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:

Glenda Smith of MetalJobs Network in Eastwood, Kentucky

Network Accomplishments:

Smith has made a total of 69 placements in Top Echelon Network since becoming a Preferred Member recruiter, four in 2010.

Glenda’s Keys to Success in Top Echelon Network:

“Staying in touch with recruiters who may have candidates who work my specialty.”

Glenda’s Trading Partners:

“Jeff Ploeger, Janiece Durham, Mike Helffrich, Dave Wick, Bob Millman, and a host of others with whom I stay in touch.”

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

“This year has been a great surprise. The activity level is excellent and it seems it will continue into the new year. Yippee!”

Glenda’s Goals for Future Production in the Network:

“Obviously, I’d like to make more splits. But since the niche I work is very small (manufacturing aluminum extrusions), odds are that the splits I do make will be the unusual ones – the ones where another TE recruiter needs a special candidate with a metals background – something that is outside their own area or when I need a candidate who is outside my area of expertise. I make it a rule to always check the split candidate database for the right candidate before I conduct additional searches.”

Glenda’s Advice:

“Don’t be afraid of picking up the phone and calling any TE recruiter for advice, to get feedback or just to discuss if a concern you have is valid. TE is chock full of the BEST kind of people – recruiters who want YOU to succeed as much as you do. They are always willing to help you in any situation.

“The other thing I’d say is to utilize fully the skills and experience of other TE’ers. That includes using them as your ‘back-office.’  In our TE family, we have experts in all areas of industry and careers, including accounting, construction, plastics, in recruiting doctors, in working with the government, in engineering, in IT and certainly in metals, just to name a few.”

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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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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Every month—and every quarter—we like to highlight the Top Producers in Top Echelon Network in The Pinnacle blog.  We now have two main categories of awards that we announce on a monthly and quarterly basis—Recruiter of the Month and Highest Split Fee of the Month.

Below are the winners of these awards for the month of November.  We’d like to congratulate those Preferred Members who earned them and thank them for their efforts.

— — —

Recruiter of the Month
Rich Connors of Vista Technology

Rich made two placements during the month of November, while a group of Preferred Members made one placement apiece.  The two recruiters at the top of the one-placement heap (due to their cash-in total for that placement) were Eric Berg of JN Adams & Associates, Inc. and Scott Riffle, CPC of SJR & Associates.

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Highest Split Fee of the Month–Scott Riffle, CPC of SJR & Associates and Eric Berg of JN Adams & Associates, Inc.

It makes sense that if Riffle and Berg had the highest cash-in totals for one placement during the month of November that they would be the recipients of this award, too.  This placement was for a General Manager of Operations, and Scott and Eric earned a 25% fee as a result of the placement.

— — —

As always, if you have any suggestions for additional recognition awards, please email those suggestions to marketing@TopEchelon.com.  Live long and prosper.

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Has 2010 been a tough year for recruiters?  You’d better believe it . . . but many recruiters have enjoyed better than average years. And some have enjoyed good years.

Not great years, but good years.  However, in this economy, good is sometimes plenty good enough.

Preferred Member recruiter Bob Small of Carroll Technology Services, Inc., is one of those recruiters who’s enjoyed a good year in 2010.  How has he done it?  In large part, by relying on his Trading Partners.

“It’s been a good year,” said Small.  “Not anything like the record levels in 2003 through 2007, but it’s definitely been a good year.”

Small is currently ranked 15^th in the Network in terms of overall production.  This year, though, not all of that production has been from direct-hire placements.

“I’ve had more contractors out there, which has been good,” said Small.  “I haven’t done much contracting in the past, but it’s been working out for me.”

A couple of the Trading Partners with which Small has worked extensively are Philip Bartfield of Bartfield Search, Inc., and Dave Sgro, Jr. of True North Consultants, LLC.  However, it was a conversation that Small had with Dave Sgro, Sr. of True North Consultants, LLC that helped change his perspective—and improve his Network production—this year.

“Dave told me that he tries to have a certain number of Top Echelon touches every week,” said Small.  “I thought to myself, ‘He’s right, I’ve become too content with the Maryland [Regional] Core Group and the Trading Partners I’m comfortable with.’  I decided I needed to reach out to other recruiters.”

Among the different recruiters that Small contacted were Ed Nathan of Systems Search and Linda Gutekunst of LR Solutions, LLC.

Bob Small

“I’m looking to do more things in Top Echelon and to expand my networking space,” said Small.  “I’ve been busy trying to find people for these recruiters’ job orders.”

Making the decision to move out of his comfort zone and have a certain number of “Top Echelon touches” every week has translated into more job orders for Small.  He has not only his own, but also those of other Network Members.  No matter how busy Small is, though, he still finds time to communicate consistently.

“I have a lot of job orders on my desk, but I’m still trying to keep in contact with other recruiters,” said Small.  “I like to let my Trading Partners know what’s going on, either through email or over the phone, but I also like to call other recruiters who have job orders and say, ‘Hey, I might be able to help you with that.’  I like to stay in touch with people, so they think of me and keep me in mind.”

Small started in the recruiting industry in 1988 and Carroll Technology Services, Inc., joined Top Echelon Network in 2004.  During the past six years, Small has made a total of 47 Network placements, ALL of them split placements.

Small has some advice for those Preferred Members who want to enjoy more success within Top Echelon Network.

“You’re not going to have success with every recruiter in the Network,” said Small.  “But if you don’t reach out and try, you’re not going to get anywhere.  You have to participate and you have to put forth the effort.”

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

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From Charlotte . . . to Baltimore!  The Top Echelon Network conference in Charlotte last week was a great success.  The recruiters who attended the event took full advantage of the opportunity to not only network with other Preferred Members, but also to hear two excellent sessions by industry trainer Doug Beabout.  We’ll have more about the Charlotte conference in next week’s issue.

‘Hot town, summer in the city . . .’

In the meantime, up next on the “Top Echelon Network Road Show” is Baltimore, Md.  The dates for that event are Thursday, July 22, and Friday, July 23, at the Embassy Suites Baltimore – BWI.  In order to make attending the conference more affordable, we’re offering a special Early Bird Registration rate of just $99 per person.  You can take advantage of that rate through Monday, June 28.  After that, the Regular Registration rate of $129 per person will kick in.  Below are just a few of the things in Baltimore that could help you make more placements the rest of this year:

• Greg Doersching of The Griffin Group will be the main speaker. Greg has consistently been one of the top-rated trainers and speakers at Top Echelon events in the past.
• Top Echelon Internet Strategies Manager Todd Bossler will present a session on “How to Drive Traffic to Your Website.”
• Once again, we’ll be offering the chance for attendees to record a short video for use in their marketing and promotional efforts.  If you plan to attend the Baltimore conference and would like to record a video, be sure to let us know as soon as possible.

You can register for the Baltimore Conference in the Members’ Area.  If you have any questions, give us a call at (330) 455-1433 or send an email to marketing@TopEchelon.com.

With Top Echelon’s network recruiters, we do our best to recognize our Top Producers, those recruiters who consistently make placements within the Network, split or otherwise.  One of the traditional ways in which we’ve honored these Preferred Members in the past is during our annual awards banquet at the National Convention every spring.  Each award winner has been recognized, and if they’re in attendance, they’ve received their award on the spot and in front of their peers.  However, we also recognize recruiters for both monthly and quarterly performance in The Pinnacle blog.

For the monthly awards, winners are announced in three categories–Recruiter of the Month, Highest Split Fee of the Month, and Highest Non-Split Fee of the Month.  Similar awards are announced on a quarterly basis.  With the announcement of April’s award winners, we’re also including the specific criteria that we use to determine the winners of both the monthly and quarterly awards. We’ve included it in order to clarify any discrepancies that recruiters may believe exist and also to explain our rationale for awarding Members for performance.

As always, if you have any suggestions for additional recognition awards, please email those suggestions to marketing@TopEchelon.com.  Below are the winners of last month’s awards.  We’d like to congratulate those Members who earned them and thank them for their efforts.

— — —

Recruiter of the Month
Eric Berg of JN Adams & Associates, Inc.

Eric tied three other Preferred Members with two placements during the month of April, winning the honor by virtue of his cash-in total ($21,291). The other three Network recruiters were Gene McQueen of the Cameron Craig Group ($17,030); Brenda Wylie-Biggs of KB Search Team, LLC ($16,861); and Suzanne Griffith, CPC of J S Griffith & Associates ($16,003).

— — —

Highest Split Fee of the Month–$39,966
Jay Angst of TRS Consulting and Joan R. Walters of JR Walters Resources

This placement was for a Programs Director.  The starting salary was $160,000, and Jay and Joan earned a 24% fee as a result of the placement.

— — —

Highest Non-Split Fee of the Month–$23,500
Cynthia Simpson of J.T. Nelson & Associates, Inc.

The position for this placement was a Senior Process Engineer. The starting salary was $94,000, and Cynthia’s fee for placing the candidate was 25%.  She made the placement through Top Echelon’s job order posting service.

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Our criteria for these awards:

Top Echelon Network is a recruiter split fee network.  As such, we place an emphasis on split placements, and that emphasis constitutes a large part of our criteria for these awards.  We determine the monthly and quarterly award winners based upon two things:

1.) The number of split placements made
2.) The amount of cash-in dollars earned

In order to showcase the cooperation between Top Echelon’s resume database and network of Trading Partners, as well as the premium they place on their relationships, we’d like to publish some of the comments that Preferred Members submit with their Completed Placement forms in The Pinnacle blog.

We’re very pleased that our Members take the time to compliment one another, and we look forward to similar comments in the future. If you have comments for a Trading Partner regarding a split placement, please email those comments to marketing@TopEchelon.com.

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“Greg was extremely good to work with during this process.  The hire was delayed due to a clause in our candidate’s relocation agreement with his former employer, so it took a great deal of patience and understanding on everyone’s part.  Greg and the candidate stayed in close communication with me, and the end result was a great hire.  Greg is a solid TE recruiter and partner, and he was really great to work with.”

Submitted by Dave Smith of Merit Consulting, Inc., regarding his split placement with Greg Downs of Downs Associates

Position Title–EHS Manager
Starting Annual Salary–$115,000
Total fee–$23,000
Fee Percentage–20%

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“Awesome job, Scott!  Another one for the books and another phenomenal candidate!”

Submitted by Joe Murawski of Focused Hire regarding his split placement with Scott Christian of The Search Company, Inc.

Position Title–Manufacturing Engineering Manager
Starting Annual Salary–$110,000
Total fee–$27,500
Fee Percentage–25%