True, there weren’t that many Preferred Members at the 2011 National Convention in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., last week, not as many as we’re used to for that event, anyway.

But those that did attend were 100% committed to networking, training, and of course, fun.

As there always is, split placements will result from the National Convention.  Because they attended, some of the Preferred Members will share job orders and information and that relationship will eventually result in a split placement.  That’s exactly how we’ve drawn it up, and I’m happy to say, that’s how it happens.

However, rather than have me go on and one about the benefits of attending these events, I’m going to let some of the recruiters who attended do the talking.

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I wanted to let you know that I was very impressed with your selection of Jon Bartos as the main speaker at the National Convention. Jon shared a great deal of informative material and provided some useful forms and check lists that can be used immediately. In addition, the free eBook he offered will be beneficial to some of us that are technically challenged. Once again thank you and your staff for your hard work at this year’s National Convention.
 
Len Hale of Hale & Associates

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Thanks for putting on such a good conference. I really enjoyed the meetings and had a very good time. It’s great to get a recharge for the my desk.

God bless!

Marty Stan of Samaritan Technical Professionals

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Thanks so much for the Top Producing Recruiter plaque.  I was very disappointed to not be able to attend the TEN Conference in Ft. Lauderdale.  The timing coincided perfectly with the birth of my 7th grandchild, and since the birth was a c-section, I had to babysit my granddaughter while mom was in the hospital for 4 days and dad stayed with her. 

Thanks for all the great work that Top Echelon Network continues to do..  Being part of Top Echelon Network is certainly a key to my success as a recruiter!!   Your whole team is just outstanding!

Pat McCombs of KB Search Team, LLC

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I also want to let you know that we’ll soon be sending out an email survey to the Network Membership asking them what we can do to make these events more attractive, more enjoyable, and more productive.  After all, the Fall Conference is this October, and we want all of you to attend!

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

Just where are the job orders in Top Echelon Network? We have the answer! In this episode of “Top Echelon TV,” President Mark Demaree and Communications Coordinator Matt Deutsch present the numbers and then analyze what they mean. The short version: more job orders in more industries than there was a year ago . . . and that’s good news.

If you have any questions about these job order numbers, feel free to contact Membership Development Coordinator Drea Codispoti at (330) 455-1433 or via email at Drea@TopEchelon.com.

At Top Echelon, we’re looking for every way possible to help Preferred Member recruiters network with each other for the purpose of enjoying more success and making more placements.  One way in which we do this is through the Discussion Forum.

In this episode of “Top Echelon TV,” President Mark Demaree and Membership Development Coordinator Drea Codispoti discuss the Discussion Forum (no pun intended . . . really), pointing out the advantages and benefits that this valuable networking tool holds for Preferred Members. They also address Discussion Forum etiquette and how recruiters should conduct themselves.

From time to time, Top Echelon Network Preferred Member recruiters find that they’re having trouble making the Network work for them.  What should they do?

In this episode of “Top Echelon TV,” President Mark Demaree and Membership Development Coordinator Drea Codispoti discuss the steps that recruiters need to take when that’s the case.  (Oh, and they unveil a new set design for “Top Echelon TV,” too . . . can’t forget about that.)

Success in Top Echelon Network is predicated upon the building and fostering of relationships . . . and there are some things that don’t contribute positively to that process.  Like pressuring a Trading Partner about a split placement, or specifically, about the check associated with that split placement.

In this episode of “Top Echelon TV,” we take a look at why you shouldn’t pressure another recruiter about a split placement.  And of course, we use a “dramatization” to prove our point more colorfully.  “Who loves ya, baby?”  We do!

Pressuring another recruiter about a split placement is the topic of Top Echelon Network Policy #13, which Preferred Member recruiters of the Network can access in the Members’ Area.  If you have any questions about the policy, or any of the other Top Echelon Network Policies, contact Drea Codispoti at 330.455.1433, Ext. 153.

We’ve seen dramatic changes here at Top Echelon during the past month or so. These changes include the following:

• An increase in the number of recruiters applying for Preferred Membership
• An increase in the number of recruiters using the Big Biller recruiting software
• An increase in the number of split placements reported (while there are still fewer placements than last year at this time, the gap is closing quickly)

The first two months of 2011 were what you might call rather stagnant.  However, there has been growth in just about all areas during the month of March.  It appears as though there is not just more activity for recruiters these days, but also that the additional activity is translating into more placements and more revenue.

What does that mean?

Well, for the purposes of this blog post, it means this is the perfect time to sign up for the 2011 Top Echelon Network National Convention.

I know, I know . . . we’re been promoting the snot out of this convention.  But we’ve done it for a good reason.  First and foremost, this is the lowest priced convention in the history of Top Echelon Network.  There has never, ever been a lower price for a convention than the one that we’re offering right now.

That price is $349 per person, but it’s only effective through the end of the business day on Friday.  That’s when the Early Bird Registration period ends.  Yes, Jon Bartos of Jonathan Scott International will be there to provide great training, and yes, Todd Bossler will be there to provide the same when it comes to Big Biller.  But the main reason recruiters are attending this convention is the same reason that they always attend:

Split placements!

They find new job orders and new Trading Partners and they make split placements.  You may think that it’s not possible for it to be that simple, but it often is.  In fact, the Top Producer in Top Echelon Network, Sean Napoles of Career Brokers, Inc., is a staunch advocate of attending these events.  That’s because he has attributed at least one split placement to every single event that he’s attended!

Click here to read Sean’s story.

Just to review, the National Convention is scheduled for Thursday, May 12, through Saturday, May 14, at The Westin Beach Resort in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.  And as I mentioned above, the Early Bird Registration of $349 per person is good until the end of the business day on Friday.  After that, the cost goes up to the price of Regular Registration.

But don’t wait.  Sign up now.  There are split placements waiting for you in Fort Lauderdale.  There are  recruiters there you’ll enjoy meeting for the first time . . . and some you’ll enjoy seeing again.  You won’t regret going, but there’s a chance you’ll regret not going.

Ride the wave of momentum in the recruiting industry right now, all the way to Fort Lauderdale.

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

Some of the Top Producers in Top Echelon Network offer contract staffing to their client companies.  In this episode of “Top Echelon TV,” Top Echelon President Mark Demaree interviews Debbie Fledderjohann of Top Echelon Contracting, who explains the advantages of contract staffing and how recruiters can get started offering contracting to their client companies.  She also talks about why it’s important how you’re classifying your contractors if you run your own back-office.

If you don’t offer contracting to your clients, you should start.  You’re leaving money on the table that other recruiters are only too glad to snatch up.

If you have any questions, visit Top Echelon Contracting’s website at www.TopEchelonContracting.com or call (330) 454-3508.

Top Echelon Network Preferred Member recruiters shouldn’t be living in the past . . . and that’s especially the case with their Recruiter Profile.

In this episode of “Top Echelon TV,” Top Echelon Network President Mark Demaree—as well as Communications Coordinator Matt Deutsch and Membership Development Coordinator Drea Codispoti—illustrate how neglecting the Recruiter Profile can sabotage recruiters’ attempts to network and make split placements.  As much as we’d like it to be, this just isn’t the 1980s anymore.

If there are other issues that you believe we should address in “Top Echelon TV” (with or without the “Top Echelon TV players,” let us know about them.  Send an email to marketing@TopEchelon.com.

These past two years have been tough for recruiters, including recruiters in Top Echelon Network.  A lot of firms have gone out of business, or at the very least, they’ve been forced to consolidate and restructure their recruiting practice.

At the same time, there have been many changes that have occurred within the Network during the past year, changes meant to streamline our tools and services.  We’ve rolled out a new version of the Network software and the Big Biller recruiting software.  We’ve also introduced two new services and eliminated two old services.

One thing that has not changed, though, is our commitment to you, the Preferred Membership of Top Echelon Network.

We believe in the recruiters in our Network, we believe in their ability and desire to make split placements, and we believe that we can provide the resources and opportunities for them to make more splits.  In short, we want to help every Network recruiter make more split placements.

We want this year to be a great year for you as a Preferred Member of the Network.  As part of that objective, we want to know how we can serve you and help you get the most out of your Membership.

Now, we have some ideas on how to accomplish this, but it’s important to us to know what you think, what you want, and what you need as a recruiter in this Network.

That’s why in the near future, we’ll be sending you a short email survey.  This survey will contain a series of questions designed to provide us with feedback that will allow us to further enhance the level of service and the amount of value that we provide to you.  We also invite you to call us or email us.  Just let us know what we can do to help you make more split placements.

As always, thank you for your commitment as a Preferred Member of Top Echelon Network.   We’re excited about 2011 and the possibilities that the year holds, and we’re also excited about helping you enjoy more success in your business.

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

At Top Echelon Network, we’re ALL about communication.  After all, it’s one of the Four Pillars of the Network.  However, there’s a right way to communicate with other Preferred Members of Top Echelon Network, and there’s a wrong way.

In this episode of “Top Echelon TV,” Communications Coordinator Matt Deutsch and Membership Development Coordinator Drea Codispoti present an extreme example in order to illustrate the wrong way to ask another recruiter for information when attempting to switch niches.)

For a further explanation about how Top Echelon Network recruiters should approach this subject, read Drea’s post in this week’s issue of The Pinnacle Newsletter Blog.  And if there are other issues that you believe we should address in “Top Echelon TV” (with or without the “Top Echelon TV players,” let us know about them.  Send an email to marketing@TopEchelon.com.