Last year, Top Echelon held its first-ever “Craziest Recruiting Story of the Year” Contest.  And now we’re having another one!

Yes, I know.  It’s only August.  We have almost five more crazy months to go in 2011.  However, that’s just going to add to the fun, because we’ll have a larger pool of stories to evaluate—and to share with you.  If there’s one thing that recruiters love, it’s reading about crazy recruiting stories . . . that happened to some other recruiter.

First and foremost, the rules: just like last year, there are three ways you can submit your “Craziest Recruiting Story”:

1. You can email your story to marketing@TopEchelon.com.
2. You can post the story by including it in the comments section at the end of this blog.
3. You can give me a call at (330) 455-1433, Ext. 125 and relay your story to me.

The deadline for submitting your “Craziest Recruiting Story of 2011” is midnight on Saturday, December 31.  We’ll announce the winner during the first part of January in The Pinnacle Newsletter Blog and also on “Top Echelon TV” (which still exists, we’re just taking a summer break, thank you very much.)

In the meantime, we’re going to continue publishing some of the stories from last year that didn’t win, as well as any stories that recruiters submit that didn’t occur this year.  After all, some recruiters just enjoy sharing their experiences with others, especially if those experiences almost have to be seen to be believed.

As crazy as last year was in the recruiting industry, I’d be willing to bet that this year is even more so.  Bizarre behavior is probably the rule, rather than the exception.  Sharing crazy stories of bizarre behavior can be a cathartic exercise of sorts.  It’s good to get stuff like that off your chest—not to mention off your desk.

So sit back, relax, and take a deep breath.  Tell me your tale.  The doctor is in.

— — —

330.455.1433, Ext. 125
MDeutsch@TopEchelon.com
Connect with Matt on LinkedIn.
Follow Matt on Twitter.

We can guarantee that there will be Top Producers in the Network at the upcoming 2011 Fall Conference.  That’s because some of them will be presenting sessions at the conference, scheduled for Thursday, October 20, and Friday, October 21 at the Embassy Suites O’Hare/Rosemont.

One of those Top Producers is Bob Wylan of R.A. Wylan & Co., Inc.  Wylan has been ridiculously consistent in the Network since he became a Preferred Member, making split placements each and every year, including this one.  Overall, he’s made a total of 15 Network placements, many of them with hefty split fees.

The secret behind Wylan’s success?  It really isn’t a secret at all.

“It’s all about establishing relationships and building trust,” said Wylan, who started in the recruiting industry in 1979.  “I’ve found that operating with honesty and integrity is the best way to conduct business.”

One of the unique aspects of Wylan’s session in Chicago is that it revolves around the game of golf.  That’s because Wylan, an avid golfer, has discovered a correlation between the way somebody plays golf and the way they conduct themselves in a business situation.  In other words, Wylan will know if he wants to work with you after playing with you (and observing you) on the golf course.

The best part is that Wylan has applied these principles to his recruiting firm and to his Preferred Membership in Top Echelon Network, and he’s done so with great success.  These principles are proven, timeless, effective, and applicable for other Preferred Member recruiters.  That’s one of the reasons we asked Wylan to present a session at the Fall Conference.  We want him to share his insight—and his wit—with those in attendance.  Below is a brief synopsis of what to expect from Wylan’s session.

— — —

Session Title: “I Learned Everything I Needed to Know About Business from Golf” or “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Driving”

Presenter: Bob Wylan of R.A. Wylan & Co., Inc.

Date: Friday, October 21

Time: 3 to 3:45 p.m.

Session Description: How can the game of golf make you more productive as a recruiter?  Help you build better relationships?  Help you make more split placements in the Network?  Join Wylan as he educates you not only about golf, but also about how the game can help you to successfully deal with clients and other recruiters, especially in a face-to-face situation.  Regardless of whether or not you’re a golfer, everyone knows how many deals are sealed on the green.  Now you can find out how the game of golf can help you seal more deals, too!

(Editor’s Note: Wylan was recently profiled in The PinnacleNewsletter Blog because of his success as a Preferred Member recruiter.  Click here to access the “Recruiter’s Resume” feature about Wylan.)

— — —

View the preliminary agenda for the conference.
Register for the Conference at the “Early Bird” Rate.
See who already signed up.
Access more information about the hotel.

Top Echelon Network Preferred Member recruiters love to make split placements with one another, and they love to compliment each other for those split placements.  In some cases, they enjoy returning compliments that another recruiter has paid to them.

That’s the case in this week’s installment of “‘Comments’ and Compliments Extra.”  Last week in The Pinnacle Newsletter Blog, Georgette Sandifer of Gallman Consulting complimented Larry Radzely of Adel-Lawrence Associates, Inc. for a recent split placement.  To illustrate that he was just as pleased with Sandifer as she was with him during the process, Radzely submitted his own comments regarding the split placement.

The two have already made two splits together, and by all indications, there could make many more in the future.  If YOU have plenty to say about a Trading Partner regarding a split placement, email your comments and information to marketing@TopEchelon.com.

— — —

“Georgette is fantastic to work with.  She is on the phone with a candidate minutes after  receiving a resume,  and if the candidate is qualified, she moves them through the process quickly.  Georgette and I have made two split placements in the past three months.  The first candidate started 25 days  after she received the resume, and the second candidate, who needs to relocate, was interviewed  and accepted the position in just 28 days.  Georgette has a great attitude, and I look forward to sharing more job orders and candidates with her.”

Submitted by Larry Radzely of Adel-Lawrence Associates, Inc. regarding his split placement with Georgette Sandifer of Gallman Consulting

Position Title—Field Service Engineer
Fee Percentage—20%

— — —

Remember, if you have comments for a Trading Partner regarding a split placement, please email those comments to marketing@TopEchelon.com.