NPA Overview For Recruiters And Prospects

Editor's Notes

1. This presentation is focused on recruiters and can be done in 15 minutes to 1 hour depending on how much you cover and the time you allow for questions.
2. Founded in 1956 Originally established as National Personnel Associates in the United States, NPA has been a leader in split-fee placements for more than half a century Member-owned and run Every NPA member firm is a part owner of the network, giving each a proprietary interest in the long-term success of NPA. NPA is governed by a board of directors consisting of elected NPA members and supported by a professional staff headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan USA. Highest ethical standards NPA holds members to high professional standards that foster trust and cooperation between trading partners Incremental revenue NPA creates income-generating placement opportunities that members would not otherwise realize on their own Global reach More than 1/3 of NPA’s member firms are located outside of North America
3. Bylaws NPA’s formal structure and governance is dictated by comprehensive bylaws. Changes to the bylaws must be voted on by the membership. NPA bylaws have been amended nearly every year since 1981, a testament to the dynamic nature of this important document Operations Manual NPA’s operations manual provides detailed information regarding the policies and procedures governing NPA participation. These policies ensure that all NPA members abide by a common set of rules and professional standards. Dispute Resolution In the rare instance when a dispute arises among two NPA members, a clear path to dispute resolution occurs. First, the owners of the two involved parties try to work out an amicable resolution. If this cannot be achieved, the board representatives for each party intervene, sometimes with guidance from NPA’s business practices chair. If resolution is still not attained, the dispute can be sent to the full board of directors for an arbitration hearing, which includes an appeals process if needed. Very few disputes reach the point of arbitration as most are handled promptly and professionally by the involved owners. Indemnification NPA provides members protection against nonpayment of fees from other NPA partners. If a member ever fails to pay their trading partner’s fee, and all reasonable efforts to collect the fee have been exhausted, NPA will pay the injured party in full and pursue collection from the offending NPA member. This indemnification policy minimizes risk when trading within NPA’s network.  
4. Global reach Trusted international network Members provide their clients with worldwide recruitment connections through a trusted network with the highest ethical standards World-class representation NPA members know the language, culture, people, and industries of their home country. Conversely, corporate chains and franchises often staff international offices with transplanted personnel who have fewer regional connections and limited local knowledge Onsite international support NPA members are supported by international partners when traveling abroad. Members often utilize office space, business resources, and conference facilities made available by NPA partners when recruiting in foreign locations Better service to clients Today’s global companies have international customers, supply chains, and production capabilities. Recruiters without NPA’s worldwide connections are missing out on profitable international split-fee placements.
5. Increased productivity - interact with other experienced NPA partners to complete searches and placements faster and more profitably Competitive advantage - develop relationships with trading partners, creating a competitive advantage over recruiters working without the support of an industry network Professional interaction – gain support through shared information, insight, and best practices NPA presently has eight Trading Groups to support the needs of its global membership Accounting / Financial Services – accounting / finance, banking / financial services, insurance Chemical Process – chemical, pharmaceutical, oil / gas / refinery, environmental, food, pulp and paper, engineering (process, chemical, environmental, etc.) Hardware / Software / Electronic – aerospace / defense, electronics development, optics / photonics, engineering (hardware, software, etc.) Healthcare – nurses, physicians, allied healthcare, physicians assistants, C-level positions and other non-healthcare positions in hospitals and other healthcare institutions (human resources, information technology, etc.) Information Technology Manufacturing / Production – operations, manufacturing, production, engineering (mechanical, electrical, design, etc.) Sales / Marketing / Business Development – sales, marketing, business development, customer service / call center, retail, advertising Strategic Management and Supply Chain – executive management, consulting, human resources, supply chain, logistics, transportation
6. NPA members interact with each other in a variety of venues providing many opportunities for leadership, interaction, and professional development Annual Conference – This is the largest event in NPA’s meeting calendar. Several hundred recruiters gather for educational sessions, Trading Group breakouts, industry speakers, networking, and more. The conference consists of NPA’s Annual Meeting, where NPA owners gather to elect office5rs and directors, vote on policy changes, and conduct other official business, and our Production Meeting, designed for desk-level recruiters of all levels. Regional Meetings – Each of NPA’s 10 membership regions meets periodically. These programs are designed to facilitate networking among members in similar geographic areas without regard to industry or occupational specialty. Meetings are reasonably priced and held in a variety of locations convenient to NPA recruiters. City Meetings – These informal gatherings are organized, hosted and executed by local members to facilitate rapid sharing of job orders and candidates. Trading Group conference calls – each trading group conducts a monthly conference call by which recruiters can share information, discuss topical issues, and exchange “hot” positions and candidates
7. Global buying strategies NPA members enjoy discounts on business products and services. The current list includes job board, business application software, business services, contract services. training services and more! Communications Communication occurs on multiple levels within NPA via emails, telephone conversation, face-to-face, and an internal blog. Enforcement of rules of engagement. NPA Bylaws and Operating Procedures have withstood the test of time and technology. The NPA Board of Directors does not hesitate to suspend and/or expel members that do not comply ensuring the trust and integrity of the network. Technology tools for sharing information. As part of their dues, NPA members have access to SplitZone, NPA’s private network. In addition, members can explore the member-only section of NPA’s website which contains additional resources to assist owners and recruiters serve their clients better.
8. SplitZone. The new SplitZone which was developed for NPA by Main Sequence Technologies was rolled out to members in late July 2009. NPA continues to update and improve its web-based, real-time, sharing tool, as needed. Members will receive a discount if they decide to use Main Sequence Technologies’ applicant tracking system called PC Recruiter. Posting positions and candidate resumes from the PC Recruiter ATS to NPA’s SplitZone is seamless. The cost to access the sharing tool as well as technical support are included as part of member dues. Several types of training are available to new users of SplitZone including online training and instructor-led training.
9. NPA membership gives independent recruiters and small firms a way to complete in a global marketplace without sacrificing the unique qualities that distinguish them from larger competitors. Members relay on NPA to build relationships that result in more effective and efficient service to clients and candidates in their own market. Those relationship translate into enhanced revenue-generating opportunities and increased financial stability. In the process, members also add value to their businesses through improved speed, reach, and capacity. Enhanced service to clients. NPA members can provide clients with a larger selection of qualified candidates in less time than nonmember recruiters. More opportunities for candidates. NPA allows members to offer candidates a greatly expanded array of opportunities. Increased revenue opportunities. NPA trading partners make more money than their nonmember competitors. Top NPA producers recognize that a split fee is better than a full fee if it can be achieved faster and more profitably. Expanded geographic/industry specialization. NPA offers access to national and international specialists in niche markets and select occupational fields. Economical business expansion. NPA membership allows owners of member firms to increase their production capacity without having to hire, train, and support additional employees. Ethical partnerships. Membership in NPA is selective to assure high standards for professionalism, trust, and integrity. Increased flow of information. NPA member meetings, publications, electronic bulletins, and trading activities keep partners better informed of market opportunities and innovative recruiting techniques. Peer interaction. Members benefit from the frequent exchange of ideas with other highly accomplished NPA recruiters, Trading Group members, and NPA directors. Advanced business resources. Members have access to specialized training services, NPA business tools, and group purchasing power.
10. NPA members take action to be successful. You get out of NPA, what you put into it; usually, you end up getting more. NPA delivers a tremendous return on investment to members by facilitating split-fee placements opportunities leading to higher revenue and enhanced financial performance.
11. The concept of splitting fees to better meet the needs of clients is common to many industries.Splitting fees in the recruiting business offers many advantages that lead to efficient client service and increased financial stability for NPA members.  Expanded reach and industry specialization Split-fee placements give NPA members access to hundreds of recruiters with expertise in diverse geographic and industry segments. Stabilize revenue fluctuations Split-fee placements can generate incremental business that levels out seasonal or cyclical revenue fluctuations. Manage more projects More completed projects result in more satisfied clients and increased profitability. Minimize recruiter turnover Low-production months for recruiters in commission-type compensation arrangements can lead to unnecessary turnover. Split-fee placements leading to incremental business minimize low production.   Establish a reputation for reliability Relying on NPA partners to better meet the needs of clients can position recruiters as more reliable suppliers. Greater perceived reliability translates into repeat business and enhanced profitability. Learn from peers Split-fee placements expose recruiters to peers with new ideas, different business styles, and innovative recruiting techniques.
12. If you are interested in applying for membership, the contacts are listed here. NPA membership is the result of a selective process intended to assure both prospective members and NPA of a mutually beneficial professional affiliation. It takes approximately 3 to 4 weeks to go from receipt of the completed application documents to active membership in NPA. Enrollment fee There is a US$500 enrollment fee for all new applications and a US$250 fee for each additional location. The enrollment fee is processed only if the application for membership is approved by the NPA Board of Directors. Dues Dues are required to continue your membership and are paid monthly for main offices and quarterly for additional locations. Dues vary by location. North America - $190/month main office $100/quarter for each branch office Asia Australia - $145/month main office, $50/quarter for each branch office Developing and new Markets – ask for current details Brokerage A percentage of each split-fee placement with NPA partners is paid to NPA.