From feeling trapped in the contingent grind to becoming trusted, valued partners – Sean and Tom from The Locke Group share their journey.

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.