Want to know how to enjoy more success as a Preferred Member of Top Echelon Network?

This episode of “Top Echelon TV” starts a series of episodes dealing with the “Best Practices” of the Network. It begins with The Four Pillars of Top Echelon Network: Quality, Communication, Trust, and Active Participation, as well as the importance of filling out your Recruiter Profile.

In addition, as far as holiday hours are concerned, the Top Echelon offices will be closed on Friday, December 24, and Friday, December 31, due to the Christmas and New Year’s holidays. And don’t forget that “Super Early Bird” Registration for the 2011 National Convention (May 12 through May 14 at The Westin Beach Resort in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) is now underway.

Although we strive to fill The Pinnacle Newsletter Blog chock full of good stuff, we strive to do the same thing with the Top Echelon Recruiter Training Blog.  Some of the things we include in that blog are tips and strategies for success, trends in the industry, and golden nuggets of information that will help recruiters run their desks better and make more placements.

However, sometimes Preferred Members of Top Echelon’s recruiter network don’t always know what information is being published in the blog and when that information is available.  Consequently, I’ll be helping to fill the gaps by presenting some highlights from the Recruiter Training Blog in The Pinnacle Newsletter Blog (when time and space allow).

Below are some of the top posts from The Recruiter Training Blog this past week:

Recruiters, This is How You Make Sure Your Job Order is the Hottest—According to recruiting industry trainer and speaker Barb Bruno, CPC/CTS of Good as Gold Training, there are six pieces of information that you MUST get with every job order to ensure that the job order is the hottest.  If you don’t get these six pieces of information, then your job order isn’t hot . . . period.  Click here to read the blog post.

Companies’ Attitudes About Hiring: ‘Feast or Famine’ for Recruiters—Yours truly reveals the results of the latest Top Echelon Network Members’ Area Poll, which indicates that when it comes to companies’ attitudes toward hiring, it’s either “feast or famine” for recruiters.  Click here to read the blog post.

Making More Placements: Expectations are Everything, Part 1—We consulted Dave Knutson of The Knutson Group, LLC for this two-part series of blog posts that deal with managing the expectations of clients and candidates throughout the hiring process.  In the first part of the series, Knutson addresses the client side of the equation.

Making More Placements: Expectations are Everything, Part 2—First, it was clients.  In this post, Knutson breaks down what recruiters can do to manage the expectations of candidates.  By managing the expectations up front, you can avoid (unpleasant) surprises down the road.

Remember, the Recruiter Training Blog is updated on a consistent basis.  Be sure to check the blog regularly for news and information regarding general recruiting topics and trends.  As always, we want to know what YOU want to see, so . . . what do you want to see?  What areas of recruiting should we explore?  What topics should we address?  How can we make the blog better?  Hit us with your best shot.

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

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At Top Echelon recruiting network, we’re always looking for new ways in which to help you enjoy success as Preferred Members.  That’s one of many reasons that we’re currently in the process of developing and implementing a more comprehensive on-boarding and training program.

This program won’t be just for newer Members of the Network; it will be for ANY Member who wants to put the Network’s tools to better use for the purpose of making more split placements.

These onboarding and training materials will include video blog posts, written blog posts, and other forms of media (like PDF documents).  Some of the topics that will be covered include the following.

• The Policies
• The Placement Forms
• The Pinnacle Newsletter Blog
• Your Recruiter Profile
• Tool/Agency Profile
• Finding Trading Partners
• Best practices for split candidates
• Best practices for split job orders
• Best practices for importers
• Best practices for exporters

Some of the information listed above will be published in The Pinnacle Newsletter Blog as individual posts.  We want to make this information as accessible as we can to as many Preferred Members as possible.  That being said, we also want your feedback.  What other topics do you want us to cover?  How would you like us to present the information?  What would help you be more successful as a Preferred Member of the Network?

Be sure to check The Pinnacle Newsletter Blog in the future for additional posts regarding our on-boarding and training program and the materials we produce that are associated with that program.

Drea@TopEchelon.com
(330) 455-1433, Ext. 156

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The 2011 Top Echelon Network National Convention is going to be unique for a number of different reasons.  Heck, it’s already unique, and the event is still months six months away.

In talking with recruiters lately, the word I would use to best describe those conversations is “optimistic.”  That’s certainly backed up by our most recent Members’ Area Poll.  We asked Preferred Members about their thoughts regarding the recruiting industry in 2011.  The majority of those who responded were either “very optimistic” or “cautiously optimistic” about the industry in the new year.

Partly because of that optimism, we have high hopes for attendance at the National Convention.  Of course, because of the recession and the state of the economy, attendance at our events has been down for the past couple of years.  However, considering we went back to our previous format of a National Convention and a Fall Conference each year, plus the fact that the economy is continuing to improve, we expect at least 100 recruiters to register for the convention, and quite possibly much more than that.

And why exactly is the National Convention so unique?  Well, let me count the ways:

• For the first time ever, we’re offering a “Super Early Bird” Registration period, which runs until the end of the year (Friday, December 31).  If you sign up for the convention before then, you can register for the low price of $275 per person.  How low is that?  It’s the lowest price we’ve ever offered for a National Convention . . . and it’s not even close.  Added bonus: if you sign up before the end of the year, you can put the expense of attending the convention on this year’s taxes.
• We’re going to give away a free registration. The first 50 recruiters who sign up for the convention will be entered into a drawing.  The winner of that drawing will be able to attend the convention for FREE.  (Of course, they’ll still have to pay for all other associated costs, including travel and hotel expenses.)
• The dates of the convention are Thursday, May 12, through Saturday, May 14.  We don’t typically hold the convention in May.  It’s usually March or April.  Since the location is The Westin Beach Resort in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., the weather should be phenomenally good.

As part of our promotion of the National Convention, we’re going to email a “Convention Packet” to Preferred Members of the Network.  This packet consists of a series of blog posts with additional information about the event (preliminary agenda, Jon Bartos speaker bio, possible flight options, etc.).

Learn more about the 2011 National Convention Packet on our recruiter networking page.

There’s a little over two weeks left to take advantage of our special “Super Early Bird” pricing.  When it comes to experiencing more success in the Network, one of the quickest ways to do that is by meeting other recruiters face-to-face, and the convention offers a great opportunity for that kind of networking.

So I encourage you to invest in your business, in your Preferred Membership, and in 2011.  Join us for the National Convention in Fort Lauderdale.  It’s going to be a great event.

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

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

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Last week, I announced our contest for “The Top Echelon Network Craziest Recruiting Story of 2010,” and now I have some additional news regarding that contest: we’ve moved back the deadline for submitting entries!

Originally, the deadline was next Wednesday, December 22.  However, since we won’t be announcing the winner until after the beginning of the new year, we decided that we could provide some additional time for recruiters to submit their craziest story of 2010.

That means the new deadline is two weeks from today—Wednesday, December 29.  And remember the rules for the contest (and really, there aren’t that many rules).  It could be a story about clients.  It could be a story about candidates.  It could be a story about another recruiter.  It doesn’t matter.  It just has to be something wild, outrageous, and if possible, unbelievable.

Actually, the more unbelievable, the better (as long as it’s true . . . don’t be a fibber).  And since we’re talking about the world of recruiting, I’m sure that plenty of unbelievable stories have occurred during the past year.

There are three ways you can submit your “Craziest Recruiting Story”:

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

Once again, the deadline for submitting your “Craziest Recruiting Story of 2010” is Wednesday, December 29.  We’ll announce the winner during the first part of January in the Recruiter Training Blog and also on “Top Echelon TV.”

We’ve already had recruiters submit their stories, not just for 2010, but from other years, as well.  And you know what?  That’s a-okay.  If you’d like to submit stories that didn’t happen this year, we’ll be happy to accept them and publish them in The Pinnacle Newsletter Blog at some point in the future.  After all, we’re not unreasonable.

So . . . what crazy things have happened to you this past year?  Does your story involve a candidate, a client, or another recruiter—or all three?  Did it cause you to lose a placement?  Did it cause you to lose hair?  Or consider retirement?  Move to Florida and play shuffleboard?  What?  Spill the beans.

Submit your story . . . and it might just be “The Top Echelon Network Craziest Recruiting Story of 2010.”

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

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There are many recruiters in Top Echelon who are enjoying success using the Network’s tools and services.  In this feature, “The Recruiter’s Resume,” we’re going to highlight those recruiters, their accomplishments, and how they’ve been successful.

If you’d like to nominate somebody for this feature (including yourself), send an email to marketing@TopEchelon.com.

Preferred Member:

Matt Scheihing of J. Miles Personnel Services in Springfield, Missouri

Network Accomplishments:

Since J. Miles Personnel Services joined Top Echelon’s recruiter network as a Preferred Member firm in February of 2010, Scheihing has made four placements, all of them split placements.  (He also currently has an offer accepted with Dan Simmons of Continental Search & Outplacement, Inc.)

Matt’s Keys to Success in Top Echelon Network:

“We’ve been the supplier and placer an equal number of times, and communication with other Top Echelon Network Trading Partners has been key.  Letting them know what we have that’s really hot and also sharing solid candidates with the Network has also been important.”

Matt’s Trading Partners:

“We’re enthused that of the four splits since we joined Top Echelon Network earlier this year, we’ve worked with three different Trading Partners.”  (John Zurek of Zurek Professional Resources, LLC; Jacquelyn Zajac of ETSI Personnel; and Josie Erent of Talented Minds)

The Activity Level in Matt’s Niche (Technical and Professional Manufacturing):

“The activity level is definitely increasing.  We’re experiencing more job orders being released and candidates are receiving multiple offers.”

Matt’s Goals for Future Production in the Network:

“I will be one of the Top 12 Top-Producing Recruiters in 2011.”

Matt’s Advice:

“I believe it’s critical to locate TE Trading Partners you can work well with.  Finding Partners who I can communicate with and who understand my niche and/or requirements has been key.  In order to accomplish this, you must talk to the other Members to determine who’s a good fit, so pick up the phone and start meeting the people who want to help you.”

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Last week in The Pinnacle blog, we resurrected the popular “Ten Questions” feature, and the first recruiter we interviewed was Preferred Member Jim Folger of ONESource Technical, Inc.  We published the first part of that blog series last week (i.e., the first five questions), and now we’re ready to provide the exciting conclusion!  (Which, of course, would be the last five questions.)

If you’d like to be featured in our “Ten Questions” series, just let us know.  We’ll ask you ten questions.  They won’t be the exact same questions that we asked Folger, but some of them might be the same.  Or they might all be different.  Or some might be the same, and then some might be different.  You get the idea.  If you’re interested, send an email to marketing@TopEchelon.com.

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6. Finish this sentence: “If I wasn’t recruiting, I’d be . . .”

Prior to starting my recruiting practice, I worked as an Electrical Engineer and Engineering Manager at Rockwell.  I’m probably too far removed after recruiting for the last decade to go back to Engineering, but it does help considerably as a recruiter.  I suppose now I could probably be a Recruiting Manager in a company if I decided to get back into Corporate America, but I don’t see that happening any time soon . . .

7. What’s your biggest pet peeve?

When I take Henry the dog out to do his business.  He gets out there and sniffs and sniffs, and looks around, and sniffs and sniffs, and then sniffs some more.  Just do it, for pete’s sake!

8. When you’re not recruiting, what do you do for fun?

When not working, my wife Barb and I are involved in whatever our kids are doing.  Over the years, this has included a variety of recreation, travel, and premier sports (mainly soccer), but now both of our sons (Jimmy, 21, and Ryan, 18) are mostly into music.  Jimmy (who attends Baldwin-Wallace College with a major in Sustainability and a minor in Marketing) is an accomplished guitarist who composes and plays recreationally.  Ryan (a senior at Solon High School) is a percussionist who has aspirations to study percussion performance in college and eventually teach at the college level, play professionally, and teach privately.  Currently, Ryan keeps us very busy with the high school marching band; wind ensemble; jazz band; show choir; and his funk band, “The Phunkhie Panduh Munkhieees.”  Ryan is currently preparing for auditions at The Berklee College of Music (Boston), The Capital University Conservatory (Columbus), and The University of the Arts (Philadelphia).

9. For whatever reason, you have to choose a “last meal.”  What do you order?

I think I would have filet mignon cooked medium to medium-rare.  On the side, I would have grilled onions and mushrooms and a tossed salad with ranch dressing.  Normally, I would stop there, but seeing how this is my “last meal,” I would probably throw in a loaded baked potato.  Oh yeah, and large quantities of red wine . . . and maybe a piece of banana cream pie to top it off.

10. Which actor would play you in a movie about yourself?

Yeah, that’s gonna happen!  Maybe Ray Romano from Men of a Certain Age.

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