters are missing.

Pete's journey from running pubs in Manchester to becoming a recruitment entrepreneur began with a simple phone call from a friend boasting about an £11,000 monthly bonus. That call sparked a career spanning two decades and continents, culminating in multiple successful ventures designed to bring recruiters together. His most passionate project, Recruitment United, was born from a personal realization while on the treadmill - that the isolation of running a small recruitment agency was taking a toll. "My life was somewhat isolated, dare I say, lonely," Pete admits, describing the moment he decided to create something that would connect independent recruiters across Australia.

In this episode, Pete shares:

• Why the Australian recruitment market remains resilient-though uneven-across verticals
• How community and collaboration can transform an industry built on competition
• The untapped opportunity of retained search, including the story of one regional recruiter who trebled his revenue by converting contingent jobs to retained searches
• Why AI should be seen as an opportunity, not a threat, for relationship-driven recruiters
• His advice for navigating market slowdowns: “Now is the time you raise your game. Now is the time you be way more visible.”

Whether you’re thinking about starting your own agency, shifting towards retained search, or simply craving connection in an often-isolated profession, Pete’s insights provide both inspiration and practical guidance. His message is clear: the future of recruitment isn’t about fighting competition, it’s about putting an arm around each other.

If you're interested in joining Recruitment United or learning more about Pete's ventures, connect with him on LinkedIn or call him directly at 0432 666 701.

Find out more about our upcoming Recruitment Masterclass in Sydney: https://recruitment-masterclass.vercel.app/

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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/

The recruitment landscape is shifting fast and AI is handing boutique search firms the edge to compete with industry giants. In this conversation, we unpack how artificial intelligence is transforming workflows, enhancing capabilities, and reshaping competitive dynamics in executive search without losing the human touch.

Jord shares how he went from using ChatGPT as “Google on steroids” to fully integrating AI into his day-to-day, like building a laser-targeted prospect list in minutes that once took days. Sarah shows how AI-driven analysis surfaced patterns in their marketing data that would’ve taken a full day to find manually.

We also contrast adoption styles across the industry. While some larger firms cite concerns (GDPR, candidate experience) and move cautiously, smaller boutiques are embracing AI, winning work by pairing human judgment with AI-assisted speed and polish. The takeaway: AI won’t replace your expertise; it amplifies it, freeing you to focus on high-value conversations and relationships.

What you’ll learn:

• Using AI for research & prospecting to turn hours into minutes
• Creating custom GPTs that understand your niche, process, and brand voice
• Analyzing business data with AI to uncover patterns humans might miss
• Producing client-ready deliverables that rival larger firms’ output
• Recording yourself and using AI to keep your authentic voice in content
• Training AI like a new hire: invest upfront to get better downstream results
• Running strategic reviews with AI to spot growth opportunities
• Applying AI personally first to build comfort and momentum

Join us:
Want to supercharge BD with AI? Thursday, September 18 at 1:00 PM UK - our webinar covers actionable plays to leverage AI in your search firm while keeping the humanity front and center. Bring your own AI wins and questions, we’d love to hear how you’re using these tools.

Join with a click here: https://www.linkedin.com/events/7371891640543748097/

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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/

In this episode, Paul Press, founder and managing partner of Press Associates, joins us to unpack how ChatGPT and other AI tools are transforming recruitment. From automating time-consuming tasks to enabling anyone to launch a search firm with minimal investment, the possibilities are limitless.

We explore:

• Which CRMs are best for search firms, and why HubSpot is emerging as an AI-powered favourite
• The single biggest AI-driven time-saver for recruiters
• Three tiers of AI adoption—native, assisted, and augmented—and where executive search fits in
• How custom GPTs can act as on-demand subject matter experts
• Why AI has slashed the time and cost of starting a search firm
• The irreplaceable role of human insight and judgment in an AI-driven world
• Why clients choose people, not brands, in executive search

Whether you’re running an established practice or thinking of launching your first search business, you’ll leave with practical ways to harness AI to compete—and win—in this rapidly changing market.

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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/

___

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/

Ever wondered why most recruitment CRMs feel like they're designed for management rather than consultants? Manan Shah, co-founder of Recruiterflow, reveals how his accidental journey into recruitment technology led to creating a system that prioritizes consultant productivity over top-down control.

Manan's insight is simple yet revolutionary: traditional recruitment software gets implemented when management "shoves it down the throat of consultants," creating adoption problems because it doesn't help them make more money. Recruiterflow flips this model, building tools specifically for frontline recruiters that also deliver the visibility management needs.

The conversation dives deep into how AI is transforming recruitment across different segments. 

Manan categorizes AI implementation into three approaches: AI-native for high-volume roles, AI-assist for mid-senior positions requiring nuanced judgment, and AI-augment for executive search. The most fascinating innovations come through "agents" that automatically handle tasks without human prompting – from parsing CVs and categorizing candidates by industry experience to creating client presentations.

Despite these advancements, the industry remains surprisingly behind in adoption. Only about 15% of recruitment firms are using AI strategically, while 40-50% believe they're "AI-enabled" simply because they use ChatGPT for emails. The gap between leaders and laggards is widening as early adopters see concrete improvements in recruiter productivity, accuracy, and revenue.

Looking ahead, Manan predicts we're approaching "peak euphoria" with AI in recruitment, with a reality check coming around 2026 when businesses begin demanding concrete ROI. The future will likely involve ecosystems of specialized AI agents working together across platforms – a development Recruiterflow is already preparing for.

Ready to transform how your recruitment business leverages technology? Connect with Manan on LinkedIn or email him at [email protected] to explore how these innovations might reshape your approach to search.

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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/

How do you go from paying AU$50 a day just to shadow recruiters... to founding a national healthcare talent firm backed by a global partner?

Paris Matin, founder of Healtii People, joins us to share his remarkable journey from chasing tennis dreams to redefining how Australia recruits for allied health, aged care, and social services. What started with pure hustle has evolved into a consultative, scalable, and sophisticated recruitment business with a mission to move beyond transactional hiring.

In this episode, Paris explains:

• Why the Australian recruitment market is thriving while the UK’s contracts
• The 3-tiered model: contingent, retained, and project-retained - and when to use each
• How consultative recruitment creates better client outcomes and stronger business valuation
• What it really takes to shift clients away from quick-fix hiring to long-term partnership
• Why he caps consultants at 8-10 active roles to maintain quality over volume

If you're looking to introduce retained models, improve delivery, or scale sustainably, this episode is packed with hard-won insights. Plus, Paris gives practical advice on how to roll out retained recruitment starting with your strongest client relationships.

Connect with Paris on LinkedIn or visit www.healthiipeople.com.au to learn more about their modern approach to healthcare hiring.

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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/

What do 100 door-knocks in a day and record-breaking recruitment billings have in common? Everything according to Jeron van den Elshout.

In this high-impact episode, Jeron shares how he went from nearly getting fired in his first sales job to founding a global recruitment business operating across the US, Middle East, and Europe.

You’ll hear how persistence turned rejection into revenue, and how a single conversation changed everything, catapulting him from frustrated jobseeker to top biller. Jeron breaks down the key differences between contingent, exclusive, and retained models, and makes a compelling case for why retained isn't just preferable, it's essential for hard-to-fill roles.

We cover:

• Reactive vs. proactive recruitment
• Why "exclusivity" can be misleading when internal talent teams are still in the mix
• Why the retainer model is optimal and what makes it hard to implement
• How Jeron built a personal brand of 40,000+ LinkedIn followers by sharing tips and staying authentic
• The creation of KOLY, a “recruitment incubator” helping consultants eventually launch their own agencies

This episode is packed with hard-earned lessons and practical insights from someone who’s done the work and lived the journey. Jeron brings the experience. Don’t miss it.

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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/

___

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/

What does it take to escape the race-to-the-bottom world of contingency recruiting and build a high-impact retained search firm?

In this episode, the wise and deeply experienced Clark Waterfall shares the lessons he's learned over decades in search, from placing hourly workers in the printing industry to founding Boston Search Group (BSG), a retained executive search firm serving private equity-backed businesses.

Clark shares about the moment he realized contingency recruitment had become commoditized, treating hiring like buying eggs: transactional, negotiable, and undervalued. Retained search, on the other hand, offered a way to become a true strategic partner in talent acquisition.

Drawing on the research of Nobel laureate Daniel Kahneman, Clark explains why traditional interviews often fail and how structured assessments and extended candidate exposure can lead to far better hiring decisions.

In this conversation, we cover:

• The Talent Growth & Optimization Cycle
• How to mitigate “blink” judgments with deeper assessments
• What drives lasting client partnerships
• Why fewer clients and deeper relationships yield better outcomes
• The power of challenging clients (even when it’s uncomfortable)

If you’re serious about elevating your recruitment model and becoming a true talent advisor, this episode is unmissable.

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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/

___

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/