Chris Sund Keynote Speaker at NAHCR 2025 Annual Conference Palm Springs

Chris Sund at NAHCR 2025 Annual Conference

Handling Hiring Objections to Win the Best Talent

In 2025, Chris Sund took the stage at the annual conference hosted by the National Association for Health Care Recruitment in Palm Springs, California, delivering a powerful keynote on one of the most critical challenges in today’s workforce:

How to handle hiring objections and secure top talent in an increasingly competitive market.

This session brought together healthcare recruiters, talent leaders, and industry professionals from across the country to rethink how they approach candidate conversations, overcome barriers, and ultimately win the best people.

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NAHCR - National Association for Health Care Recruitment

About NAHCR

The National Association for Health Care Recruitment is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the healthcare recruitment profession through education, certification, and community.

Their annual conference is widely recognized as the premier event designed by healthcare recruiters, for healthcare recruiters, bringing together professionals to share strategies, tools, and real-world insights that improve hiring outcomes.

Each year, attendees gain:

Practical recruitment strategies they can immediately apply
Access to industry-leading speakers and thought leaders
Opportunities to network and collaborate with peers nationwide
Exposure to new tools and innovations shaping healthcare hiring

The 2025 conference in Palm Springs marked a milestone year, celebrating decades of impact while focusing on modern challenges like AI, candidate experience, and evolving workforce expectations.

From the Conference

A look at Chris Sund on stage and in action at the 2025 NAHCR Annual Conference in Palm Springs, California.

Chris Sund on stage at NAHCR 2025 Annual Conference Palm Springs

Keynote: Handling Hiring Objections to Win the Best Talent

Chris Sund’s keynote focused on a reality every recruiter faces:

Great candidates don’t just say yes. They hesitate, question, and push back.

The difference between average and elite recruiters is how they respond in those moments.

What the Session Delivered

This high-energy, practical keynote equipped attendees with a repeatable framework to navigate objections with confidence and credibility.

Core Focus Areas:

Turning objections into opportunities to build trust
Communicating with clarity, empathy, and confidence
Understanding what candidates are really saying beneath the surface
Positioning opportunities in a way that aligns with candidate priorities
Strengthening recruiter influence in a competitive hiring market

Testimonials from NAHCR25

“Chris consistently brings a wealth of knowledge, insight, and practical advice to every presentation. At our recent NAHCR Conference in Palm Springs, he led two impactful sessions where he not only acknowledged the real challenges we face but also shared valuable tips and strategies to help us better support our hiring managers and candidates. Chris is also actively involved in our membership committee, contributing thoughtful ideas and strong leadership to enhance the experience we offer our members. His expertise covers a wide range of topics, especially in leadership development and service excellence. Chris’s ongoing involvement and support of our association not only reflect his passion for the field but also make him an especially relevant and impactful speaker. His deep understanding of our audience and commitment to the profession elevate the value he brings to every engagement.”

– Gina Salazar, University of Kansas Health System

“I always have take aways to put into action after attending Chris’ sessions. Whether adapting to last-minute changes or tailoring content to meet diverse audience needs, Chris consistently delivers with professionalism and humility. What sets Chris apart is his genuine passion for the healthcare industry. It’s clear that he cares deeply—not just about sharing knowledge, but about uplifting the entire profession.”

– Melissa Wheeler, Community Health Network

“I’d like to share my thoughts on Chris Sund as a speaker. I have heard him present several times. I think his topics are well researched. His presentation style has a good flow and Chris weaves in many practical tips or real life examples that make the discussion realistic and relatable. I know we would love to have him present again.”

– Terry Bennett, NAHCR Immediate Past President

“I had a chance to attend two of Christopher Sund’s sessions at the National Association for Health Care Recruitment (NAHCR) 2025 conference. Chris not only presented a very informative session, but he was very flexible and moved his last presentation up due to unforeseen circumstances. I highly recommend Sund as a speaker for your event! I even wrote an article with some takeaways from Chris’ presentation on hiring objections (https://blog.cisive.com/nahcr-2025).”

– Bryan Barajas, Cisive

The LAARC Method in Action

A key highlight of the session was the LAARC framework, a simple but powerful approach to handling objections:

Listen fully without interrupting
Acknowledge the concern with empathy
Ask deeper questions to uncover the real issue
Respond with clarity and relevance
Confirm alignment before moving forward

This structure gives recruiters a consistent, human-centered approach to conversations that often determine whether a candidate says yes or walks away.

Why This Topic Matters More Than Ever

Healthcare recruitment has changed dramatically.

Talent shortages continue to pressure hiring teams
Candidates have more choices and higher expectations
Technology is evolving faster than hiring strategies

At NAHCR 2025, one theme was clear:

Recruitment strategies must evolve or fall behind.

Handling objections is no longer a soft skill. It is a competitive advantage.

Impact from the Stage

Chris’s session resonated with recruiters at every level, from frontline talent acquisition professionals to healthcare hiring leaders.

Attendees walked away with:

A practical framework they could apply immediately
Greater confidence in difficult candidate conversations
A renewed focus on the human side of recruiting
Strategies to improve offer acceptance and reduce time to fill

Bringing This Keynote to Your Organization

“Handling Hiring Objections to Win the Best Talent” is one of Chris Sund’s most requested keynotes for:

Healthcare systems
Staffing and recruiting teams
Talent acquisition leaders
Conferences and industry events

If your organization is struggling to compete for top talent or convert candidates at a higher level, this session delivers both the mindset and the tools to make it happen.