POWER Conference
How to Handle Hiring Objections to Recruit the Best Talent — Chris Sund gave leaders, recruiters, and talent professionals a repeatable way to respond when a strong candidate pushes back.
People, Opportunities, Workforce.
Hosted by the Greater Omaha Chamber, the POWER Conference brings together leaders, changemakers, HR professionals, entrepreneurs, and workforce strategists to work on the future of hiring, leadership, and workforce development across the Greater Omaha business community.
POWER stands for People, Opportunities, Workforce, Excellence, and Retention, which makes it a natural home for honest conversations about talent attraction, employer effectiveness, and long-term workforce success.
Great candidates now have more choices, more questions, and more hesitation than they used to. A good pitch is not enough on its own, which is what the session set out to address.
How to Handle Hiring Objections
To Recruit the Best Talent
Chris walked the room past scripted responses and into stronger conversations: listening carefully, acknowledging concerns without getting defensive, asking better follow-up questions, and responding in a way that builds trust.
Attendees worked through the objections that surface most often, covering pay, scheduling, work-life balance, location, career growth, and competing offers. The goal was never to pressure a candidate. It was to understand what actually matters to them and communicate value in a way that connects.
Listen
Let the objection finish before you answer it.
Acknowledge
Concern met with defensiveness hardens.
Ask
A better follow-up question finds the real issue.
Respond
Address what they said, not what you assumed.
Confirm
Check that the answer actually landed.
What Attendees Took Away
How to stay patient and focused when objections surface mid-conversation.
Why tone carries as much weight as the words you choose.
Ways to uncover the real concern sitting underneath the stated one.
How handling objections well strengthens recruiting results and employer brand.
Moments from the conference
Feedback from hiring leaders.
Chris is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to hiring challenges. I am excited to use the suggestions Chris provided in my next interview.
Chris consistently brings knowledge, insight, and practical advice to every presentation, elevating the value he brings to every engagement.
His topics are well researched, and he weaves in practical tips and real-life examples that make every session realistic and relatable.
You Are Capable of More.
Chris is the author of the bestselling You Are Capable of More. Copies can be bundled for attendees, and Chris can run a signing table in the exhibit hall — which drives traffic for your sponsors.
Winner, How-To Category2026 Paris Book FestivalAbout the Book →Official Book Site →
Bring This to Your ConferenceBook Chris for your event.
Chris speaks on recruiting, talent acquisition, retention, and workforce strategy for chambers, associations, and corporate teams. Check availability and receive a customized proposal.