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Top Biller: The Life of a Recruiter

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“An eye-opening guide to what it takes to become a Top Billing Recruitment Consultant and build a successful business.”

Steve Guest's Top Biller is a refreshing and timely insight into the recruitment industry, for both seasoned professionals and those new to the game. Guest breaks down his technique and breathes life into the method that has caused himself, and those he mentors, to become highly successful 'Top Billers'. Having turned around numerous careers, no doubt picking up Guest's book will provide you with an invaluable head-start in this ever-competitive industry. In this book, Guest teaches:









Guest has operated within the recruitment industry for over 13 years, working for large global recognised recruitment PLC brands, and driving smaller businesses, new regions, and offices. Always pushing boundaries, Guest is an expert at inspiring change, innovation, and growth. He continues to mentor, coach, and train recruitment consultants at all levels and still actively recruits in his specialist sector. He remains at the cutting edge of the market, ensuring that service delivery is the agenda priority for both client and candidate.
Guest's advice on how to become successful within your recruiting career differs from the norm, as he dispels the idea that you must obtain a brash and loud persona to gain success within the industry. These 'salesy' industry expectations were why Guest, a methodical man, was initially rejected at interview stage to become a recruitment consultant. In this book, he discusses his journey over 13 years from rejection through to Top Billing success by applying a structured, ‘process and procedure’ method. Guest and his mentees have shown that by following this method you can be, consistently, more successful than the most aggressive salesperson in the room. 
Guest has specialised in recruiting for commercial, permanent construction staffing across the Midlands for over 13 years while inspiring, motivating, and leading individual mentees and teams to personal and regional growth. Guest's primary goals are to consistently deliver an exemplary service to both client and candidate, with integrity that ensures repeat business, working 'with' rather than 'for' both parties. Guest strives for structure, ongoing improvement and growth, continuing to champion strong, ethical recruitment without compromise. 
 

174 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 7, 2019

47 people are currently reading
60 people want to read

About the author

Steve Guest

1 book2 followers

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5 stars
45 (37%)
4 stars
26 (21%)
3 stars
22 (18%)
2 stars
16 (13%)
1 star
10 (8%)
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
Profile Image for Sam Belcher.
6 reviews
April 11, 2020
Not great

A few hundred pages of self praise and admiration with a few basic recruitment tips added for good measure. Nothing wrong with the advice but nothing particularly groundbreaking either
Profile Image for Federica Boarini.
27 reviews1 follower
March 30, 2021
I really enjoyed reading this book as it provides a lot of useful tips on how to be successful in the recruitment industry. Some of them were already known to me but still I find it reassuring to have a confirmation on how effective some of these methods are. I particularly appreciated the tortoise/ hare metaphor and realising that top billers are not necessarily all hares made me think a lot on how even not sales-minded people can be successful in the industry if they put in the hours and get as structured as possible
Profile Image for Athena.
127 reviews
April 22, 2024
Had to read this book for work. It seemed like the author saw this book as more of a personal sales pitch than an informative guide. He also continued to propagate the concept of the “grind” and bragged about getting to work hours ahead of the competition to get ahead. The staffing industry is toxic enough as it is and I would’ve appreciated a book that valued working smarter, not harder.
Profile Image for Caley.
70 reviews
Read
October 14, 2023
This was for work, don’t judge me. I hate this man.
Profile Image for Vikki Feltham.
Author 1 book2 followers
March 22, 2020
Great book full of useful tips and pointers for the frustrated recruiter who’s just not spending energy in the right places!!
1 review1 follower
March 25, 2020
Steve has shared his methods and knowledge for new and experienced recruitment professions to follow. The book describes how Steve has mangaged to be ahead of colleagues in terms of performance and customer service. I would recommend anybody starting in the sector or those who really want to be able to perform and achieve greater results to read this book. I have taken many ideas and strategies which I will be implementing into my own company.
2 reviews
March 2, 2020
An excellent read for a recruiter

As a recruiter myself and a passionate one I love to read books about the industry! This one I enjoyed as its personable and detailed.
1 review1 follower
April 15, 2020
This book is outstanding. Anyone looking at pursuing a career in recruitment or even been in recruitment for a few years and keen to upskill YOU MUST READ THIS BOOK... thank you Steve it was a real pleasure to read and managed to read it in the space of a day!
Profile Image for Rehnell Blackett.
30 reviews3 followers
May 26, 2020
Motivating, compelling and inspiring. This is great for people with experience in the industry and also for those that are new. Thoroughly enjoyed reading it and learnt alot also. A must read!
2 reviews
July 5, 2023
Great guide!

I'm just about to start a new job in recruitment and for the first time I'll be given a chance to earn commission from filling the roles. I thought that it would help me to get into the right mindset if I found someone who could share some advice and tips. I came across this book on Amazon and by checking the reviews I decided to give it a go. Now that I finished reading this book I can confidently say that it really opened my eyes on how recruitment consultants work and gave me a good sense of what it will be like to become one. The advice that the author gives is brilliant, you can feel page by page that the author is genuine and really wants to share their passion for recruitment and their great experience with readers. I feel motivated, curious about my new job, and I've already been researching the industry that I am about to come into. Thank you Steve for writing this book!
Profile Image for Grace.
124 reviews10 followers
May 20, 2020
Just finished Top BIller over the weekend and it was a fantastic, punchy read. Having been an agency recruiter myself for the past 2 years, every point Steve made resonated deeply with me. The key takeaway that I had was that creating systems and processes is an excellent way to uplevel your recruitment desk. As a less systematic recruiter, this book helped me to fully recognize the missed opportunity that comes along with "chasing the shiny balloon" vs keeping your eye doggedly on the prize in a systematic approach. I'm definitely going to share this with my network of recruiters.
Profile Image for Heather.
209 reviews
June 1, 2021
This is a quick read and something I found very useful even though I’ve been in the recruitment sector for 21 years.

It’s good to be reminded of the things you already know and to pick up tips from someone who has been successful in the sector. There’s always more to learn and the book has left me thinking and working on my planning.

If you’re in recruitment or thinking about joining the sector you should read this.

The anecdotal stories of candidates not turning up are also very relatable- I have lots of similar experiences!
1 review1 follower
November 18, 2021
Great read that provides great advice especially for a new recruiter

I am relatively new to my recruiter position and want to gain as much information and advice as possible when it comes to succeeding in my new role, and this book offered so much great advice from a hiring expert! I highlighted so many different sections, took notes, and plan to reference this book often as I jumpstart my career!
3 reviews
June 12, 2022
Great insight into the life of a top biller

Steve's book offers much needed insight into the life of a top biller. His writing style is engaging and it reads like a frank conversation with a friend sharing his experience with no BS nor hidden agendas.
His emphasis on systems and processes gives me the confidence that I too can become a top billing recruiter following his foot steps.
Great read, highly recommended.
Profile Image for Sarah.
7 reviews
March 21, 2021
What a waste of time. This is basically the L&D binder extended to 150 pages with 15-20 pages of recommendations for his work. So it’s his resume combined with L&D on how to be a basic recruiter. Literally nothing new, nothing informative, nothing that differentiates a top biller from a regular consultant.
Profile Image for Claire.
336 reviews3 followers
August 25, 2020
I loved this book! Learnt so much, found it super inspiring. I love a ‘teach’ book... especially when it is loaded full of do this and don’t do that... with no wasted bits in the middle.

Thank you!
Profile Image for Cheryl Dean.
5 reviews
October 19, 2020
Good interesting read!

A good read, and an invite into what makes Steve successful

This isnt a "Recruiting for beginners" more of a "how to do things better and set yourself apart" but definitely would appeal to both readers...
1 review
June 10, 2020
Fantastic Read!

For anyone working in recruitment whatever sector there is so much good that you can take and digest and put it into practise!

Cannot recommend highly enough!
1 review
December 26, 2022
Nothing new, sadly

This reads like a sales pitch for the author, and sadly is yet another voice advocating getting up earlier and doing more hours rather than working smarter.
2 reviews
January 7, 2023
more of a story

This is a good book if someone is interested in learning about how someone has grown in the industry. You have to really pay attention for the clues he gives.
Profile Image for Angélique Kleemans.
87 reviews
July 6, 2023
Useful tips and tricks of the game if you are starting your career in recruitment, not so much if you're already years in the game as I am myself.
5 reviews
November 3, 2023
Good book on general insight to agency recruitment!
1 review
February 27, 2024
Would recommend to anyone starting in recruitment as it would be great insight.

For more experienced recruiters (if you’ve had good training/managers) you should know most of this.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews

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