Prepares you to ask for an exclusive or retained search instead of competing contingent: whether the conditions are right, a 60-second pitch in the client's terms, what you ask in return, likely objections, a concession plan where every give is conditional, and a walk-away point.
Sales and BDcategory
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---
name: exclusive-search-pitch
description: Prepares a recruiter to ask for an exclusive or retained search instead of competing contingent: when to ask, what the client gets in return, the pitch in the client's terms, the questions and objections to expect, and a concession plan that trades rather than gives. Use when a recruiter says "exclusive", "retained search", "get the client to go exclusive", "stop competing with five agencies", or "trade terms for exclusivity".
license: MIT
metadata:
author: Work Insiders
version: "1.0"
pack: agency-growth-pack
---
# Exclusive search pitch
Racing four agencies to submit the same people wastes everyone's time, including the client's. You help a recruiter ask for exclusivity or a retainer when it is good for the client, and trade terms instead of discounting.
If `references/agency-profile.md` exists, read the exclusive and retained options, fee basis and guarantee. Never invent terms.
## When to ask
Ask when at least two are true; otherwise advise staying contingent:
- The role is hard (rare skill, tight market, past failed search).
- The client is using several agencies and getting duplicates or nothing.
- The hiring manager is reachable and will calibrate.
- The desk has proof on this role type.
## The pitch
1. **The problem in their words:** what the current approach has cost them (time open, duplicate submissions, wasted interviews).
2. **What exclusivity gets them:** priority on the desk, a full market map, calibration in the first week, a set update rhythm, a shortlist rather than a stream.
3. **What you ask in return:** exclusive for a set period, access to the hiring manager, feedback within an agreed time, and for retained searches a staged fee from the profile. Set a defined exclusive period with an end date, after which it reverts to contingent, and an engagement fee where the profile offers one.
4. **Proof:** one placement or case study on a similar role, from the profile or the recruiter only (see placement-case-study). If there is none, say so and drop this condition from "When to ask".
## Concession plan
Before the conversation, write what the recruiter will trade and what they get for each, in order:
| If the client asks for | We can give | Only if they give |
|---|---|---|
| Lower fee | [only a figure the recruiter states, or "Concessions we allow" from the profile; otherwise leave blank] | Exclusivity, faster feedback, more roles |
| Longer guarantee | [ ] | [ ] |
| Shorter exclusive period | [ ] | [ ] |
Plus the walk-away point: the terms below which the desk stays contingent or declines.
## Output
```
EXCLUSIVE PITCH: [Client, role] | [date]
Ask for exclusivity? yes / no, because [ ]
Pitch (spoken, 60 seconds): [ ]
What we ask for: [ ]
Likely objections and replies: [ ]
Concession plan: [table]
Walk-away point: [ ]
```
## Rules
- Never promise a time to fill or a guaranteed hire to win exclusivity.
- Every concession is conditional ("if you can give us X, we can do Y"). Never give terms away to be liked.
- Contract wording goes to the recruiter's adviser.
- For a full terms document, use fee-proposal.
- Drafts only. The recruiter reviews and sends.
The agency profile it reads (fill this in so it uses your real details)
# Agency profile
Fill this in once. Every skill in the pack reads it, so every output comes out in your agency's voice with your real terms. Delete any line you do not want the AI to use. Leave a line blank rather than guessing.
## Who we are
- Agency name:
- Recruiter name and title (for sign-offs):
- Phone:
- Mailing address (needed for US commercial email):
- Years in business:
- Specialties (roles we fill):
- Markets (cities, regions or "US remote"):
- Industries we know best:
## Terms
- Direct hire fee basis (e.g. % of first-year base):
- Guarantee period and type (free replacement / pro-rata refund / credit; conditions, e.g. fee paid within terms):
- Contract markup or bill rate approach:
- Exclusive or retained options:
- Payment terms (e.g. net 30 from start date):
- Introduction period (how long a candidate we introduce stays ours):
- Contract-to-hire conversion fee:
- Concessions we allow, and their limits:
## Proof points we can share
- Placements, time to fill, or retention figures we are happy to quote:
- Client names we may mention (only with permission):
## How we work
- ATS:
- Do we text candidates? (yes/no):
- Name the client in first candidate messages? (yes/no):
- Blind profiles: always / new clients only / never:
- Include pay expectation in submittals? (yes/no):
- Job post apply instructions:
- EEO statement:
## Words we never use
-
Yes. It is part of the free Work Insiders Agency Growth Pack, MIT licensed, so you can edit and share it.
Does Exclusive Search Pitch work in Gemini?
Yes. Upload it in Gemini Enterprise or drop the folder into Gemini CLI's skills folder. In the regular Gemini app, paste its instructions into a Gem.
Can I trust it with my data?
It has no scripts and sends nothing anywhere. Whatever you paste goes only to your AI assistant, under that assistant's own data terms, so remove candidate details you do not need first. It can still steer how the assistant answers, so read it before you use it.
Written by Work Insiders for agency recruiters. Fill in the agency profile before you use it so it never invents fees or proof points. How we make money.
