Networking Tip #2: Share Your Candidates Freely

In a previous issue of The Pinnacle Newsletter Blog, I started a series of posts: “Networking Tips.”

The first blog post dealt with filling as many of your job orders as quickly as you can and how Top Echelon Network can help. (After all, who doesn’t want to do THAT?)

Anyway, my series continues this week with “Networking Tip #2,” which is absolutely crucial when it comes to enjoying more success as a Network recruiter. The Top Producers in the Network are big advocates of this tip.

It relates directly to one of The Four Pillars of Top Echelon Network—Active Participation. So now I present to you the second tip in our series:

Share your candidates freely in the Network and don’t try to withhold quality candidates from other members.

Our logic:

Experience shows that those recruiters who freely contribute and share quality candidates to the Network are more likely to make split placements than other members.

The business of recruiting is a “numbers game.” One way to increase your odds for success is to share more quality candidates with other recruiters.

If you withhold your good candidates from the Network, then you might be setting yourself up for failure. If you’ve been holding back your best candidates, then you should count the number of these superstars you’ve NOT placed during your recruiting career, resulting in tens of thousands of forfeited dollars. (Or more.)

Several years ago, we at Top Echelon put an end to what was called the Split Candidate Database in favor of the more powerful Network Candidates sourcing tool.

To adhere to this tip, every Network member should be opted in to this tool. There are nearly seven million recruited candidates available through this tool, so it is an excellent resource for members.

And of course, some Network members send candidates directly to trusted trading partners via email for one of their open job orders. This is a standard and acceptable practice for those recruiters who have already built a solid and proven split partner relationship.

Steps to freely share candidates:

1. Increase your odds for success.

As I mentioned above, recruiting is a “numbers game.” So with that in mind, opting into the Network Candidates sourcing tool is a “no brainer.”

2. Adopt a sense of urgency!

When you find a Network-able candidate, you should obtain their permission and share their resume to the Network immediately! (As outlined above, you can do this through the Network Candidates sourcing tool or by sending it to a trusted trading partner for a specific search assignment.)

This way, if your own marketing attempts are unsuccessful, then you’ve “covered all the bases” by sharing the resume with other recruiters who may have a need for this candidate.

3. Develop a reputation among your peers in the Network.

What kind of reputation? One of being a recruiter who offers good, quality candidates to the system. You want to be known as somebody who offers educated, employed, and skilled candidates that most clients would love to hire.

In addition, make sure that you include up-to-date contact information (including email address and cell phone number, if possible). This way, your split recruiting partners are able to contact the candidate.

4. Be relentless and don’t give up!

All it takes is one placement per year to earn a significant return on your investment in Top Echelon Network. Don’t “bail” on your membership if you don’t see any action in a matter of weeks or even months. Be relentless, be persistent, and be patient!

If you have any questions, please contact me by calling 330.595.1742 or by sending an email to drea@topechelon.com.