The best way to find out how to enjoy success in Top Echelon Network . . . is to ask the Top Producers how they’ve enjoyed success.  Last week, we presented Part 1 of our interview with Glenda Smith of MetalJobs Network.

Glenda is currently ranked fifth overall in Top Echelon Network in terms of production.  She’s made a total of six split placements in the Network during the past year and 71 placements overall during her tenure as a Preferred Member recruiter.  Her specialty is Aluminum Extrusion Manufacturing.

In the second part of our interview with Glenda, she provides excellent advice for not only newer Members of the Network, but also for any Top Echelon recruiter who wants to enjoy more Network success.  So, without further adieu, below is Part 2 of Glenda’s interview . . .

6. If a new Preferred Member asked your advice about how to find good Trading Partners, what would you tell them?

I’d say to go to the associate recruiter TE database and run a search on your specialty.  When you get the list of recruiters working your industry, go through it, see who is closer to you in distance (so you can meet, if possible), see who the higher split placers are, look at their numbers (jobs and candidates in the system), and then call the ones you think look like good recruiters with whom to work.  Some recruiters are only exporters and some are only importers—that should help make your decision.

7. What other advice would you give a new Member?

First, be active in using Top Echelon as your “back office.”  There are Members who specialize in all different areas, including some in Accounting/Finance, some in Engineering, some in Safety/EHS, some in IT, and some in Building/Construction.  Use them and call upon their expertise.

And when you get a job order outside of your normal arena, say for a VP of Finance or a Controller or a Plant Engineer or a Corporate EHS Manager or a Manager of Construction—or a Metallurgist—you’ll already know at least one expert in that area.  When I get a call for a specific type of employee, one I wouldn’t ordinarily have ready knowledge of or access to, I call on my team members for help.  I always tell client companies that I might not be the expert in [whatever], but I know someone who is and that person will recruit on this job for me.

Second, be open and honest.  Give as good as you get, if not better.  Be ready to share a joke.  Never, ever be afraid to ask for advice from anyone in TE—every recruiter in Top Echelon Network has been where you are.  ALWAYS send a completed RDS (Resume Data Sheet) with every resume you submit to a TE recruiter and ALWAYS send a “submission-ready” resume with the RDS.  Never bug another recruiter about a candidate you’ve sent to him/her.  If there’s an interest, you’ll hear about it.

If someone sends you a candidate directly and you have no interest, respond to him/her, saying why the candidate is not a good match.  Always sign your emails to another recruiter with your TE designation, as in “Glenda at KY10.”

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If there’s a Top Producer you think we should be asking questions, email their name to marketing@TopEchelon.com.

The best way to find out how to enjoy success in Top Echelon Network . . . is to ask the Top Producers how they’ve enjoyed success.  Makes sense, right?  Well, that’s exactly what we did, and now we’re going to present their answers in The Pinnacle Newsletter Blog.

This week, we’re highlighting Glenda Smith of MetalJobs Network.  Glenda is currently ranked fifth overall in the Network in terms of production.  She’s made a total of six split placements in Top Echelon Network during the past year and 71 placements overall during her tenure as a Preferred Member recruiter.  Her specialty is Aluminum Extrusion Manufacturing.

We asked Glenda some questions to find out exactly what she’s doing right in the Network and how she’s making split placements.  Our questions—and her answers—are listed below.  Thanks, Glenda . . . and congratulations!

1. What factors have led to your success as a Preferred Member?

Reputation in TE. I think because recruiters know when it comes to the Metals industry, MetalJobs Network can be counted on to have specific candidates and open positions.

2. How have The Four Pillars of Top Echelon Network (Quality, Communication, Trust, and Active Participation) played a role in your success?

The primary “pillar” to me is Trust.  You have to be able to maintain a very high level of trust with your Trading Partners.  I think we all learned early on to keep information about our companies very confidential, just in case another recruiter tried to “steal” your company or your job order.  In fact, a recruiter who asked for the exact location or the name of your company was suspect.  Now that’s changed, with the ups and downs of the economy and the knowledge that we’re all in this together.

I always share the exact location on every job order and most of the time, I’m okay with sharing the company name, too.  I share every one of the job orders I get on the Big Biller recruiting software and my worthy candidates, as well (Active Participation).  If I’m working with another recruiter’s candidate, I keep that recruiter apprised of the progress of that candidate through interviews, etc. (Communication).  When I do submit a candidate to other recruiters for one of their job orders, I try very hard to match the candidate’s skills, education, and experience with the requirements of the job order.  I always send a completed Resume Data Sheet, along with a resume that can be submitted to a client as-is (Quality).

3. Have Regional Core Groups, Virtual Core Groups, or attending Top Echelon conferences and conventions played a role in your success?  If so, how?

I LOVE attending conferences and conventions—meeting new people and saying hello again to recruiters you already know—what fun!  I’m always able to take away at least one thing that I can use in my business, and sometimes that’s making a split placement with a recruiter I’ve just met!

4. How have the split placements you’ve made in the Network enhanced the overall production of your recruiting desk?

Split placements are about 20% to 25% of my total placements, so it’s significant to my income.

5. What is your philosophy regarding split placements (i.e., how they fit into your business model, how many you strive to make in a given year, etc.)?

I always count on a certain percentage of placements being split with other Preferred Members.  Over the years, it’s become an important part of our business model—one of the aspects of it that hasn’t changed at all.

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Be sure to check The Pinnacle Newsletter Blog next week for the second part of Glenda’s interview, and if there’s a Top Producer you think we should be asking questions, email their name to marketing@TopEchelon.com.

The best way to find out how to enjoy success in Top Echelon Network . . . is to ask the Top Producers how they’ve enjoyed success.  Makes sense, right?  Well, that’s exactly what we did, and now we’re going to present their answers in The Pinnacle Newsletter Blog.

This week, we’re highlighting Rebecca Kohn of Affinity Executive Search.  Rebecca is currently ranked 20th overall in the Network in terms of production.  She’s made a total of 13 split placements in Top Echelon Network during the past three years.  Her specialty is Agriculture, Animal Science, and Food Processing.

We asked Rebecca some questions to find out exactly what she’s doing right in the Network and how she’s making split placements.  Our questions—and her answers—are listed below.  Thanks, Rebecca . . . and congratulations!

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1. What factors have led to your success as a Preferred Member?

“Help from God and Trading Partners who are very patient and trustworthy and are willing to go the extra mile to make sure that we are successful.”

2. How have The Four Pillars of the Network (Quality, Communication, Trust, and Active Participation) played a role in your success?

“My Trading Partners are completely trustworthy people who tell me what they’re looking for and communicate what is actually going on with the company, so that I know how to prioritize my time.  They are also really good recruiters!”

3. Have Regional Core Groups, Virtual Core Groups, or attending Top Echelon conferences and conventions played a role in your success?  If so, how?

“I haven’t attended [a convention] yet, but I’m looking forward to attending the upcoming one in Fort Lauderdale.”

4. How have the split placements you’ve made in the Network enhanced the overall production of your recruiting desk?

“Dramatically. Almost every split placement I’ve made has been through Top Echelon.”

5. What is your philosophy regarding split placements (i.e., how they fit into your business model, how many you strive to make in a given year, etc.)

“I make many more placements, and therefore much more money, when I focus on split placements.  I try to make as many as possible.”

6. If a new Member asked your advice about how to find good Trading Partners, what would you tell them?

“Find a Core Group of people you can trust and whose job orders you can basically understand.  If you’re an exporter, look for recruiters with good client control.”

7. What other advice would you give a new Member?

“Be persistent.  Really persistent.”

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If there’s a Top Producer you think we should be asking questions, email their name to marketing@TopEchelon.com.