Networking Tip #8: Find the Networking Action

We’re pretty far along with our “Networking Tips” series. We’re down to the nitty-gritty, one might say.

That’s because we’ve reached the point where we’re addressing in what areas recruiters should work. We’re at the point of networking action!

Needless to say, all of the networking tips that we offer in The Pinnacle Newsletter Blog have been designed with one objective in mind. That objective: to help you make more placements, specifically split placements.

We want you to succeed. After all, we don’t succeed if you don’t succeed. We have a vested interest in how many placements you make.

The Four Pillars of Top Echelon Network play a role in all of our networking tips. Although there’s no specific mention of them in this week’s tip, you can see how Quality, Communication, Trust, and Active Participation are woven throughout. It reinforces the importance of these pillars and how integral they are to your success as a Network recruiter.

Okay, I’m down off my soapbox. Networking Tip #8 is as follows:

Select a niche where there is networking action!

Before selecting a “niche market” on which to focus your split recruiting efforts, review the Network’s statistics. You must make sure there’s enough placement and job order activity.

Do not isolate yourself in a niche where you will not have any trading partners. For example, select a general specialty like “Engineering & Manufacturing.” Then select a sub-specialty like the “Metals Industry” to be your strong suit.

First and foremost, we encourage you to be client driven! Satisfy your clients first, and you will get repeat business. If your clients need you to be a generalist, then be a generalist, for goodness’ sake!

After all, you have a very diversified split network behind you. As a result, you should be able to find a programmer one day and a CFO the next day.

However, when searching for new clients, try to find ones that hire candidates within your general specialty. Or better yet, your sub-specialty.

By writing job orders within your sub-specialty, you’ll save many hours. That’s because you’ll know where to look for candidates and you’ll spend less time learning a new field.

To maximize your efforts, establish working relationships with other Top Echelon Network recruiters who are pursuing the same types of search assignments and candidates. In fact, the more recruiters you network with who work the same areas as you, the better off you’ll be!

You’ll have a larger pool of candidates from which to pull and a larger pool of job orders for the candidates you recruit. Also, your chances of meeting and developing critical working relationships with other recruiters is maximized if you’re regularly working in the same general specialty.

We feel that between being too generalized and being too specialized, there’s an optimum point for networking action. Nobody can tell you where that point is.

However, we suggest that you start by defining a general specialty and sub-specialty. Remember to keep your ears open to everything that your clients tell you.

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