We’ve seen dramatic changes here at Top Echelon during the past month or so. These changes include the following:

• An increase in the number of recruiters applying for Preferred Membership
• An increase in the number of recruiters using the Big Biller recruiting software
• An increase in the number of split placements reported (while there are still fewer placements than last year at this time, the gap is closing quickly)

The first two months of 2011 were what you might call rather stagnant.  However, there has been growth in just about all areas during the month of March.  It appears as though there is not just more activity for recruiters these days, but also that the additional activity is translating into more placements and more revenue.

What does that mean?

Well, for the purposes of this blog post, it means this is the perfect time to sign up for the 2011 Top Echelon Network National Convention.

I know, I know . . . we’re been promoting the snot out of this convention.  But we’ve done it for a good reason.  First and foremost, this is the lowest priced convention in the history of Top Echelon Network.  There has never, ever been a lower price for a convention than the one that we’re offering right now.

That price is $349 per person, but it’s only effective through the end of the business day on Friday.  That’s when the Early Bird Registration period ends.  Yes, Jon Bartos of Jonathan Scott International will be there to provide great training, and yes, Todd Bossler will be there to provide the same when it comes to Big Biller.  But the main reason recruiters are attending this convention is the same reason that they always attend:

Split placements!

They find new job orders and new Trading Partners and they make split placements.  You may think that it’s not possible for it to be that simple, but it often is.  In fact, the Top Producer in Top Echelon Network, Sean Napoles of Career Brokers, Inc., is a staunch advocate of attending these events.  That’s because he has attributed at least one split placement to every single event that he’s attended!

Click here to read Sean’s story.

Just to review, the National Convention is scheduled for Thursday, May 12, through Saturday, May 14, at The Westin Beach Resort in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.  And as I mentioned above, the Early Bird Registration of $349 per person is good until the end of the business day on Friday.  After that, the cost goes up to the price of Regular Registration.

But don’t wait.  Sign up now.  There are split placements waiting for you in Fort Lauderdale.  There are  recruiters there you’ll enjoy meeting for the first time . . . and some you’ll enjoy seeing again.  You won’t regret going, but there’s a chance you’ll regret not going.

Ride the wave of momentum in the recruiting industry right now, all the way to Fort Lauderdale.

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MDemaree@TopEchelon.com
(330) 455-1433, Ext. 172

At Top Echelon Network, we like to recognize our Preferred Member recruiters for a number of different things—namely making split placements.  However, we also recognize them for longevity . . . in other words, how long they’ve been with us.  If it wasn’t for the commitment and dedication of these long-standing Members—to both split placements and also Top Echelon Network—we wouldn’t be where we are today.

In this issue of The Pinnacle Newsletter Blog, we’re recognizing Debra Stitt, CPC of Quality Source Inc. of Ohio.  Debra is celebrating her 10th anniversary in Top Echelon Network.  Congratulations, Debra!  Below is a description of Debra’s experience with the Network during these past 10 years.

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“Little did I know when I found Top Echelon all those years ago what a blessing I had been handed!  At that time, there were different levels of membership; I started with the Affiliate Membership and later migrated to Preferred Membership.  I’ve seen TE go through many changes, and people have come and gone, but the value of the relationships and how those relationships have impacted my life and my business has remained constant.

“This is a no doubt a tough business.  Having TE as a part of my business model has not only helped support me through the tough times, but also has been a big bonus during the good times!  You just can’t put a price tag on having a group of people that you can turn to for advice, laugh and cry with, and who pick you up just at the right time with a split placement you never would have made without them!  Thank you, TE, and thank you Trading Partners and friends, for a fabulous ride.  May we all share many more years of continued success.”

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Be sure to read The Pinnacle Newsletter Blog in the future for more anniversary announcements.  If you have an anniversary announcement or other information you’d like to see published in The Pinnacle, send an email to marketing@TopEchelon.com.

Welcome to our “Anatomy of a Split Placement” feature in The Pinnacle Newsletter Blog, one that focuses on recent split placements made through the Network.  Here’s the format: the information for each split placement will be presented, and then the split placement will be analyzed.  More specifically, the factors that led to the making of the split placement will be addressed, because once you make one split placement, you want to make another . . . and another . . . and then another . . .

Job Order Recruiter—Veronica (Roni) Snyder of Career Professionals, Inc.
Candidate Recruiter—Bob Ferris of Ferris & Associates, LLC
Position Title—Senior Software Engineer
Fee Percentage—25%

Roni’s take on this split placement:

“I never could have filled this position without Bob’s help.  The IT world is a foreign place for me, and I can’t speak the language very well!  Bob saw my job posting on Top Echelon, then called me to see if he could assist.  I sent Bob all of the information I had on the company and the job, and he immediately got to work.  The best part was that when Bob sent me a candidate, he had thoroughly screened them.  In addition to the resume, Bob let me know exactly why he thought the candidate was a fit.  Bob is currently helping me with another job search for the same client, this time searching for an EE to design analog and digital circuits.”

Bob’s take on this split placement:

“I am a exporter of Information Technology talent and have only worked the exporter side for more than 10 years after firing all my firms with the ‘HR gate keepers.’  I really enjoy working with Roni because she immediately jumps on the candidate and gets them presented to her client quickly, and she follows up on the candidate and the job order with any changes.  Her follow-up is in the top 10% of all recruiters, and it makes it a pleasure to work with her.  She fully lets me know about her client and all their hot buttons; then I know exactly what she’s looking for.  There is NO fishing with Roni.  She knows exactly what the company is looking for.  A fault with too many recruiters is their lack of what the company is really looking for and very poor follow-up on the candidate submittal.  Roni and I are now actively working together on another tough search for the same company.  Our work process to gain the placement is how every successful partnership should work.”

Factors contributing to this split placement:

Communication—Funny how this Pillar of the Network seems to be involved in just about every split placement made in the Network.  In this instance, Roni doesn’t know much about the world of Information Technology, but Bob’s extensive knowledge, plus his ability to communicate that knowledge, made a big difference.  In addition, Roni communicated exactly what the company needed in a candidate to Bob, and that communication allowed Bob to provide her with a candidate that resulted in a split placement.

Quality—This is in reference to another Pillar of the Network.  Bob thoroughly screened and qualified the candidate before sending them to Roni.  (In other words, he didn’t just send a resume . . . he sent a candidate instead.  There IS a difference.)  For Roni’s part, she provided exemplary follow-up, which set Bob’s mind at ease and made the whole split placement process faster, more enjoyable, and ultimately, successful.

If you’ve made a recent split placement that you’d like to see highlighted in The Pinnacle Newsletter Blog, please email the details to marketing@TopEchelon.com.  We’d like to see your split placement in an upcoming issue!

We at Top Echelon Network are continually emphasizing that Preferred Member recruiters should meet one another on a face-to-face basis.  That’s one of the many reasons we hold a National Convention and Fall Conference every year.  (Because it all leads to split placements!)  But we also like to encourage Members to meet outside of those events, and as often as possible.  If you have information and/or a photo of your latest face-to-face meeting with another Member, please send that information to marketing@TopEchelon.com.

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Debra Stitt, CPC of Quality Source Inc. of Ohio in Lakewood, Ohio, and John Zurek of Zurek Professional Resources, LLC in St. Petersburg, Fla., met each other face-to-face on Friday, February 11.  Debra emailed the picture below, as well as the accompanying information, to Top Echelon Network.

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“Well, today was a good day!  Zurek and Stitt finally meet face-to-face.  JZ lives in St. Petersburg, Fla., and I now spend the winters in Boynton Beach, Fla.  John and I (my John) had our annual golf trip with friends from Ohio, and this year it was in Tampa.  So, we made the trip up from southern Florida.  Since Tampa and St. Petersburg are neighbors, it was a perfect opportunity for two veteran Top Echelon Network Members to meet . . . so we made it happen.  JZ also brought his lovely wife, Pat, who I really enjoyed!  What a nice person!  Unfortunately, she doesn’t appear in the photo we took.
 
“We broke bread, shared good conversation, and had a few laughs at Giordano’s—known for its authentic, stuffed, Chicago-style pizza.  Mmmm-mmmm-mmmm!
 
“Meeting in person is awesome!  I’m so glad we made it a priority!”

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Remember, if you have information and/or a photo of your latest face-to-face meeting with another Member, please send that information to marketing@TopEchelon.com.  You’ll receive Frequent Placer Program (FPP) points, like Debra and John did.  And you might make more split placements!  We’re not kidding . . . hey, come back here!  (Editor’s Note: John has made 59 placements in Top Echelon Network, and Debra has made 29 Network placements.)