There’s no worse feeling than not being able to find the candidates that your client wants you to find.

Okay, I admit—I’m exaggerating for effect.  There IS probably a worse feeling than that.

But when you’re in the midst of striking out and you feel like a zero, the feeling is not good.  Now imagine if the perfect candidate was delivered to you, seemingly out of nowhere.  What would you feel like now?

You’d probably feel like dancing.

That’s the feeling you get when you work with another Top Echelon recruiter network member who gives you exactly what you need.  You turn around, you give that to your client, you make a placement you would NOT have made otherwise, you do a little dance, and you look (and feel) like a hero.

In a nutshell, that’s what this installment of “‘Comments’ and Compliments” is all about.  And to top it all off, the split fee recruiting placements below represent the first split placements that the recruiters involved have made with one another.  Everybody dance!

— — —

“This is a search that’s way out of my specialty area, and we’ve been having trouble relocating people to Buffalo.  Jerry came up with a couple of candidates, including this local candidate.  This is after a client tried to fill it themselves by using a local agency.  Needless to say, the client was thrilled that we came through for them with no [relocation costs].   Thanks for all your help on this one, Jerry!”

Submitted by Robert Gabor of The Gabor Group regarding his split placement with Jerry Walter of Walter & Associates, Inc.

Position Title—SAP BUSINESS ANALYST – FICO

Fee Percentage—25%

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

— — —

“Amy Simpson noticed our job order and took the initiative to call us.  We had only one marginal candidate.  She sent two right-one candidates.  Our client had a hard time deciding which one [to hire].  Thank you, Amy!”

Submitted by Frank Sommer of SearchStars, Inc. regarding his split placement with Jeffrey Gipson of The James Allen Companies, Inc.

Position Title—RISK MANAGER

Fee Percentage—25%

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

We’ve presented proof that Top Echelon Network Core Groups result in split placements for years and years and years.

And we have even more proof in this week’s issue of The Pinnacle Newsletter Blog.  Why is that?  Because the placements in the network of job placement recruiters are still happening!  In fact, you can’t stop them from happening (not that we’d actually want to do that . . . that’s crazy talk).

The Core Groups in question are Regional Core Groups—specifically, the Ohio Golf Outing Core Group and the Central Ohio Regional Core Group.  These groups have met regularly in the past and will be meeting regularly in the future.

As for the present?  They’re making placements as part of the split fee recruiting network!  (I thought we established that.)

If you would like to participate in one of these Core Groups, contact Top Echelon Network Membership Development Coordinator Drea Codispoti, CPC/CERS at (330) 455-1433, Ext. 156.  If you’d like to create your own Core Group or find out more about them, contact Drea for that, too.

If you’d like to compliment one of your Trading Partners for a recent split placement, you can contact ME by sending your comments to Marketing@TopEchelon.com.  Those comments will appear in a future issue of The Pinnacle Newsletter Blog!

— — —

“Thank you, Lee, for quickly jumping on this one when I emailed you for assistance.  As is often the case with candidates, a little extra TLC was involved, but it was well worth it!  I’m looking forward to our next one!  The Ohio Golf Group strikes again!”

Submitted by Debra L. Stitt, CPC of Quality Source Inc. of Ohio regarding her split placement with Lee Fierman of Gables Search Group, Inc.

Position Title—PAYROLL/HUMAN RESOURCE REPRESENTATIVE

Fee Percentage—25%

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

— — —

“Joe searched Monster.com after attending the Central Ohio Core Group meeting.  Thanks, Joe, for taking the initiative and searching and sending me this candidate.”

Submitted by Alan Daum of Alan N. Daum & Associates, Inc. regarding his split placement with Joe Cotter of J.D. Cotter Search, Inc.

Position Title—ELECTRICAL & INSTRUMENTATION ENGINEER

Fee Percentage—25%

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

Everybody loves a good story . . . especially a good recruiting story.

This week in The Pinnacle Newsletter Blog, we don’t have just one or even two good recruiting stories—we have three!  That trio of headhunting tales is courtesy of Top Echelon Network recruiter Michael Stuck of Gables Search Group, Inc.

There are many things that make these stories great:

• All three were the first split placement that Stuck made with the other recruiters involved (Kevin Bautista, Steve Strickland, and Terry Rhodes).
• In two of the three situations, the other recruiter was making their first split placement in Top Echelon Network (Bautista and Rhodes).
• One of the splits involved the placement of a Chief Executive Officer, which brought with it a rather hefty fee.
• Each split placement exemplifies the teamwork associated with high-quality Trading Partner relationships in the Network.

We’d like to thank Stuck for submitting his comments and for helping us to highlight these split placements—and these three great recruiting stories!

If YOU have a great recruiting story regarding a recent split placement with another Network recruiter, send your comments to marketing@topechelon.com, and they’ll appear in a future issue of The Pinnacle Newsletter Blog.

— — —

“This was a unique placement.  The candidate Laurie presented started the interview process before Christmas, then left for a month-long trip to Argentina and came back a month later, finished the interview process, and landed the job.  Good things happen those who wait.  What a super job Laurie did in both finding this candidate and communicating along the way.  Thanks, Laurie!”

Submitted by Michael Stuck of Gables Search Group, Inc. regarding his split placement with Kevin Bautista of Joseph Michaels International

Position Title—SQL DEVELOPER

Fee Percentage—15%

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

— — —

“Bill has been super to work with to place these Progress Developers.  He has sent multiple candidates, and they all seem to get interviews and do well.  It’s just a matter of time until we get another one, Bill.  Thanks for all of your hard work on finding such great candidates!”

Submitted by Michael Stuck of Gables Search Group, Inc. regarding his split placement with Steve Strickland of American Career Search, Inc.

Position Title—CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Fee Percentage—25%

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

— — —

“It was great working with Terry on our first split together.  [He] sent just this one candidate to see if I had interest, and lo and behold, she ended up getting the job out of multiple candidates who interviewed.  Nice job!  Looking forward to working together again one day.”

Submitted by Michael Stuck of Gables Search Group, Inc. regarding his split placement with Terry Rhodes of NewCareers

Position Title—BUSINESS CONSULTANT

Fee Percentage—15%

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

Many of you probably know what a “runner’s high” is.  According to Dictionary.com, it’s “a state of euphoria experienced during prolonged running or other forms of aerobic, sustained exercise, attributed to an increase of endorphins in the blood.”

But really, who wants to go running?  Why not just make split fee recruiting network placements instead?

After all, you have to figure that at least the same amount of endorphins are released into your bloodstream when you make a placement as when you run five miles.  Not only that, but when you make a placement, you don’t feel like you’re going to throw up and/or pass out.

As you can see below, the recruiters in this week’s installment of “‘Comments’ and Compliments” aren’t enjoying a “runner’s high” . . . they’re enjoying a “placement high”!

They’ve made spit placements with other Preferred Member recruiters in situations where they might not have made a placement at all, and the endorphins are coursing through their bloodstream as we speak.  Not only that, but the only place they have to run to is the bank—to deposit their placement check before it closes.

Then they can come back home and eat chocolates on the sofa while watching re-runs of Three’s Company.  Not that I do that or anything . . . I’m just sayin’.

Remember, if you’d like to compliment one of your recruiting network Trading Partners for a recent split placement, send your comments to marketing@topechelon.com, and they’ll appear in a future issue of The Pinnacle Newsletter Blog.

— — —

“Bob is a great partner.  His knowledge of the printing industry was key to this placement.  He has helped me work on searches before with this client, and I’m thrilled we finally got one to come together!”

Submitted by Veronica Snyder of Career Professionals, Inc. regarding her split placement with Bob Allen of The ManCom Team, Inc.

Position Title—SUPERVISOR

Fee Percentage—25%

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

— — —

“This is my first split placement with Paul . . . I hope it’s the beginning of many more!”

Submitted by Pat McCombs, CPC of KB Search Team, LLC regarding her split placement with Paul Miller of Miller-Franklin Search Group

Position Title—PROJECT MANAGER

Fee Percentage—25%

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

— — —

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There are many formulas for the success within Top Echelon Network, and of course, that success is ultimately measured in placements, specifically split placements.

Well, we have yet another formula in this issue of The Pinnacle Newsletter Blog, and that formula deals with what candidates recruiters (exporters) can do to ensure greater levels of Network success.  The formula in question is illustrated perfectly in this week’s installment of “‘Comments’ and Compliments.”

That’s because this installment features two recruiters who compliment their Trading Partners for properly screening and qualifying their candidates before presenting them for consideration.  The time that the candidate recruiters took up front to do so moved the process forward more quickly and resulted in a placement!  So, that means:

Screen and Qualify the Candidate = Make the Placement

It’s a tried-and-true formula that, as you can see, continues to work and work well for Preferred Member recruiters.

We’ll be publishing more “formulas for success” in future issues of The Pinnacle Newsletter Blog, but in the meantime, if you’d like to compliment one of your Trading Partners for a recent split placement, send your comments to marketing@topechelon.com.

— — —

“Catherine Reynolds is a good addition to the TE family.  She qualified the candidate prior to presenting to me.  I highly recommend working with her.”

Submitted by Doug Boyce of J.D. Cotter Search, Inc. regarding his split placement with Catherine Reynolds of OnBoard Recruitment Advisors

Position Title—SENIOR STATISTICAL ANALYST

Fee Percentage—25%

(Editor’s note: this is the first split placement that Boyce and Reynolds have made together in Top Echelon Network.)

— — —

“We’ve had other split placements with Front Line Solutions.  The people they send are well-screened and usually a close match for the position.”

Submitted by Larry Radzely of Adel-Lawrence Associates, Inc. regarding his split placement with Peter Oettinger of Front Line Solutions, LLC

Position Title—LINEAR ACCELERATOR EQUIPMENT SPECIALIST

Fee Percentage—Flat

(Editor’s note: this is the first split placement that Radzely and Oettinger have made together in Top Echelon Network.)

— — —

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When Preferred Members make split placements with other recruiters in Top Echelon Network, they don’t just want to compliment them.  They want to thank them, as well!

Why do they have such an “attitude of gratitude”?  The reason: because they probably wouldn’t have made the placement at all without the help of the other recruiter.  Sure, there’s an outside chance they might have filled the position, but they know that in reality, the chance was slim.

In this week’s installment of “Comments and Compliments,” not only do we have two split placements that generated an abundance of gratitude, but we also have two that represent the first Network split that these recruiters made with one another.

It’s almost like a “bonus on top of a bonus, wrapped in a bonus” . . . and that’s certainly something for which to be thankful!

Remember, if you’d like to compliment—and thank—one of your Trading Partners for a recent split placement, send your comments to marketing@topechelon.com, and they could appear in a future issue of The Pinnacle Newsletter Blog.

— — —

“Thanks, Megan, for such a GREAT candidate!  Our client had interviewed a number of new grads for their Chemical Engineering position, but with little success.  [This candidate] will be put on a fast track with our client.  They were so impressed with her.  Also, I think that this may be the first time I have placed a new grad . . . so thank you!”

Submitted by Pat McCombs, CPC of KB Search Team, LLC regarding her split placement with Megan Schimmoeller of Bridgeway Professionals, Inc.

Position Title—CHEMICAL ENGINEER

Fee Percentage—25%

(Editor’s note: this is the first split placement that McCombs and Schimmoeller have made together in Top Echelon Network.)

— — —

“Thanks, Joanna, for sending [this candidate] our way!  This is our first split together—finally!  Yeah!”

Submitted by Brenda Wylie-Biggs, CPC of KB Search Team, LLC regarding her split placement with Joanna Spaun of MJ Recruiters, LLC

Position Title—RELIABILITY ENGINEER
Fee Percentage—Flat

(Editor’s note: this is the first split placement that Wylie-Biggs and Spaun have made together in Top Echelon Network.)

— — —

330.455.1433, x125
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In 1969, the band “The Turtles” released a song titled, “Happy Together,” which eventually reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Why bring that up?  I bring that up because the Trading Partners featured in this week’s installment of “Comments and Compliments,” are definitely “happy together.”  The numbers, which are located below, speak for themselves: 14 placements overall, nine by one pair of Trading Partners and five by the other pair.

These recruiters are making a bunch of money by choosing to work with each other again and again and again.  Heck, the quality of the candidates being presented in one of the Trading Partner relationships recently prompted the client company to create a new position where one hadn’t existed before.

That’s like an “extra bonus placement.”  Who wouldn’t LOVE that?  (I’d love it.)

These recruiters are prime examples of when relationships work well in Top Echelon recruiter network, they work really well.  The recruiters involved make multiple placements, and yes, they’re “happy together.”

Remember, if you’d like to compliment one of your split fee recruiting Trading Partners for a recent split placement, send your comments to marketing@topechelon.com, and they’ll appear in a future issue of The Pinnacle Newsletter Blog.

— — —

“This now makes several placements that Ram Kola and I have made together.  Ram targets the candidates very well to the job requirements and always sends candidates that I am able to present to my clients and know they will be seriously considered.  He is an excellent Trading Partner and we seem to make a great team.  Congrats, Ram!”

Submitted by Larry Baker of Computer Careers regarding his split placement with Ram Kola of Stewart Cooper & Coon

Position Title—AIX ADMINISTRATOR

Fee Percentage—20%

(Editor’s note: this is the ninth placement that Baker and Kola have made together in Top Echelon Network.)

— — —

“Mark’s candidate was so great the manager got approval to hire three people instead of the two that had been approved!  The candidate was a referral from the guy we placed with the client last month.”

Submitted by Carolyn Barcus of Barcus Associates regarding her split placement with Mark London of Command Consultants, Inc.

Position Title—SALES DEVELOPMENT DIGITAL MARKET
Fee Percentage—20%

(Editor’s note: this is the fifth split placement that Barcus and London have made together in Top Echelon Network.)

— — —

330.455.1433, x125
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At Top Echelon Network, we love it when two Network recruiters make their first split placement together!

Why?  First, it means that they’ve benefited from using the Top Echelon system and it works for them.  Second, it means that their second split placement together could be just around the corner . . . because in many cases, where there’s one, there’s many.

But that’s not all!  (Of course that’s not all.)

In this week’s installment of “Comments and Compliments,” we have two pairs of recruiters that have made their first recruiter split fee Network placement together.  One of those placements brought with it a 30% fee.

The only thing better than making your first split placement with another recruiter is making your first split placement with another recruiter for a 30% fee.  (Okay, 35% would be better, but quit splitting hairs, would ya?)

Remember, if you’d like to compliment one of your Trading Partners for a recent split placement, send your comments to marketing@topechelon.com, and they’ll appear in a future issue of The Pinnacle Newsletter Blog.

— — —

“I appreciated Bob’s hands-on support and involvement throughout the process.”

Submitted by Therese Eckhoff, CPC of Recruiting Pros of Chicagoland regarding her split placement with Bob Ferris of Ferris & Associates, LLC

Position Title—SAP BASIS ADMINISTRATOR
Fee Percentage—25%

(Editor’s note: this is the first split placement that Eckhoff and Ferris have made together in Top Echelon Network.)

— — —

“Rob sent a solid candidate on the first go-round.  It had been tough filling the position, so great job and thanks for taking the initiative to see if we still needed candidates!”

Submitted by Maja Munoz of Human Technologies, Inc. regarding her split placement with Rob Spaulding of Spaulding Associates

Position Title—KEY ACCOUNT SALES

Fee Percentage—30%

(Editor’s note: this is the first split placement that Munoz and Spaulding have made together in Top Echelon Network.)

— — —

330.455.1433, x125
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Well, if we’re going to highlight longtime Preferred Member recruiter and perennial Top Producer Dan Simmons, CPC of Continental Search & Outplacement, Inc., then we’d better give longtime Preferred Member recruiter and perennial Top Producer Sean Napoles, CPC of Career Brokers, Inc. some props, as well.

Not that Sean hasn’t earned such props.  He most certainly has since joining the Network in 2000, and below is the proof:

• 173 placements
• Over $1.4 million cash-in
• Yes, you guessed it—scores of plaques and trophies for achievement

Last year was another powerhouse year for Sean in the Network.  He made a total of 16 split placements, and he’s off to another torrid start—three split placements so far in 2013, including the two that we’ve highlighted below.

Sean is one of just a handful of recruiters with a shot at 200 Network placements (Dan Simmons being another one).  At his current rate of production, if Sean doesn’t reach that plateau this year, he’ll certainly do so in 2014.

Sean’s area of specialization is Information Technology.  If you have a job order or candidate that you think would interest Sean, reach out to him (and be sure that you adhere to the Top Echelon Network Pillar of Quality).

Remember, if you’d like to compliment one of your Trading Partners for a recent split placement, send your comments to marketing@TopEchelon.com, and they’ll appear in a future issue of The Pinnacle Newsletter Blog.

— — —

“Thanks for helping us with this unique search and sending an excellent candidate!”

Submitted by Melinda O’Neill of Enterprise Search Associates, LLC regarding her split placement with Sean Napoles, CPC of Career Brokers, Inc.

Position Title—ATG SYSTEMS CONSULTANT

Fee Percentage—20%

(Editor’s note: this is the first split placement that O’Neil and Napoles have made together in Top Echelon Network.)

— — —

“Great job, Sean!  Keep the excellent candidates coming!”

Submitted by Melinda O’Neill of Enterprise Search Associates, LLC regarding her split placement with Sean Napoles, CPC of Career Brokers, Inc.

Position Title—ATG SYSTEMS CONSULTANT

Fee Percentage—20%

(Editor’s note: this is the second split placement that O’Neil and Napoles have made together in Top Echelon Network.)

— — —

330.455.1433, x125
mdeutsch@topechelon.com
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In last week’s installment of “Comments and Compliments,” we invited you to meet the recruiters featured at the upcoming 2013 Top Echelon Network National Convention.

Well, one of the recruiters we featured is back this week!  And joining him are other recruiters you should meet at the National Convention.  Why?  Because they’ll probably be in attendance for one, and for another, they’ve been highly successful as Preferred Member recruiters in the Top Echelon recruiting network.

What more convincing do you need to attend the convention?

How about a warm, sunny location, specifically the TradeWinds Resort in St. Petersburg Beach, Fla.?

How about a great price, specifically the Early Bird Registration rate of just $495 per person?

How about the benefits, namely the chance to hear world-class trainer Danny Cahill and the opportunity to network with other recruiters just like you!

What are you waiting for?  Stop waiting.  Join us . . . join us . . .

If you’d like to thank one of the top recruiters for their efforts in a split placement situation, send your information to marketing@topechelon.com.  Your comments might be included in an upcoming issue of The Pinnacle Newsletter Blog!

— — —

“Thanks again, Bob.  Your help and involvement throughout the placement process is great.  We work as a good team that makes these placements happen!  Hope to see you in Florida!”

Submitted by David M. Sgro, CPC of True North Consultants, Inc. regarding his split placement with Bob Small of Carroll Technology Services, Inc.

Position Title—SAP ABAP DEVELOPER
Fee Percentage—25%

(Editor’s note: this is the fourteenth split placement that Sgro and Small have made together in Top Echelon Network.)

— — —

“Steve is a great split partner.  He stays on top of things.”

Submitted by David Kersey of Kersey & Associates, Inc. regarding his split placement with Steve Kohn of Affinity Executive Search

Position Title—PRODUCT STEWARDSHIP AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS MANAGER
Fee Percentage—20%

(Editor’s note: this is the first split placement that Kersey and Kohn have made together in Top Echelon Network.)

— — —

330.455.1433, x125
MDeutsch@TopEchelon.com
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