The Retained Search Show

This is the show for ambitious recruiters who want to win and deliver retained searches with confidence. Expect real stories, proven strategies, and insights you can actually use.

The Retained Search Show is a business podcast hosted by Retrained Search, with 66 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Retrained Search hosts The Retained Search Show, a business show with 66 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #68

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

  Jun 23, 202655 minS1

  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/ 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/

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  Episode #67

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

  Jun 9, 202643 minS1

  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/ 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/

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  Episode #66

  Hyper Specialisation And The Future Of PE Talent with Paul Press

  May 26, 202637 minS1

  <p>What does it really take to build credibility in private equity search? In this episode of Retained Search: The Podcast, 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.</p><p>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...

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  Episode #65

  How Lucy Robinson Built a Global Search Firm From Leeds in a Super Niche Market

  May 12, 202634 minS1

  <p>Lucy Robinson started with a laptop, a notebook of contacts, and a belief that recruitment could be done better.</p><p>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.</p><p>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.</p><p>We discuss:</p>Why she...

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  Episode #64

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

  Apr 28, 202638 minS1

  <p>What does it actually mean to be a “trusted partner” in recruitment and why are so many getting it wrong?</p><p>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. </p><p>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...

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