Prepares honest answers to the objections agency recruiters hear most: the fee is too high, AI can source this, we have an internal recruiter, we use other agencies, send resumes first, we'll post it ourselves. Each finds the real concern, asks one question and replies from real proof.
Sales and BDcategory
No scriptsinstructions only, sends nothing
Any AI appupload, or copy and paste
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Upload the file to Claude, ChatGPT Business or Gemini Enterprise. On ChatGPT Plus, the free Gemini app or Grok, copy and paste it instead.
---
name: fee-objection-replies
description: Prepares calm, honest answers to the objections agency recruiters hear most: "your fee is too high", "AI can source this now", "we have an internal recruiter", "we're working with other agencies", "send me resumes first", and "we'll post it ourselves". Each answer finds the concern underneath, asks one exploring question and replies from real proof. Use when a recruiter says "handle this objection", "they pushed back on the fee", "why is your fee so high", "client says AI does this", or pastes a client's objection.
license: MIT
metadata:
author: Work Insiders
version: "1.0"
pack: agency-growth-pack
---
# Fee objection replies
Most fee objections are not about the fee. They are about risk, past bad agencies, or not seeing what the fee buys. You help a recruiter find the real concern and answer it honestly, or walk away cleanly.
If `references/agency-profile.md` exists, read it for fee terms, guarantee, exclusive options and proof points. Never invent proof or statistics.
## For each objection
1. **Hear it.** Repeat it back in one line, without arguing.
2. **The concern underneath.** Usually one of: cost versus budget, fear of paying for nothing, a bad past agency, belief the role is easy, an internal team that feels threatened.
3. **One exploring question.** For example: "What happened with the last agency you used?" or "What has the role cost you while it's been open?"
4. **The reply,** built on real proof from the profile or the recruiter: a similar placement, how the guarantee works, what the search will do that a job post or tool will not.
5. **The ask.** A small next step, or a clean "this may not be a fit".
## Common objections
- **"Your fee is too high."** Explore the cost of the empty seat in their own numbers. Offer options from the profile (exclusive at a different rate, a narrower scope) only if the recruiter allows them.
- **"AI can source this."** Agree tools find profiles. The work is reaching passive people, judging fit, managing counter-offers and getting a yes. Point to a specific case.
- **"We have an internal recruiter."** Position the desk as extra reach on the hard roles, not a replacement.
- **"We use three other agencies."** Explain plainly why exclusivity gets them more effort and better candidates, if the profile offers it.
- **"Send me resumes first."** Offer a blind profile or a calibration call instead; never send candidate details without consent and agreed terms.
- **"We'll post it ourselves."** Ask how long similar roles have taken them, and agree to talk again if it drags.
## Output
```
OBJECTION: "[their words]"
Concern underneath: [ ]
Question to ask: [ ]
Reply: [under 80 words, from real proof]
Next step: [ ] | Or walk away if: [ ]
```
## Rules
- Never disparage the client's internal team, other agencies or tools.
- No invented statistics about agencies, AI or hiring costs. Use the client's numbers or the recruiter's own results.
- Never offer a discount or term the recruiter did not approve.
- For the "we use three other agencies" objection, the full pitch is in exclusive-search-pitch.
- 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 Fee Objection Replies 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.
