How to Earn Trusted Advisor Status in Recruitment with Somer Hackley

How to Earn Trusted Advisor Status in Recruitment with Somer Hackley

From The Retained Search Show by Retrained Search

March 31, 2026 · 56 min · Season 1 · Episode 62

About this episode

Somer Hackley discusses the importance of earning trusted advisor status in recruitment and shares a pivotal career story.

In this episode, Louise Archer speaks with Somer Hackley, CEO of Distinguished Search and author of Search in Plain Sight, about the real difference between transactional recruiting and true trusted advisory. Somer shares the pivotal story that changed her career: the moment she advised a client not to hire the only finalist left in process, despite months of work and huge pressure to close. That decision became the foundation of deeper trust, long-term partnership, and a completely different...

People in this episode

Host: Louise Archer

Guest: Somer Hackley

Topics covered

  • trusted advisor
  • recruitment
  • transactional recruiting
  • career change
  • client relationships

Keywords

  • trusted advisor
  • recruitment
  • Somer Hackley
  • Louise Archer
  • client trust
  • career advice
  • transactional recruiting

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Distinguished Search

Books & works: Search in Plain Sight

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