The Information Technology industry added 13,300 jobs in January, bringing the total number of IT jobs in the U.S. to an all-time high of 4.1 million, according to Staffing Industry Analysts.

Citing information from TechServe Alliance's index of IT Jobs, the article states that IT employment is at its highest…

A common question we often hear from recruiters is "How do I determine a markup for my contract placement?" Mark-ups are also referred to as multipliers.  For those of you who are not familiar with this term, a multiplier is the result of dividing the bill rate by the sum of the pay rate and…

Despite government funding, healthcare organizations are struggling to obtain the Health IT staff needed to automate their processes.

The federal government is funding several initiatives to help healthcare organizations invest in IT.  For instance, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is providing funding for implementation of Electronic Health Records (EHRs) through the The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act. 

But…

Those who were lucky enough to make it through the recession without losing their jobs have a different problem, according to Workforce. They are "Stressed & Pressed"  . . . and are about ready to jump ship.

It's no secret that companies ran leaner during the recession and asked more of their employees. But even with the recession technically…

These days, you may not have to talk candidates into taking contract assignments because more candidates are actually seeking out contract work. But if you do encounter a candidate who is reluctant to consider contract staffing, you may want to point them to a column titled…

A recent article from Staffing Industry Analysts confirms what we have been saying for a long time: the flexible workforce is here to stay.

The use of contract staffing has surged in this uncertain economy, a phenomenon that is not uncommon following a recession as employers use contractors to…

Contract staffing was bright spot for the recruiting industry once again in 2011.  As the economy tried to forge ahead, it appeared that many companies shifted their traditional direct-hire placements to contract placements.  

As a result, Top Echelon Contracting experienced a 22% increase last year in the number of commercial contractors placed on long-term contract assignments in the technical, professional, and healthcare arenas.   This represents 17 years of growth…

(This series focuses on the most common reasons we've heard for why recruiters don't want to offer contract staffing.  These reasons are based on common misconceptions about contract staffing and prevent recruiters from reaping the benefits of offering contractors to their clients.)

Reason #5: Offering contract staffing would distract me from my direct business

Contrary to popular belief, there is no reason that a…

(This series focuses on the most common reasons we've heard for why recruiters don't want to offer contract staffing.  These reasons are based on common misconceptions about contract staffing and prevent recruiters from reaping the benefits of offering contractors to their clients.)

Reason #4: I don't have time to deal with the hassles of contract staffing

Many recruiters believe that having contractors is going to cost…

(This series focuses on the most common reasons we've heard for why recruiters don't want to offer contract staffing.  These reasons are based on common misconceptions about contract staffing and prevent recruiters from reaping the benefits of offering contractors to their clients.)

Reason #3: I don't want to learn a new process

One of the biggest misconceptions about contracting is that you have to learn a whole new…

(This series focuses on the most common reasons we've heard for why recruiters don't want to offer contract staffing.  These reasons are based on common misconceptions about contract staffing and prevent recruiters from reaping the benefits of offering contractors to their clients.)

Reason #2: I don't know where to find contract candidates

There once was a time when it was difficult to get candidates to consider…

(This series focuses on the most common reasons we've heard for why recruiters don't want to offer contract staffing.  These reasons are based on common misconceptions about contract staffing and prevent recruiters from reaping the benefits of offering contractors to their clients.)

Reason #1: My clients don't have a need for contractors

Have you specifically asked your clients if they have a need…

Any time is a good time to offer contract staffing services to your clients. But the recruiters we work say there are certain times when you should take extra care to mention that you are able to handle contract job orders:

1. When you get a new client  - It's a good idea to let new clients know about ALL the services you provide, including contract staffing.

2. When a client has a position that is difficult to…

One of the most popular industries for contract staffing is Information Technology. It is also one of the trickiest to navigate in terms of overtime requirements.

The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)requires that most employees have to be paid at a rate of 1.5 times their regular pay rate for any hours worked over 40 in a work week. However, the FLSA allows for certain job classifications to be exempt from these overtime regulations. In most cases, in…

It's a new year, and the usual predictions abound about what will be hot in 2012.  Based on what we've been reading and hearing, here are the recruiting trends we think recruiters should keep an eye on:

1. Social Media Recruiting Wars - The race is on to see which social network, if any, will unseat LinkedIn as the recruiter's social network of choice.  When it was released last year, a lot of people had their money on Google+ due to it's ability to…

For various reasons, some workers prefer to be paid on 1099 instead of a W-2.  But it's not worker's decision.  The IRS guidelines determine whether a worker is classified as a 1099 independent contractor or a W-2 employee.

Still, recruiters and their clients often get push back when trying to convince…

Everyone wants to make more money, and recruiters are no exception. One of easiest and most reliable ways for recruiters to make more money is to add contract staffing to their business models.

Contract staffing can help recruiters generate more income by:

1. Providing a steady stream of income - When you make a direct placement, it's a one-time fee and you're done.  With contract staffing, you continue to make money over the course of the whole contract.…

You probably already know how hot technology hiring is.  Well, according to the Wall Street Journal, some of the hottest tech companies are also clamoring for interns in additional to full-time hires. 

Tech companies ranging from start-ups to household names are expanding their internship programs,…

What is your retirement plan? If you own your own recruiting firm, you don't have an employer contributing to a pension plan or 401(k), so all you have is Social Security, your own retirement savings, and your business.

But if you are strictly a direct-hire firm, you may find that your business is not all that sellable when it comes time to retire. After all, direct-hire firms do not have a steady stream of revenueto attract buyers.  At best, you may have a client…

Technology is changing the way we do almost everything, and it seems that job interviews are no exception. With the advent of Skype and other Internet video tools, video interviewing is supplementing, and in some cases replacing, the traditional in-person job interview process.

But is it right for you and your clients? You may want to consider the following pros and cons before deciding:…