AI, Influence, and the End of Traditional Recruitment with Sean Anderson

AI, Influence, and the End of Traditional Recruitment with Sean Anderson

What happens when the business you've built no longer matches the life you want? Hoxo founder Sean Anderson shares the journey from PE teacher to top-billing recruiter, agency founder, podcast host, and one of the most recognised voices in personal branding for recruiters. Along the way, he reveals the lessons learned from scaling a business, chasing growth, navigating burnout, and ultimately redesigning his company around freedom, profit, and purpose.  Sean and Louise discuss: *  Why the recruitment industry is separating into trusted advisors and commodity suppliers  *  How personal branding creates commercial advantage in an AI-driven market  *  The biggest mistakes founders make when scaling their businesses  *  Why visibility matters more than ever for recruiters and search professionals  *  How AI is changing content creation, marketing, and client engagement  *  The power of niche positioning and becoming known for something specific  *  Why retained search firms are proving more resilient than contingent models  *  Building a business that serves your life, not the other way around  *  The surprising benefits of simplifying your business and your inputs  This episode is packed with practical insights for recruitment founders, search professionals, and anyone building a service business in a changing market. If you're wondering how to stay relevant, profitable, and fulfilled over the next decade, this conversation is worth your time.  Have a question? You can reach Sean on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-anderson-hoxo/ ___ Want to know more about our retained search training? Talk to us: https://retrainedsearch.com/book-a-demo/ [https://bit.ly/3P121fe] Check out our reviews: https://retrainedsearch.com/reviews/ [https://bit.ly/3YGmLfx] Join our upcoming masterclasses: https://retrainedsearch.com/webinars/ [https://bit.ly/3YGIAeY] ___ 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/

21 Years On LinkedIn: What Sam Rathling Knows That Most Recruiters Don't

Sam Rathling joined LinkedIn when most recruiters had never heard of it. More than two decades later, she's helped thousands of professionals build authority, create opportunities, and generate business without feeling salesy. In this episode of Retained Search, Sam shares the systems, habits, and mindset shifts recruiters need to stand out in an increasingly noisy market. You'll learn: • Why posting content alone is an unreliable growth strategy • The outbound LinkedIn system that creates consistent opportunities • The profile mistakes that stop recruiters winning clients • How to write DMs that actually get responses • Where recruiters are getting AI wrong on LinkedIn • Why giving away your best ideas creates more business, not less Sam also opens up about her breast cancer journey, navigating treatment as a single mum of three, and how the experience completely reshaped her definition of success. Whether you're looking to generate more leads, build a stronger personal brand, or rethink how you're using LinkedIn, this conversation is packed with practical insights you can put into action immediately. Follow Sam on LinkedIn for more advice: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/samrathling-linkedinexpert Manchester event link: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-indispensable-recruiter-registration-1987896122816?aff=blog ___ Want to know more about our retained search training? Talk to us: https://retrainedsearch.com/book-a-demo/ [https://bit.ly/3P121fe] Check out our reviews: https://retrainedsearch.com/reviews/ [https://bit.ly/3YGmLfx] Join our upcoming masterclasses: https://retrainedsearch.com/webinars/ [https://bit.ly/3YGIAeY] ___ 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/

Hyper Specialisation And The Future Of PE Talent with Paul Press

So excited to have Paul Press back on the podcast for the third time. His previous episodes have been some of our most watched and most shared conversations, so we had to bring him back to unpack even more value with you. What does it really take to build credibility in private equity search? Louise sits down with Paul Press, founder of Press & Associates, to unpack the realities of operating in one of the most demanding and relationship-driven sectors in executive search. Paul shares how he transitioned from oil and gas recruitment into a hyper-specialised private equity niche, helping PE firms build value creation teams that drive portfolio growth and successful exits. He explains why focusing narrowly on one function within one market became a competitive advantage, how long it actually takes to build trust with PE clients, and why most recruiters underestimate the patience and precision required to succeed in the space. The conversation explores the hidden complexity behind PE hiring processes, including six-to-twelve-stage interviews, committee-driven decision making, and the challenge of advocating for unconventional candidates in risk-averse environments. Paul also discusses the “IBM rule” in private equity hiring, why firms often default to familiar logos and pedigrees, and how search partners can help clients think more creatively about operator talent. Louise and Paul dive into the commercial side of retained search in private equity too, covering pricing expectations, what PE firms truly buy when they engage a search partner, and why perceived value matters far more than cost alone. They also examine how longer hold periods, growing competition between PE firms, and the rise of AI are reshaping the demand for operating partners and value creation professionals. Along the way, Paul offers candid advice for recruiters considering the PE market, including who is suited to the sector and who probably is not. He reflects on the mindset shift he experienced moving from contingent recruitment into retained search and why he now sees retained as one of the most valuable and intellectually demanding services in the talent industry. This episode is packed with insights on hyper-specialisation, credibility building, consultative search, operator hiring, AI transformation, and the future of private equity talent strategy. ___ Want to know more about our retained search training? Talk to us: https://retrainedsearch.com/book-a-demo/ [https://bit.ly/3P121fe] Check out our reviews: https://retrainedsearch.com/reviews/ [https://bit.ly/3YGmLfx] Join our upcoming masterclasses: https://retrainedsearch.com/webinars/ [https://bit.ly/3YGIAeY] ___ 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 Lucy Robinson Built a Global Search Firm From Leeds in a Super Niche Market

Lucy Robinson started with a laptop, a notebook of contacts, and a belief that recruitment could be done better. Today, LCR International is a global executive search firm placing senior leaders across the fresh produce industry on six continents, with more than 90% of its work retained. In this episode of Retrained Search, Lucy shares the real story behind the transition from contingent recruitment to retained search. From failed starts and difficult lessons to building a structured search business with forecastable revenue, stronger client relationships, and near-perfect fill rates. We discuss: * Why she chose one of the most niche markets in recruitment * The mistakes she made trying to move into retained search * Why most recruiters misunderstand retained delivery * Building a global search firm without offices worldwide * The difference between contingent recruiters and search consultants *  Creating a team-based delivery model *  How community and collaboration accelerated growth *  Why niching down changed everything If you are trying to move away from contingent recruitment and build a more structured, profitable, retained search business, this episode is packed with insight. ___ Want to know more about our retained search training? Talk to us: https://retrainedsearch.com/book-a-demo/ [https://bit.ly/3P121fe] Check out our reviews: https://retrainedsearch.com/reviews/ [https://bit.ly/3YGmLfx] Join our upcoming masterclasses: https://retrainedsearch.com/webinars/ [https://bit.ly/3YGIAeY] ___ 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/

From Supplier to Trusted Partner: Why Most Recruiters Get It Wrong

What does it actually mean to be a “trusted partner” in recruitment and why are so many getting it wrong? In this episode of Retained Search, Louise and Jordan unpack the shift from transactional recruitment to true partnership. They challenge the idea that volume equals trust and explain why those relationships are breaking under pressure from AI, changing client expectations, and cheaper access to candidates.  The conversation dives into the “bow tie” account model and what real integration with clients looks like. Not just filling roles, but connecting across functions, influencing decisions, and becoming part of how a business thinks about talent.  They also explore the skill most recruiters avoid: diagnosis. Why asking better questions changes everything. Why most recruiters jump to solutions too quickly. And how slowing down is the move that separates order-takers from advisors.  You’ll hear how shifting to retained search is less about selling retainers and more about learning how to think like a consultant. That means understanding problems at a deeper level, shaping solutions, and building relationships that don’t disappear when hiring slows down.  If you want to move beyond sending CVs and start influencing hiring decisions, this episode shows what needs to change and why it matters now more than ever. ___ Want to know more about our retained search training? Talk to us: https://retrainedsearch.com/book-a-demo/ [https://bit.ly/3P121fe] Check out our reviews: https://retrainedsearch.com/reviews/ [https://bit.ly/3YGmLfx] Join our upcoming masterclasses: https://retrainedsearch.com/webinars/ [https://bit.ly/3YGIAeY] ___ 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/