At Top Echelon, we want to make Membership in our split network as valuable as possible.

To that end, we’re pleased to announce a special deal that we’ve struck with LinkedIn for their “LinkedIn Recruiter” tool.

As part of this agreement, Preferred Members of Top Echelon Network can purchase “LinkedIn Recruiter” at 50% off!  That means the price for a whole year of LinkedIn Recruiter would be $2,500, as opposed to the regular price of $5,000.

However, it should be noted that at least 50 recruiters must sign up for this deal in order for this special pricing to be available. If between 25 and 50 participate, then the price will be $3,500 for one year.

Below are some other important details associated with this deal:

• Recruiters who participate will have to pay for LinkedIn Recruiter up front.
• Top Echelon Network will serve as the one point of contact for LinkedIn for this special offer, meaning that you’ll have to make your check for the appropriate amount out to “Top Echelon Network.” Then we’ll pay LinkedIn.  (You’ll still contact LinkedIn for other issues, including technical support.)

For those who don’t know, LinkedIn recruiter is a special package from the social media site created specifically for recruiters.  With LinkedIn Recruiter, you get the following:

• Full-name visibility
• Premium talent filters
• 50 InMails
• 1,000 profiles per search
• 50 alerts daily
• 200 folders, team sharing
• Collaboration tools

Click here for more information about LinkedIn Recruiter, including a short video and assorted White Papers regarding the software.

To maximize the benefits of this special offer, we need a commitment from those recruiters who are interested.  Specifically, we’ll need the $2,500 in the form of a check by Wednesday, July 25.  That will ensure that we’ll meet the August 1 deadline.

If you’re interested in taking advantage of this deal, please send us an email at info@topechelon.com.  In that email, be sure to include your name, your firm’s name, and your willingness to participate in this special deal.

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330.455.1433, Ext. 172
MDemaree@TopEchelon.com
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Longevity in the recruiting profession is nothing to sneeze at (or cough at, for that matter).  Recruiting is not an easy profession, and every year, firms go out of business as a direct result.

Longevity in Top Echelon Network is nothing to sneeze at, either, and that’s why we want to recognize those Preferred Member firms that are celebrating a Network anniversary during the month of June.  At the top of the list is Career Professionals, Inc. in Morristown, Pa., which is celebrating its 21st anniversary this month.

In addition, Helffrich International in Oldsmar, Fla., and Walter & Associates, Inc. in Olathe, Kan., are celebrating their 21st anniversary.  Congratulations to those firms, and all the other Preferred Member firms listed below.

22 years

Career Professionals, Inc. (June 27)

21 years

Helffrich International (June 26)
Walter & Associates, Inc. (June 27)

13 years

Stephens International (June 30)

12 years

North Peak Group (June 28)

10 years

Ohrmund Employment Group (June 5)
Person Plus Incorporated (June 5)
Sissom & Associates (June 25)

9 years

JS Griffith & Associates (June 23)
PSW Groups (June 26)

8 years

Clinical Dynamix, Inc. (June 23)
Front Line solutions, LLC (June 16)
SAP Recruiters (June 29)

7 years

JR Walters Resources (June 9)

6 years

Management Analysis & Utilization, Inc. (June 29)
Professional Placement Consulting Group (June 2)
The Smith Consulting Group, LLC (June 26)

5 years

Catapult Resources West (June 7)
General Search and Recruitment (June 1)
Management Search Partners (June 18)

4 years

Reiger Technical Search (June 19)

3 years

Balanced Career Solutions, Inc. (June 8)
Dayspring & Associates (June 1)
Ehlers Recruiting Partners (June 30)
Shanklin & Associates (June 25)
Spaulding Associates (June 4)

2 years

HG Arias & Associates (June 28)

1 year

EPG Solutions (June 21)
IT Audit Search (June 6)
Orion Delta Group (June 30)

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330.455.1433, Ext. 172
MDemaree@TopEchelon.com
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Believe it or not, July is almost here.  I would say something about how quickly time flies, but by the time I did, it would be August.  Better just to embrace the present, rather than comment on the rapidly aging past or the accelerating future.

Speaking of that future, I have for you the Virtual Core Group (VCG) schedule for the month of July.  Yes, I know: summer is here.  Yes, I know: many of you are on vacation or will be on vacation.

That is irrelevant.  I STILL want you to attend a VCG teleconference call during the month of July.  Why?  Because I’m an oppressive Membership Development Coordinator who enjoys ruling with an iron fist?  Partly, yes.

But the other reason is that I know for a fact just how valuable these teleconference calls can be for recruiters who are interested in maximizing their Top Echelon Network Preferred Membership and putting the resources of their Trading Partners to good use for the purpose of making more split placements.

Below is the Virtual Core Group teleconference call schedule for the month of July (all times listed are Eastern Standard Time).

Virtual Core Group meetings are regularly scheduled conference calls for Preferred Member recruiters who work in the same industry or niche.  During these calls, recruiters share information about the activity they’re seeing, they share hot job orders and candidates, and they also bounce ideas off one another.

As you can see above, the first two Thursdays of the month and the first slot of the third Thursday are filled with conference calls.  That means the second and third slot of the third Thursday are open, as well as all three slots of the fourth Thursday.  It ALSO means that we have plenty of room for growth.

If you think you’d like to start a new Virtual Core Group—or join an existing one—please contact me!

That means YOU.

— — —

330.455.1433, x156
Drea@TopEchelon.com
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How in the world is it already June?  I have no idea.  The year is flying by.

What I do know, though, is the date of this year’s Top Echelon Recruitment Network Ohio Golf Outing.  That date: Thursday, July 19.

This outing has been held for the better part of a decade now, and the benefits of attending this event have been proven time after time after time.  Recruiters have golfed together, networked together, and made split placements together—that’s the perfect blueprint for success.

With that in mind, I’d like to take a moment to thank Preferred Member recruiter Debra L. Stitt, CPC of Quality Source Inc. of Ohio for all the work she’s put into this event over the years.  She helped to build the outing into what it is today, and we’re truly grateful for her efforts.

Below are the specifics regarding this year’s outing.

Location:
Bunker Hill Golf Course
3060 Pearl Road
Medina, OH  44256

Cost: $30 per person
Date: Thursday, July 19
Format: scramble
Time: 10 a.m. shotgun start

Note that food is NOT included in the cost of the outing.  If you desire sustenance, you can always run up to Bunker’s Grill and order something off their menu.

If you’d like to participate in this year’s Top Echelon Network Ohio Golf Outing, please contact me as soon as you can.  You do NOT have to work or live in Ohio to participate in this event!  All are welcome, regardless of origin (even people from Michigan).

Let’s network, share job orders, take a break from our busy desks, and have some fun together . . . before this year passes us by.

— — —

330.455.1433, x156
drea@topechelon.com
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Here at Top Echelon, we like to have fun.  We like to not take you too seriously.  I’m sorry—what I meant to say is that we like to not take ourselves too seriously.

With that in mind, we’re soliciting your help in the creation of a future Top Echelon e-Book.  The reason we need your help is because we want your “tales from the trenches.”

We would say that we want your “Tales from the Crypt,” but I’m pretty sure that phrase has already been trademarked.

Besides, “tales from the trenches” is more accurate.  Recruiters definitely feel like they’re in the trenches most days, whether they’re making marketing calls to cranky hiring managers, trying to reach a candidate who hasn’t shown up for their first day on the job, or calmly explaining to a client why their first choice already accepted another position because they didn’t move quickly enough.

If you’ve been a recruiter for any length of time, you have some tales to tell, perhaps many tales.

Here’s the deal: send us your “tales from the trenches” via email at marketing@topechelon.com.  By doing so, you give us permission to publish your tale of woe in our e-Book.

Keep in mind that you can remain anonymous.  In other words, you can submit your tale, but request that we withhold your name and firm name for privacy reasons.

What we’ve discovered is that recruiters enjoy reading about other recruiters’ “tales from the trenches.”  That’s because they’ve been in the trenches themselves, and they can relate to these headhunter horror stories.  They share a common bond, one built upon frustration, stress, and exasperation.

However, these tales aren’t just about that.  They’re also a way of celebrating—specifically, celebrating the fact that no matter what crazy things might happen, you’re still standing.  You’re still a recruiter, you’re still making money, and you still love what you do.

When all is said and done, that’s a tale with a happy ending.

— — —

330.455.1433, x125
mdeutsch@topechelon.com
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A few months ago, I announced that we were adding a new Virtual Core Group to the monthly teleconference schedule.  That group happened to be Aerospace/DOD.

Well, I’m happy to announce that I’m adding yet another group to the mix.

That group is Energy/Power/Oil & Gas.  That group is now part of the Virtual Core Group schedule for the month of June, and I’ve included the schedule in its entirety below.

As always, Virtual Core Group meetings are regularly scheduled conference calls for Preferred Member recruiters who work in the same industry or niche.  During these calls, recruiters share information about the activity they’re seeing, they share hot job orders and candidates, and they also bounce ideas off one another.

That being said, below is the Virtual Core Group conference call schedule for the month of June (all times listed are Eastern Standard Time):

As you can see, the first two Thursdays of the month and the first slot of the third Thursday are filled with conference calls.  That means the second and third slot of the third Thursday are open, as well as all three slots of the fourth Thursday.  It ALSO means that we have plenty of room for growth.

If you think you’d like to start a new Virtual Core Group—or join an existing one—please contact me!

I’d also like you to contact me if you have questions about other things you could be doing to maximize your Network Membership.

And when I say “maximize your Network Membership,” I mean “make more split placements!”

— — —

330.455.1433, x156
Drea@TopEchelon.com
Connect with Drea on LinkedIn.
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We’ve been running our Virtual Core Group (VCG) conference call meetings for quite some time now, and they’ve been quite successful.

As a result of these meetings, recruiters have exchanged job orders and candidates, they’ve formed Trading Partners relationships, and most importantly, they’ve made split placements together.

This week in The Pinnacle, I’d like to make an announcement regarding the VCG meetings that I believe will help to foster even more participation and activity within these groups.

That announcement is as follows:

Meeting minutes will no longer be distributed to Preferred Member recruiters who do not attend the Virtual Core Group meeting.

In the past, if you didn’t attend the meeting, I still forwarded the meeting minutes to you.  I will no longer be doing that.  That’s because I believe very much in the benefit of attending these meetings and networking with other recruiters.

Yes, you’re busy.  So is everybody who attends the meetings.  Active Participation is one of the Four Pillars of Top Echelon Network for a reason: active participation is a precursor to production, which is a precursor to split placements.

We want you to make more placements.  We want you to be more productive.  We want you to actively participate in Virtual Core Group meetings.

If you have any questions about this new policy, I encourage you to contact me.

— — —

330.455.1433, x156
Drea@TopEchelon.com
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Last week, I presented the list of Preferred Member recruiters in Top Echelon Network who have made 100 placements or more.

This week, I’m presenting the list of Preferred Member recruiters who are “Million Dollar Producers” in Top Echelon Network.

Actually, you should pronounce it as follows: “Meeel-lion Dollar Producers,” much like Dr. Evil would do. You know, Dr. Evil . . . from the Austin Powers movies.  And why should you pronounce it that way?  Because it’s more fun, that’s why.

Besides, how many HR managers and gatekeepers would fit the “Dr. Evil” monikor?  The connection is there.  You just have to look closely.

Below is the list of the 11 recruiters who comprise “The Top Echelon Network Meeel-lion Dollar Producers Club.”  Some are no longer in the Network.  The names of those recruiters are in italics.

1. Bruce Ramstad of Bruce L. Ramstad

2. Jim Fitzpatrick of Fitzpatrick & Associates

3. Sean Napoles of Career Brokers, Inc.

4. Jim Bostic of The Bostic Group, Inc.

5. Dan Simmons of Continental Search & Outplacement, Inc.

6. Gary Silver of The Shay Group

7. Kate Bell of Bell & Associates

8. Chuck Szajkovics of First Search and Bulldog Recruiters, Inc.

9. Mike Zarnek of First Search

10. Al Katz of First Search

11. Dan Regan of Maxwell Marcus Corporate Recruiters

12. Elvin Erickson of Erickson & Associates, Inc.

13. Lou Michaels of Lou Michaels Associates, Inc.

As you can see, I’ve omitted the actual dollar amounts for the recruiters above.  However, you can access those amounts (for active Preferred Members) by logging into the Top Echelon Network software and viewing their respective Recruiter Profiles.

I should note that the top recruiter on the list, Bruce Ramstad, is actually close to $2 million in cash-in during his tenure as a Preferred Member.  I should also note that a handful of recruiters are closing in on the $1 million mark, including Trey Cameron of the Cameron Craig Group.

In fact, if Trey keeps making placements at the rate he’s been making them over the past 18 months, he could reach the $1 meeel-lion plateau even sooner than we think.

Congratulations to everybody!

— — —

330.455.1433, x125
MDeutsch@TopEchelon.com
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As you might have heard us mention a time or two, Top Echelon Network will be celebrating its 25th year of existence in 2013.

But why wait?  Let’s start celebrating right now!  There’s no time like the present!  Besides, there are some who say the world is going to end before 2013 even gets here, so let’s party like it’s 1999!  (Actually scratch that; my 1999 party wasn’t that great.)

Anyway, one of the things we’ll be doing to celebrate this milestone is recognize those recruiters who have accomplished tremendous milestones as Preferred Members of Top Echelon Network during the past 24+ years.  One of those milestones is making 100 placements.

And you might be interested to know—and I’m interested to tell you—that in the 24 years that Top Echelon Network has been in business, 24 recruiters have made 100 placements or more as Preferred Members.  Coincidence?  Maybe . . . probably . . . work with me here.

Below is the list of the 24 recruiters who comprise “The Top Echelon Network 100 Placement Club.”  Some are no longer in the Network.  The names of those recruiters are in italics.

1. Bruce Ramstad of Bruce L. Ramstad—307
2. Gary Silver of The Shay Group—224
3. Jim Bostic of The Bostic Group, Inc.—224
4. Jerry Walter of Walter & Associates, Inc.—180
5. Jim Fitzpatrick of Fitzpatrick & Associates—176
6. Dan Simmons of Continental Search & Outplacement, Inc.—175
7. Dan Regan of Maxwell Marcus Corporate Recruiters—171
8. Sean Napoles of Career Brokers, Inc.—164
9. Lou Michaels of Lou Michaels Associates, Inc.—162
10. Kate Bell of Bell & Associates—157
11. Al Katz of First Search—152
12. Elvin Erickson of Erickson & Associates, Inc.—143
13. Allen Davis of SoftwareJobs.com, Inc.—140
14. Heidi Kay of Kay Concepts, Inc.—135 (currently with another Preferred Member firm)
15. Richard Lechtenberg of Dick Berg & Associates—131
16. Colleen Switala of Database Search, Inc.—123
17. Donna Carroll of Systems Personnel—122
18. Terry Rhodes of newcareers—122
19. Bill Williams—114
20. Trey Cameron of the Cameron Craig Group—124
21. Johnny Winn The Anchor Group—106
22. Antoinette Andrews of Quantum Advantage, Inc.—104
23. Joyce Gray of Rhodes International, Inc.—101
24. David Kersey of Kersey & Associates, Inc.—100

Twenty-four recruiters in 24 years.  So the question is this one: how close is the next recruiter to reaching the 100-placement plateau?

The next recruiter is Steve Brody of Executive Resource Systems.  Not only is Steve a Charter Member, but he’s made 96 Network placements to date.  If he can make four more, he’ll become the 25th recruiter to make 100 placements in Top Echelon Network.

How fitting would that be?

So, Steve—we’re rooting for you.  We wish you split placement success.  And you know, if you can make your 100th before next March, that would be great.

No pressure, though . . . just thinking out loud.  You understand.

— — —

330.455.1433, x125
MDeutsch@TopEchelon.com
Connect with Matt on LinkedIn.
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Last month, I announced that we were starting a new Virtual Core Group for the month of April.  That group was for the Aerospace/DOD industry, and I’m glad to say that group will be sticking around.

In fact, if you look at the chart below, you’ll notice that the Virtual Core Group schedule for the month of May looks remarkably similar to the schedule for April.  There’s a good reason for that: the schedules are the same (although the dates have been changed to protect the guilty).

As I’ve mentioned before, Virtual Core Group meetings are regularly scheduled conference calls for Preferred Member recruiters who work in the same industry or niche.  During these calls, recruiters share information about the activity they’re seeing, they share hot job orders and candidates, and they also bounce ideas off one another.

And of course, participating in Virtual Core Groups is one of the things that leads directly to making more split placements!  I can’t emphasize that fact enough.

Below is the Virtual Core Group conference call schedule for the month of May (all times listed are Eastern Standard Time):

The first two Thursdays of the month are filled with conference calls and the third and fourth Thursdays are open.  If you don’t see your industry or niche represented in the chart above, I am ALWAYS willing to start a new group.

If you think you’d like to start a new Virtual Core Group—or join an existing one—please contact me!

I’d also like you to contact me if you have questions about other things you could be doing to maximize your Network Membership.

Let’s make 2012 a great year.  It’s almost halfway over.  Let’s make some split placements!

— — —

330.455.1433, x156
Drea@TopEchelon.com
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