At Top Echelon Network, we like to highlight recruiters who have made their first split placement as a Preferred Member . . . and we get to do it again this week in The Pinnacle Newsletter Blog!

To be honest, we had some help in the form of Preferred Member recruiter Debra Stitt, CPC of Quality Source, Inc. of Ohio.  Stitt and Tom Mitlo of the Orion Delta Group made a split placement recently, and it was Mitlo’s first split in the Network.

What’s noteworthy about this split placement (other than the fact it’s Mitlo’s first) is the way in which it happened.  As you can see from Stitt’s comments below, Mitlo was proactive, contacting Stitt about the job order she had posted in the Top Echelon Network Split Database.  To paraphrase his Trading Partner, “the rest was history.”

In addition, this split placement underscores two of the Four Pillars of Top Echelon Network (if not all four).  Those two Pillars are Communication and Active Participation.  Mitlo was proactive, and his communication was instrumental in making this split placement happen.

Congratulations to Tom Mitlo for his first split placement in Top Echelon Network, and thanks to Debra Stitt for the comments she submitted!

If you’d like to compliment a Trading Partner in a more extensive manner regarding a split placement, email your comments and information to marketing@topechelon.com.

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“Tom and Gina were outstanding to work with.  Tom called me, asked me what I needed, sent me two outstanding candidates, and the rest is history.  I’m honored that I could be the one to facilitate their first placement in TE.  Orion Delta Group, you guys rock!”

Position Title—DIRECTOR OF REIMBURSEMENT INNOVATION
Fee Percentage—25%

Submitted by Debra Stitt, CPC of Quality Source, Inc. of Ohio regarding her split placement with Tom Mitlo of the Orion Delta Group

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Most of the time, sequels to movies just aren’t as good as the original.  However, sequels to split placements are just as good—or even better!

Take, for instance, the first split placement highlighted below.  It doesn’t represent just a sequel, but a trilogy of placements, and that’s a 1-2-3 punch that anybody can appreciate.

And if this placement was a movie, then maybe it would be Casablanca, because the line, “Play it again, Sam” makes sense . . . although the recruiter’s name is Suzanne, not Sam . . . and Casablanca isn’t a sequel.

Okay, forget all of that for now and humor me for just a second.  Once you make a split placement with another Preferred Member recruiter in Top Echelon Network, it becomes easier to make another split placement with that recruiter.  And another.  And another.  (You get the idea.)

With that in mind, below are the placements highlighted in this week’s installment of “‘Comments’ and Compliments.”

(Maybe split placements are like The Matrix movies.  Wait, make that Back to the Future.  Or Indiana Jones.  No, that was a series of four films, not three.  Darn it!)

If you’d like to thank another recruiter for their efforts in our split fee recruiting network, send your information to marketing@topechelon.com.  Your comments might be included in an upcoming issue of The Pinnacle Newsletter Blog!

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“Good job again, Suzanne!  This is our third split, and all three have been positions for strategic sourcing of Indirect and Service category candidates—two my job, one your job, and all salaries from $100,000 to $110,000.  Looks like we’re becoming specialists!”

Submitted by Robert Gabor of The Gabor Group regarding his split placement with Suzanne Griffith, CPC of J S Griffith & Associates

Position Title—CATEGORY MANAGER-INDIRECTS
Fee Percentage—20%

(Editor’s note: this is the third split placement that Gabor and Griffith have made together in Top Echelon Network.)

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“Working with Bruce is always great.  He always sends me candidates that fit the disciplines I recruit for.  It’s no wonder that he’s so successful in TE.”

Submitted by Ron Sunshine of Ron Sunshine Associates regarding his split placement with Bruce Ramstad of Bruce L. Ramstad

Position Title—INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING SUPERVISOR
Fee Percentage—25%

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

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Last week, we presented the first part of a two-part interview with long-time Preferred Member recruiter Marc Tappis of Opportunity Search, Inc.

Tappis, who recently celebrated the 25th anniversary of his firm opening its doors, has been very successful in Top Echelon Network.

And because we’re an absolute stickler for detail, we’re now going to publish the second part of that interview in this week’s issue of The Pinnacle Newsletter Blog.

In the true tradition of an interview, we asked Tappis to answer even MORE questions, and he was good enough to answer them.  His answers are below.

If there’s a recruiter you believe we should interview, send their name to marketing@topechelon.com.  If you believe that YOU should be interviewed, you can send your name to . . . the same email address.

How has Top Echelon Network affected your career as a recruiter?

TE has allowed me to expand my business base, increase my revenue, and provide a better service to my clients.  It has allowed me to keep my overhead down.  I never saw the need to hire a staff when I have countless Top Echelon recruiters available to assist with my recruiting needs.

Why do you think you’ve been so successful working with other recruiters and making split placements with them?

I’ve been able to build trusting relationships with a Core Group of recruiters.  I also try to keep things in perspective, treat other recruiters like I want to be treated, be honest, and try to add some humor and fun to the process.  I strongly believe that communicating and providing feedback to other recruiters throughout the process is really important.  A split placement is a team effort, and in most cases, input and actions from both sides make the deal happen.  This won’t happen if you don’t communicate and keep the recruiter you’re working with informed during the process.

What are some crazy things that candidates and hiring managers have said and done down through the years?

The list is long . . . a candidate telling a hiring manager that they can’t get out of bed in the morning and would like the job, but only if they can start at 10 a.m.; a candidate literally falling asleep in the reception area waiting to be called back for their 8:30 a.m. interview; a candidate bringing their children to an interview and asking the receptionist to watch them.

What advice do you have for somebody just starting out as a recruiter?

On one hand, it’s a simple business—work hard, build relationships, be honest, be organized, and don’t get frustrated, as there are a lot of ups and downs.  On the other hand, it’s not an easy business.  You need luck and perseverance, and you must be able to handle things out of your control.  You don’t control what candidates do and say or what clients do and say.

What else would you like to add?

This job is extremely stressful.  It’s important to find a way to relieve stress.  I’m an avid runner and have completed three marathons and numerous half-marathons.  Exercise is one of many ways to reduce stress.

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A great way to get our attention here at Top Echelon Network is to make a bunch of split placements.  You know, 100, 200 . . . maybe 300.

But if you can’t reach those numbers quickly enough, then two or more placements a week will definitely do the trick, and that’s the case this week.  The Preferred Member recruiter who made multiple placements is Debra L. Stitt, CPC of Quality Source Inc. of Ohio.

Stitt made a pair of split placements (as you can see below) this week, and she’s been a consistent producer during her time in the Network.  She became a Preferred Member of the recruiter split fee network a little over 10 years ago, and she’s made 35 placements since then, which represents a hefty return on her Network investment.

But of coruse . . . Stitt wasn’t the only recruiter to make a split placement this week.  There were plenty of others, as well, and they’re also listed below.

Who will be the subject of our next “Split Placement Focus”?  Only time will tell . . . actually, only time AND split placements will tell . . .

THIS WEEK’S COMPLETED SPLIT PLACEMENTS!

Job order recruiter: Rita McConnell of Emerald Resource Group

Candidate recruiter: Larry Barlow of Tax Advantage Personnel, Inc.

Job title: LATIN AMERICA TAX MANAGER

Fee Percentage—20%

Action causing split placement: The job order or candidate was found by searching Top Echelon’s split databases.

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Job order recruiter: Debra L. Stitt, CPC of Quality Source Inc. of Ohio

Candidate recruiter: Tom Mitlo of Orion Delta Group

Job title: DIRECTOR OF REIMBURSEMENT INNOVATION

Fee Percentage—25%

Action causing split placement: The job order or candidate was found by searching Top Echelon’s split databases.

— — —

Job order recruiter: Debra L. Stitt, CPC of Quality Source Inc. of Ohio

Candidate recruiter: James McMahon of Chicago Search Group, Inc.

Job title: AUDIT & COMPLIANCE ADVISORY SERVICES CONSULTANT

Fee Percentage—25%

Action causing split placement: The job order or candidate was sent to me via the automated email alerts.

— — —

Job order recruiter: Robert Gabor of The Gabor Group

Candidate recruiter: Suzanne Griffith, CPC of J S Griffith & Associates

Job title: CATEGORY MANAGER

Fee Percentage—20%

Action causing split placement: Regular communication with another Top Echelon Network Preferred Member recruiter

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Job order recruiter: David M. Sgro of True North Consultants, Inc.

Candidate recruiter: Bob Small of Carroll Technology Services, Inc.

Job title: .NET DEVELOPER

Fee Percentage—22.5%

Action causing split placement: Regular communication with another Top Echelon Network Preferred Member recruiter

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Job order recruiter: Jessica May of Management Analysis & Utilization, Inc.

Candidate recruiter: Catherine Bateman of Woods & Paolino Recruiting Solutions

Job title: PROJECT ENGINEER

Fee Percentage—15%

Action causing split placement: The job order or candidate was found by searching Top Echelon’s split databases.

— — —

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We recently announced that Top Echelon Network Preferred Member recruiter Marc Tappis was celebrating the 25th anniversary of his firm, Opportunity Search, opening its doors.  It just so happens that during two stints as a Preferred Members, Tappis has been very successful in the Network, as well.

So . . . considering the success—not to mention longevity—that Tappis has enjoyed, both inside and outside of the Network, we thought it would be a good idea to ask him some questions.  (Yes, you could call it an “interview,” if you want to get all technical about it.)

Any, this is if the first blog post in a two-post series that reveal the answers that Tappis provided.  The second part of the series will be published in next week’s issue of The Pinnacle Newsletter Blog.  We want to read that issue, too.

How did you break into the recruiting business?

I started out in Corporate HR, first as a recruiter then as a staffing manager.  I was using a very well-known and established recruiting firm to fill openings and they offered me a position with their firm, which I accepted.
How has the world of recruiting changed during the past 25 years?

Technology is the biggest change.

When I started my company in 1987, everything was paper.  Computers were very expense and had little or no memory capacity to hold large amounts of data.  I spent a lot of time making copies, addressing envelopes, making file folders for candidates and companies etc.  The process from start to finish was slow.

You would talk to a candidate, they would mail a resume to you and that would take two days, and you would mail it to the company and that was another two days.  Answering machines weren’t very reliable, so spending time out of the office was risky.

A few years after I was in business, fax machines became popular and that made the process move a little faster, but the quality of the fax on thermal paper rolls was very poor.  Years later, computers became affordable but there was no email and no internet.  Even Top Echelon Network (called Nationwide Interchange at the time) had a system where they mailed you a disk with new candidates and job orders and you had to mail it back to them weekly.

Technology has made the job much easier.  A resume is now received in seconds versus days, cellphones allow you to talk to candidates on their way to and from work or during the day if they step outside, email allows you to reach a candidate or client at any time, and computer databases allow you search thousands of candidates in seconds and manage work flow.  Even something as simple as retreiving a message remotely didn’t exist reliably 25 years ago.

If you had a “philosophy of recruiting,” what would you say that is?

Be honest and treat people like you want to be treated. Be a good listener and listen to your clients’ and candidates’ needs.

This is a people business, so get to know your good clients and “A” candidates.  I have numerous clients that I ‘ve worked with for 10+ years and have placed countless candidates with them.  I’m the first one they call over and over again.  I take almost everyone I place to lunch and meet face-to-face with my best clients over lunch regularly.  I get to know them personally.  I think that is really important and has been a major factor in my success.

What do you think you’ve learned about recruiting, business, and people during the past 25 years?

This business really is all about relationships.  To be successful, you need to have good long-term relationships with candidates, clients, and fellow recruiters.  If you do, clients will give you more more business, candidates will refer their friends and colleagues, and recruiters will share their openings and best candidates with you.

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In this week’s installment of “‘Comments’ and Compliments,” we’re highlighting Top Echelon Network Preferred Member recruiters who have made their first split placement with one another.

After all, there’s a first time for everything, and unlike some things, you actually WANT split fee recruiting placements to happen again.

And that’s the theme of this blog post.  Sure, it might have been the first time that these recruiters make a split together, but they certainly don’t want it to be the last time.  They want to make another and another and another . . . well, you get the general idea.

So while we congratulate these recruiters for their accomplishment, we also encourage them.  We encourage them to make more split placements—because we like split placements.  They give us a warm, fuzzy feeling all over.

If you’d like to thank another recruiter 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!

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“[This was the] first time that Rob and Ann worked together on ANY opening; hopefully, it won’t be the last!”

Submitted by Robert Inabnet of Management Search International regarding his split placement with Ann Boland of The Boland Group

Position Title—HOSPITAL LAB DIRECTOR/MED TECH
Fee Percentage—23%

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

— — —

“Thanks, Cindy!  Sydney is an excellent candidate!”

Submitted by Paul Johnson of Paul Johnson & Associates regarding his split placement with Cindy Ridley of HRTechies.com

Position Title—LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT LEARNING MANAGER
Fee Percentage—20%

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

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Okay, we all know that Top Echelon Network Preferred Member recruiter Al Daum is a rockstar.  (After all, his Trading Partners told us so.)

However, as this week’s split placements clearly show, Daum is also “da bomb” in the Network—not in the literal sense, of course, but in the figurative sense.  That’s the sense where he does everything you’re supposed to do as a Preferred Member, and that’s why he’s made a bunch of placements.

How many placements?  Four so far in 2012, 23 in the past five years, and 49 since he joined Top Echelon Network.  Daum consistently flies below the radar year in and year out, chugging along and churning out split placement after split placement after split placement.

But we’re on to you, Daum!  No more escaping the spotlight and shunning notoriety.  Your cover has been blown.  You’re a model Preferred Member recruiter, and there’s no denying it!  So . . . there.

THIS WEEK’S COMPLETED SPLIT PLACEMENTS!

Job order recruiter: Kristy Fangman of Automationtechies.com

Candidate recruiter: Alan Daum of Alan N. Daum & Associates, Inc.

Job title: ENGINEER

Fee Percentage—Flat

Action causing split placement: Regular communication with another Top Echelon Network Preferred Member recruiter

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Job order recruiter: Bruce Widnes of The Recruiting Group, Inc.

Candidate recruiter: Alan Daum of Alan N. Daum & Associates, Inc.

Job title: CONTROL & INSTRUMENTATION ENGINEER

Fee Percentage—25%

Action causing split placement: Al Daum saw the job order and sent his candidate.  The candidate was local, which thrilled the client.

— — —

Job order recruiter: Larry Barlow of Tax Advantage Personnel, Inc.

Candidate recruiter: James R. Gettys of International Staffing Consultants, Inc.

Job title: SENIOR OF INTERNATIONAL TAX

Fee Percentage—25%

Action causing split placement: The job seeker or client was found through my Hiring Hook Website.

— — —

Job order recruiter: Thomas L. Udulutch of Markent Personnel

Candidate recruiter: Don Fredrick of Executech, Inc.

Job title: PROJECT ENGINEER – PLASTIC MOLDING

Fee Percentage—30%

Action causing split placement: Regular communication with another Top Echelon Network Preferred Member recruiter

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Job order recruiter: Mike Helffrich of Helffrich International

Candidate recruiter: Trey Cameron of the Cameron Craig Group

Job title: SOFTWARE ENGINEERING MANAGER

Fee Percentage—25%

Action causing split placement: The job seeker or client was found through my Hiring Hook Website.

— — —

Job order recruiter: Ronald L. Puibello of Ronald L. Puibello Search, Inc.

Candidate recruiter: John Cokinos of J.D. Cotter Search, Inc.

Job title: PRODUCT ENGINEER

Fee Percentage—25%

Action causing split placement: The job order or candidate was sent to me via the automated email alerts.

— — —

Job order recruiter: Karen Akbal-Sturgeon of KLA Industries

Candidate recruiter: Jim Grates of Arris Consultants, LLC

Job title: SENIOR MANAGER OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

Fee Percentage—20%

Action causing split placement: Regular communication with another Top Echelon Network Preferred Member recruiter

— — —

Job order recruiter: Robert Inabnet of Management Search International

Candidate recruiter: Ann Boland of The Boland Group

Job title: HOSPITAL LAB DIRECTOR

Fee Percentage—23%

Action causing split placement: The job seeker or client was found through my Hiring Hook Website.

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When Preferred Member recruiters in Top Echelon recruiting network compliment one another, they use a variety of words to do so.

In this week’s installment of “‘Comments’ and Compliments,” those words include “amazing” and on the “bullseye.”  Furthermore, when recruiters are complimented by their peers for their efforts during a successful split placement, they’re not only being complimented, but they’re also branding themselves to others as great recruiters and superior Trading Partners.

In other words, doing a great job in a split placement situation gives you credibility within the Network, and that credibility can help you become even more productive as a Preferred Member.  Other recruiters will want to work with you (i.e., send you job orders and candidates).

This week’s installment of “‘Comments’ and Compliments” includes recruiters who have done just that—branded themselves as great Trading Partners and achieved a level of credibility that will allow them to enjoy even more success making split placements in the future.

If you’d like to thank another recruiter 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!

— — —

“Joe was amazing in assisting with this.  He is very skilled at matching candidates and invests much time in the process.  I also appreciated his perspective to the given situations gained over the years in this industry.  This is our second recent split placement together!”

Submitted by Nick Stoia of ASAP Search & Recruiters regarding his split placement with Joe Miglizzi of Perspective

Position Title—PRODUCT MARKETING DIRECTOR
Fee Percentage—20%

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

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“BULLSEYE searching and lots of candidate consoling by my TE partner Tom Edwards!  Lots of communication in all directions, with Tom in the middle.  This is his second hire with this client.  We’re looking forward to many more in the future.  It was nice to see this candidate coached in the direction of accepting the offer from my client.  Thanks for staying on top of this one, Tom!”

Submitted by Steve Copeland of Albert Energy, LLC regarding his split placement with Thomas Edwards of Front Line Solutions, LLC

Position Title—FIELD SERVICE ENGINEER TECHNICIAN
Fee Percentage—22.5%

(Editor’s note: this is the third split placement that Copeland and Edwards have made together in Top Echelon Network.)

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The end is near!

The end of Early Bird Registration for the 2012 Top Echelon Network Fall Conference, that is, and what could be more devastating than that?  (Well, maybe a few things, but let’s not discuss those.)

Instead, let’s focus on the fact that this year’s conference features sourcing guru Shally Steckerl as its main speaker; it includes Big Biller recruiting software training by Internet Strategies Manager Todd Bossler; and most importantly, it offers plenty of opportunities for you to meet and network with other recruiters so you can find more Trading Partners and make more placements!

This year’s Fall Conference is scheduled for Thursday, October 11, and Friday, October 12, at the Sheraton Chicago O’Hare.

BUT there’s only a little more than a week left until the end of Early Bird Registration, which is Friday, September 7!

Don’t wait until the deadline, though.  Deadlines have a way of passing you by, and this is one deadline you do NOT want to miss.

Register for the conference now, and not only save yourself a headache, but save some money, too!

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

What happened on August 19, 1987?

Well, after conducting a Google search, I discovered that many unpleasant things happened around the world on that date.  That’s probably not much of a surprise.

In addition, I was doing something as a 16-year old youth in my hometown of Brookfield, Ohio . . . probably something I shouldn’t have been doing, but that’s a story for another time.

However, something that IS pleasant and NOT potentially incriminating is the fact that Top Echelon Network Preferred Member recruiting firm Opportunity Search opened its doors for business!  That means firm owner Marc Tappis recently celebrated his firm’s 25^th year in business!

Opportunity Search joined Top Echelon Network in 2003.  Since that time, Tappis has made a total of 63 placements as a Preferred Member, which is an average of over seven placements per year.

Everybody here at Top Echelon would like to congratulate Marc on his firm’s anniversary, and more importantly, for enjoying so much success for so long in the recruiting industry.  Here’s to many more years of success!  (And split placements, too . . . let’s not forget about split placements.)

If you’re celebrating an anniversary or have attained some other milestone or accomplishment in recruiting, we want to know about it!  Send your information to marketing@topechelon.com, and you could be featured in an upcoming issue of The Pinnacle Newsletter Blog!

— — —

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