Early Bird Registration for the 2014 Top Echelon Network Fall Conference started on Monday, June 9, but in case you didn’t know that . . . we’re telling you again!

We’re also formally asking you to attend the conference with this special video invitation!  What’s so special about this invitation?  It’s a video.  (Didn’t we establish that?)

So, for your viewing edification, we present:

As you might also already know, the Fall Conference will be held at the Sheraton O’Hare Hotel in Chicago on Tuesday, September 23, and Wednesday, September 24.

You can sign up for the Fall Conference in the Members’ Area for the low Early Bird Registration price of $199 per person.  And if you sign up now, Membership Development Coordinator Drea Codispoti will wash your car!

(Actually, no . . . no, he won’t.  But he will attempt to hurt me for saying that.)

It could be argued that there are two types of people: people who things happen to . . . and people who make things happen.

The purpose of this blog post is not to get into a deeply philosophical discussion.  In fact, I’m not even going to discuss the first group that much.  Instead, I plan to focus on the second group, namely because it seems as though these types of people are rather representative of the Top Producers in Top Echelon Network.

They make things happen.  They search the Split Databases.  They reach out to other Preferred Member recruiters.  And they attend Top Echelon Network events such as the upcoming 2012 National Convention.  Speaking of which, the convention is scheduled for Thursday, March 22, through Saturday, March 24, at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville, Tenn.

To further illustrate my point, click here to see the recruiters who have already registered for the National Convention.

Notice anything?  I’d be willing to bet that many of the names you see listed are also among the Top Producers in the Network.  Actually, I know they are.  I did the comparison myself.  And a couple of the recruiters who look as though they’re having limited success within the Network are making a boatload of money using the services provided by Top Echelon Contracting, the recruiter’s back-office solution.

So why are these people attending the convention?  You’d think that if anybody could stay home, it would be these people, right?  They’re already making money using Top Echelon’s tools and services—what more do they have to learn?

Actually, the question that should be asked is this: what do they know about the Network that you might not?

The answer to that question, of course, is a rather open-ended one.  However, it appears as though one thing these recruiters do know is how to do is make things happen.  They’re “taking the bull by the horns,” so to speak, and putting into motion a series of events that they believe will lead to more production, more revenue, and more profits for their firm.

And why shouldn’t they believe that?  After all, it’s worked for them before on countless occasions.

That’s why we’re inviting you to join us in Nashville in two months for the convention.  Meet new recruiters, talk about important recruiting topics, share ideas and information, and most of all, MAKE something happen!

At Top Echelon, we like to mix things up.  The reason we like to mix things up is because that makes things happen—and making things happen usually leads to more business.  That’s exactly what we want for you as a Preferred Member recruiter in Top Echelon Network.

Click here to view a promotional PDF detailing everything you’ll enjoy at the National Convention.

Early Bird Registration for the convention is over at the end of the business day on Friday, February 10.  Between now and then, you can sign up at the low price of just $399 per person.

Join us in Nashville.  Make it happen.  You won’t regret it.

View the preliminary agenda.
See who’s already signed up.
Register for the convention.

— — —

330.455.1433, x125
MDeutsch@TopEchelon.com
Connect with Matt on LinkedIn.
Follow Matt on Twitter.

When it comes to our National Convention and Fall Conference, one of things we always try to do is book the very best speakers and trainers in the recruiting industry.  That’s why we’re excited about our keynote speaker for the upcoming 2012 National Convention—Rob Mosley.

Mosley is a Partner and Senior Director of Training and Development for Next Level Exchange.  He has an impressive list of credentials.  His knowledge of the search industry comes from 10 years with Merritt Hawkins and Associates, part of AMN Healthcare, the nation’s leading provider of clinical healthcare staffing, and consulting services.  Mosley was MHA’s “Marketer of the Year” for three consecutive years and served as Vice President of Corporate Business Development.

Mosley will present the following three sessions at the National Convention.  The abridged descriptions of these sessions are listed in the preliminary agenda.  However, the complete descriptions are contained within this blog post (for your edification, of course).

‘Best Practices that Drive Revenue’

This session involves five cornerstone strategies that have a direct impact on how you differentiate your services and ultimately, on your ability to generate revenue.

Participants will engage in group discussion, small group role play, and coaching feedback around these client best practices—Presenting Your Capabilities, Gaining Initial Commitment, Developing Executive Insight, Responding to “Red Flags,” and Negotiating Client Demands.  This session will provide you with the tactical skills to be better in the following areas:

• Presenting your capabilities to clients and candidates with greater impact
• Gaining initial commitment for next steps with prospective clients
• Leveraging insight to see a situation from the hiring authority’s perspective
• Responding better to different types of client and candidate resistance
• Negotiating to keep the client relationship in a healthy balance

‘Great Communication = Great Compensation’

Great dialogue in our business is the cornerstone of our craft, and great dialogue has four distinct elements—Probing, Listening, Responding, and Seeking Agreement.  These four elements are like the chambers of the heart; each section or chamber is a unique and critical part of the communication process with both clients and candidates.

This interactive workshop session will dissect each of the four cornerstones of conversation to better understand what is really behind the heart of great dialogue.  These four skills come together when managing certain types of potential client and candidate “red flags.”  This session will provide you with the tactical skills to be better in the following areas:

• Managing resistance (client and candidate “red flags)
• Listening (for what is being said and what is not being said)
• Acknowledging (indicates your attentiveness/seek to understand)
• Clarifying (the power of asking great clarifying questions)
• Expanding (suggest alternatives with strong rationales)
• Seek agreement (common ground)

‘Four Great Truths’

At the core of our business lies the ability to instill trust in both our clients and candidates.  This session is about your ability to develop strong, trusted, profitable, healthy relationships with these groups, even during challenging economic times.

It’s also about your ability to execute skills, techniques, and approaches to differentiate yourself from your competitors.  This session will provide you with recruiting principles and specific skill sets to accomplish the following:

• Open the conversation with new clients in a way that immediately differentiates us from our competitors
• Better understand the client and candidate thought process and align your value proposition at every step
• Build real value and trust in an industry that tends to see us as “vendors” or a “necessary evil”
• Better manage initial client and candidate resistance to secure next steps

The National Convention is scheduled for Thursday, March 22, through Saturday, March 24, at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville, Tenn.  Remember, you can sign up for the National Convention at the low Early Bird Registration rate of just $399 per person.  Register now, take advantage of this attractive price, and get ready for what’s sure to be a great event this March!

View the preliminary agenda.
See who’s already signed up.
Register for the convention.

— — —

330.455.1433, x125
MDeutsch@TopEchelon.com
Connect with Matt on LinkedIn.
Follow Matt on Twitter.

Okay, so you might not be attending the upcoming Top Echelon Recruiting Network Fall Conference . . . but we hope that’s because you’re attending the National Association of Personnel Services (NAPS) Conference.  This year’s conference is scheduled for Wednesday, September 21, through Saturday, September 24 at the Red Rock Casino Resort & Spa in Las Vegas.

NAPS is currently celebrating its 50th year of existence, and as usual for these recruiting conferences, the conference will feature an outstanding lineup of speakers.  That lineup includes the following:

Heidi Frye
Mike Gionta
Jeff Kaye 
Ken Keis
Conni LaDouceur
Jennifer Lambert
Neil Lebovits
Scott Love
Rick McDonald
Rob Mosley
Pasquale Scopelliti
Mike Tischer
Amy Williams Healey
Scott Wintrip
Patricia Drain
Jeremy Sisemore

Hiring Hook, websites for recruiters, is proud to be a major sponsor of the 2011 NAPS Conference.  Hiring Hook works with recruiting firms to help them create a strong presence on the Internet through website design, graphics, content, special plug-ins, job advertising, and social media integration.

NAPS has been the staffing industry educator since 1961 and enjoys its reputation as the oldest industry association.  It continues to maintain the position as the search and staffing industry educator through its certification program, continuing education initiatives, eLearning, and annual conference.

We forgive you for not attending the Fall Conference, but if you’re not going to Chicago . . . then go to Las Vegas instead!

At Top Echelon, we like to celebrate milestones . . . which is just one reason we’re excited about the upcoming National Association of Personnel Services (NAPS) Conference.  This year’s conference is scheduled for Wednesday, September 21, through Saturday, September 24 at the Red Rock Casino Resort & Spa in Las Vegas.

NAPS is currently celebrating its 50th year of existence, and as usual for these recruiting conferences, the conference will feature an outstanding lineup of speakers.  That lineup includes the following:

Heidi Frye
Mike Gionta
Jeff Kaye 
Ken Keis
Conni LaDouceur
Jennifer Lambert
Neil Lebovits
Scott Love
Rick McDonald
Rob Mosley
Pasquale Scopelliti
Mike Tischer
Amy Williams Healey
Scott Wintrip
Patricia Drain
Jeremy Sisemore

Hiring Hook, websites for recruiters, is proud to be a major sponsor of the 2011 NAPS Conference.  Hiring Hook works with recruiting firms to help them create a strong presence on the Internet through website design, graphics, content, special plug-ins, job advertising, and social media integration.

NAPS has been the staffing industry educator since 1961 and enjoys its reputation as the oldest industry association.  It continues to maintain the position as the search and staffing industry educator through its certification program, continuing education initiatives, eLearning, and annual conference.

Hiring Hook will be at the 2011 NAPS Conference—and we hope you will be, too!

There’s no doubt that this is the age of social media—LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, etc.  Social media and social networking is used in all sorts of ways, by all sorts of different people, including recruiters, of course.  And once again, we’re going to use it for one of our conventions.  Last November, it was the regional conference in Columbus, and very soon it will be the 2011 National Convention.

The convention is occurring this week at The Westin Beach Resort in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.  Specifically, the dates of the event are Thursday through Saturday.  Click here to view the preliminary agenda for the convention.

What does it mean that we’re going to use social media for the National Convention?  Well, it means a number of things, both for those Preferred Member recruiters who will be in attendance, as well as those who won’t be (but would like to follow the action, so to speak).  Below are some of the things that will be happening over the course of the next couple of days.

I’ll be blogging about the convention.  However, these blog posts won’t be included in The Pinnacle Newsletter Blog, but in our separate Network Conventions Blog.

We’ll be posting digital photos from the convention on the Top Echelon Network Facebook fan page.  You can access the Network’s fan page by clicking here.

I’ll be tweeting about the convention.  If you have a Twitter account and would like to start following me, click here to do so.

However, social media’s involvement in the National Convention extends beyond us . . . it also includes those recruiters who will be in attendance.  If you’re planning to attend the convention, we whole-heartedly encourage you to use social media to chronicle your experiences at the event.  Tweet about it, post to Facebook about it, do both, do more, whatever you’d like to do.

If you want, take pictures and email them to marketing@TopEchelon.com, and we’ll post them to our Facebook fan page.  Events like our National Convention are ALL about networking—traditional networking first and foremost, of course, but also social networking.  It’s a great way to share information and ideas and also to follow what’s happening at an event like the National Convention, even if you’re not actually in attendance.

So stay turned later this week, and follow the 2011 National Convention through social media . . . and make plans to join us for the Fall Conference in Chicago later this year.

What?  You’ve never seen a shameless plug before?

— — —

MDeutsch@TopEchelon.com
(330) 455-1433, Ext. 125

One of the challenges facing recruiters right now is a lack of job orders.  That’s the bad news.  The good news is that there will be 321 job orders at the upcoming 2011 Top Echelon Network National Convention!

That’s right, those Preferred Member recruiters who are attending the convention will be bringing 321 job orders with them to sunny Fort Lauderdale, Fla.  They’re looking to share these job orders in person with other recruiters in attendance.  The names of the Network recruiters who are currently registered for the convention are listed below, along with their agency names and their number of job orders.

Mario Fidanzi of MedTeam Staffing, Inc.—75 job orders

Juli Smith of The Smith Consulting Group, LLC—66 job orders

Maria Hemminger, CSP of MJ Recruiters, LLC—19 job orders

Steve Brody of Executive Resource Systems—16 job orders

Joan Harris of Apple & Associates, Inc.—14 job orders

David M. Sgro of True North Consultants, Inc.—14 job orders

Mark Udulutch of Markent Personnel—13 job orders

Marty Stan of Samaritan Technical Professional—12 job orders

Mike Aquino, CPC of MPA Companies, Inc.—10 job orders

Eric Berg of JN Adams & Associates, Inc.—9 job orders

Leonard Hale of Hale & Associates—8 job orders

Bob Wylan of R.A. Wylan and Co., Inc.—8 job orders

Dan Simmons of Continental Search & Outplacement, Inc.—7 job orders

Steve Copeland of Albert Energy, LLC—7 job orders

Stephanie McGinty of Ives & Associates, Inc.—6 job orders

Kirby Butler, CPC of The Butler Co. Insurance Recruiters—5 job orders

Cathy George, CPC of C.G. & Company—4 job orders

Bill Quackenbush, CPC/CTS of QCI Technical Staffing—4 job orders

Chris Ramsay of Corporate Resources, LLC—4 job orders

Kenny Frey, CPC/CERS of The Frey Consulting Group, Inc.—3 job orders

Scot Straw CPC of C.G. & Company—3 job orders

Cindy Andrew Cordell, CPC of Corporate Resources, LLC—2 job orders

Sean Napoles, CPC of Career Brokers, Inc.—2 job orders

Bob Small of Carroll Technology Services, Inc.—2 job orders

Gary Silver of The Shay Group—2 job orders

Cindy Stephens, CPC/CTS of Stephens International Recruiting, Inc.—2 job orders

Jay Canowitz of Ives & Associates, Inc.—1 job order

Amy Dunn of Technology Recruiting Solution—1 job order

Tim Hopkins, CPC/CTS of Stephens International Recruiting, Inc.—1 job order

Stacy Worsham of The Smith Consulting Group, LLC—1 job order

Regular Registration is now underway for the National Convention, which is scheduled for Thursday, May 12, through Saturday, May 14, at The Westin Beach Resort in Fort Lauderdale.  You can sign up for the convention in the Members’ Area with a credit card.  If you have any questions, give us a call at 330.455.1433.

A while back, we conducted an online survey of Top Echelon Network Preferred Members.  In that survey, we asked YOU what you wanted to see from us in the form of training in 2011—Network training, software training, general recruiter training—you name it.

Well, we gathered all of the results and collected all of the responses, and I’m pleased to report that we’ll be incorporating your suggestions into what we offer at the 2011 National Convention this spring.  The bottom line is that we want to give you what you want and what you need in terms of training.  As Preferred Members of Top Echelon Network, we want you to experience more success.  We want you to make more placements (both split and non-split).  We want you to make more money.  Period.

So take a few moments to skim the session descriptions listed below.  These sessions have been designed to cover the topics that you want to see the most.

“Recruiter Fusion 3.0”
Friday, May 13
1:30 to 2:45 p.m.

Attendees will love the all-new incarnation of this session.  Among the topics to be discussed include strategies for taking advantage of LinkedIn, the best research tools in the industry, and techniques for stopping clients from cutting your fees.

“Top Echelon Network Success Panel”
Friday, May 13
3 to 4 p.m.

The Top Producers in the Network do many of the same things, and they’re willing to share their secrets with other Preferred Members at the convention.  Time management, trends in the industry, “Top Echelon Network’s Best Practices,” and how to add contracting to your business model and make more money . . . all of these topics will be covered, and more.

“Business-Building Discussion Groups”
Friday, May 13
4:15 to 5:15 p.m.

Traditionally, recruiters have learned a tremendous amount from each other during this session, and 2011 will be no different. Topics that participants will discuss include effective strategies for making placements with social media, marketing strategies for securing new clients, and research tools that pay dividends in the form of more placements.

“Lightning Rounds”
Saturday, May 14
1:30 to 2:30 p.m.

That’s right . . . we’re bringing back this old-school but very popular session, which allows recruiters to glean knowledge from each other in a fast-paced environment while networking at the same time.  Topics will include sourcing tools, candidate closing strategies, social media and social networking, and how best to use technology on your recruiting desk.

Right now, you can register at the Early Bird Registration price of $345 per person.  The National Convention is scheduled for Thursday, May 12, through, Saturday, May 14, at The Westin Beach Resort in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.  Invest in your Top Echelon Network Membership and invest in your firm.  Join us in May for what’s sure to be a memorable event!

View the preliminary agenda.
See who’s already registered.
Sign up for the convention.

— — —

MDeutsch@TopEchelon.com
(330) 455-1433, Ext. 125