We’re pumping out new updates to the Top Echelon Network software as quickly as we can! Less than a month ago, we released the new Network Candidates tool.

And now, I’m pleased to announce that the new Recruiter Profile feature is now LIVE!

There are all sorts of great things that you can do with this new feature, so let’s cut right to the chase. You can:

• Upload (or change) your own profile photo any time you want. (But please, no selfies).
• Upload (or change) your agency logo any time you want
  Code yourself with North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) and Standard Occupational Classification (SOCS) codes, just as you do with your jobs, to better define your specializations and communicate that information to other Network members.
• Find a recruiter profile in the “Find a Record” field.
• Click on another Network member’s name anywhere within the software that it’s hyperlinked and navigate to their profile.
• Schedule an activity for yourself from another Network member’s profile and relate the activity to that recruiter.
• See on another Network member’s profile if that member has current activity with one or more of your candidates and when those activities are scheduled and completed.

But if reading all of this made you tired, I have even more good news! Below is a short video that will show you the ins and outs of this new feature. I encourage you to watch it and to maximize your Recruiter Profile on Top Echelon Network.

And of course, we have more information about the Recruiter Profile feature in our Help Center. Click here for our Help Center article about the feature.

Beta testers still wanted!

Once again, I’d like to take this opportunity to invite YOU to be beta tester for the upcoming changes to the Network software.

Simply send an email to drea@topechelon.com with the words “Beta Tester” in the subject line. Remember, of course, that we can’t put every single Network member on beta testing, so there are limitations.

That’s why, if you really want to be a beta tester, I suggest you act today and send an email!

In many ways, recruiter Wendy Jespersen of Alliance Search Group, Inc. is the model Top Echelon Network recruiter.

Wendy started recruiting in 1992, opened her own agency in 1999, and joined Top Echelon’s split network on September 12, 2018.

Since that time, Wendy, who works a Manufacturing desk, has enjoyed considerable success as a member of the Network. In fact, she’s made seven split placements since joining.

Wendy has made those seven splits with two different trading partners. She’s made five with David Manns of Access Staffing and two with veteran recruiter and Network member Terry Rhodes of NewCareers.

Wendy is a model Network recruiter for multiple reasons. First, she embraces the Four Pillars of Top Echelon Network—Quality, Communication, Trust, and Active Participation.

Second, she utilizes more than one Top Echelon service, allowing her to save time and maximize the return she receives on her investment.

Third, she recognizes and embraces the “Spirit of the Network,” which means that she’s split-minded and does not view making splits as a last resort on her recruiting desk.

For all of these reasons, Wendy Jespersen is Recruiter of the Week in Top Echelon Network!

Wendy Jespersen: the secret to her success

We wanted Wendy to say a few words about the success that she’s enjoyed in Top Echelon. Thankfully, she agreed to do so!

Wendy Jespersen

“I joined TE a year ago. I have to say I wish I had joined years ago. I have had my company for 20 years and have a strong network of client companies and job orders. I usually have too many job orders. We are a small firm, and in order to remain competitive and provide the service of high-quality candidates to our clients, I needed to expand our recruiting efforts.

“The quality recruiters in the Network and the longevity in the industry that most of our trading partners have is what impresses me the most. I partner with specific recruiters I have met within the Network on some searches and have had success posting our jobs on the Network and utilizing the Jobs Feed. It depends on the search, as there are different ways to utilize the Network’s resources to get the most qualified candidates.

“We are a former Bullhorn database office user and switched to Big Biller when we joined TE. The software integrated within the Network has allowed easier candidate tracking and better communication with our trading partners, freeing us up for more time to make placements. The entire package—a network of quality trading partners, Big Biller, the MEGA Database, and the Jobs Feed—provides tools that we need to remain competitive and continue to grow!”

So congratulations to Wendy Jespersen for her production and success in Top Echelon Network and for being named Recruiter of the Week!

— — —

Terry Rhodes

“[This is] my second placement with Terry this quarter! Thank you for providing high-quality candidates for some very difficult-to-fill positions. I just joined TE this past fall and this is my sixth split placement in the Network. I have four splits with David Manns. He is a high-quality trading partner, as well. I’m very happy with my decision to join TE!”

Submitted by Wendy Jespersen of Alliance Search Group, Inc. regarding her Network split placement with Terry Rhodes of NewCareers

Position Title—MECHANICAL DESIGNER

Fee Percentage—20%

(Editor’s note: This is the second Network split placement that Wendy and Terry have made together in Top Echelon.)

— — —

Editor’s note: The selection process for the Recruiter of the Week Award is based upon multiple criteria, including production within Top Echelon Network, adherence to the Network Policies and Golden Rules, the spirit of networking that the recruiter displays while interacting with other members, and the level of commitment that the recruiter exhibits in regards to their Network membership overall. The Recruiter of the Week is a true embodiment of The Four Pillars of Top Echelon Network—Quality, Communication, Trust, and Active Participation.

The more things change, the more things stay the same.

Top Echelon Network has been in operation for more than 30 years. During that time, many recruiters have retired and left the Network, replaced by a continuous flood of recruiters and search consultants also eager to leverage Top Echelon’s resources.

But even though (some of) the faces may change, the recipe for success remains the same.

That recipe is simple enough: if you build relationships with other members in Top Echelon’s recruiting network, then you will make more placements.

We have evidence of the effectiveness of this recipe for success in this issue of The Pinnacle Newsletter Blog. Specifically, we have three instances of split placements referenced below. In each instance, the recruiters involved were making their first split placement with one another.

And even more noteworthy is that not all of these people are new recruiters. Some of them aren’t even new members. They’ve been in Top Echelon Network for years without making a placement with the other recruiter, and now they have.

The bottom line: just because you haven’t made a split placement with another Network member does NOT mean you’re never going to make a split with that person. Anything can happen at any time.

Actually, to take it a step further, anything can happen at any time in Top Echelon Network that results in you making a placement and generating more revenue for your recruiting desk and your agency.

But it all starts with one thing: relationships.

Sure, the software is great, but the foundation of the Network is the same as it’s always been. That foundation has been built upon and continues to be reinforced by the countless relationships that exist between its members.

So keep building those relationships. The placements will follow!

— — —

Russ Hovendick

John Peterson

“John is a terrific split partner. He provided a candidate that was spot-on! Thanks so much, John!”

Submitted by Russ Hovendick of Client Staffing Solutions, Inc. regarding his Network split placement with John Peterson of Sun Recruiting, Inc.

Position Title—PROCESS ENGINEER

Fee Percentage—27%

(Editor’s note: This is the first Network split placement that Russ and John have made together in Top Echelon.)

— — —

Jason Kaminsky

Debra Wilkens

“Deb is awesome. We have been communicating directly of late and after hearing about this new opportunity, she went to the market aggressively and found this great candidate. Thank you, Deb, for making this placement possible.”

Submitted by Jason Kaminsky of bizjobz LLC regarding his Network split placement with Debra Wilkens of The Monroe Agency

Position Title—HCM

Fee Percentage—20%

(Editor’s note: This is the first Network split placement that Jason and Debra have made together in Top Echelon.)

— — —

Tom Noble

Robert Briones

“Robert was great at finding just the type of candidate our employer was looking for. Thank you, Robert!”

Submitted by Tom Noble of Client Staffing Solutions, Inc. regarding his Network split placement with Robert Briones, CPC of R.A. Briones & Company, Inc.

Position Title—Accountant

Fee Percentage—25%

(Editor’s note: This is the first Network split placement that Tom and Robert have made together in Top Echelon.)

Once upon a time, recruiters did NOT post their jobs on the Internet in an attempt to fill them. But then again, once upon a time, the only things that recruiters used were a land-line telephone and a rolodex of contacts.

Times changes, and so does the profession. With each passing year, more and more search consultants use the Internet and job boards to help source viable candidates for their clients.

Job boards were the subject of two recent poll questions that we posed in the Members’ Area of the Top Echelon Network software. And with one of the questions, we asked recruiters about the best job board for advertising jobs.

And the winner was . . . NOT Indeed.

Yes, Indeed did come in second place. And yes, it was a close race. However, the clear-cut winner was LinkedIn.

As you can see below, Monster and CareerBuilder barely registered in the poll results. In fact, “Some other job board” garnered many more votes than the two former job board giants.

(They’re still “big,” relatively speaking. Just not as popular with third-party agency recruiters as they used to be.)

So the bottom line is this: more recruiters are using job boards to advertise their jobs, more recruiters are making placements as a result of advertising their jobs, and more recruiters are of the opinion that LinkedIn is the best job board for that purpose.

— — —

What percentage of the placements you’ve made so far this year have been the result of posting your jobs to the Internet?

The choice of answers that we provided is listed below, along with the percentage of recruiters selecting each one:

• 0% to 10% — 21.5%
• 11% to 25% — 21.5%
• 26% to 50% — 5.1%
• Over 50% — 44.3%
• I don’t post my jobs to the Internet. — 7.6%

— — —

What is the best job board for advertising your jobs?

The choice of answers that we provided is listed below, along with the percentage of recruiters selecting each one:

• Indeed — 29.1%
• LinkedIn — 34.2%
• ZipRecruiter — 5.1%
• Monster. — 2.5%
• CareerBuilder — 2.5%
• Dice — 0.0%
• Some other job board — 26.6%

— — —

Just a reminder: we post a poll question in the Members’ Area every week. Once you participate in the poll, you can see the results as other Members cast their votes.

We usually post a new Members’ Area poll question on Monday. We usually do that, but we don’t always do that. We don’t like to be predictable.

If YOU want to make more split placements and increase your production, then contact Top Echelon Director of Network Operations Drea Codispoti, CPC/CERS.

You can reach Drea by calling 330.455.1433, x156 or by sending an email to drea@topechelon.com.