7 Unorthodox Secrets Leading Recruitment and Search Businesses Use to Win More Retained or Exclusive Clients—With Less Effort and Higher Fees
A Talk by Drew Edwards and Terry Edwards
The Harsh Truth About Retained & Exclusive Recruitment Deals (And Why Most Firms Will Never Win Enough of Them)
Most recruiters say they want more retained or exclusive clients. They want higher fees, better commitment, and to stop wasting time on roles that never fill.
But when it comes down to it? They keep playing the same old game—competing on contingency, hoping clients will “see the value,” and getting ghosted after sending over a shortlist.
The truth is, leading recruitment and search firms don’t hope for retainers. They take them. And they do it without begging, without lowering fees, and without fighting for scraps.
In this session, I’m revealing 7 unorthodox secrets that top-performing recruitment and search businesses are using right now to win retained and exclusive clients—while working less and charging more.
These are not the same tired “add more value” or “build better relationships” strategies you’ve heard before. In fact, some of what I’ll share will go against what most recruiters believe about winning retainers.
But if you want to break free from the exhausting, unpredictable world of contingency, you can’t afford to miss this session.
Because by the time we’re done, you’ll know exactly how to:
✅ Position yourself so clients ask to work with you on a retained basis
✅ Win retained deals at higher fees—even if you’ve never sold one before
✅ Stop getting ghosted and start controlling the entire recruitment process
You’ve got two choices:
Keep doing what most recruiters do and keep struggling to win retainers.
Or show up, take notes, and start landing high-fee, committed clients with less effort.
The best recruitment businesses have already figured this out.
Now it’s your turn.
Are you in?
About The Speakers
MakeMorePlacements.com
Drew Edwards is the co-founder of Make More Placements, helping recruitment and search business owners win more retained clients, charge higher fees, and scale without stress. With a deep focus on automation and client acquisition, he’s helped firms generate millions—without working longer hours.
MakeMorePlacements.com
Terry Edwards is the co-founder of Make More Placements and the creator of the APEX system, which has helped recruitment and search business owners land higher fees, secure more retained clients, and scale with freedom. A former recruiter, he’s coached firms to millions in revenue
Ascen is a Y Combinator–backed Employer of Record (EOR) built for staffing agencies. With thousands of W-2s across the US, Ascen’s white-label, all-in-one platform handles onboarding, payroll, invoicing, and funding—giving you the power of a large national staffing agency so you can focus on growth.
