The ETP System - The Job Search for the Successful Professional ©

by Rod Colon, Founder & CEO ETP Network, June 10, 2008

Step 1: Make the mental conversion from employee to business ownership

• You are running a business and the business is YOU!
• You report to a Board of Directors – Your Family, Your Loved Ones! (This reduces procrastination)

Step 2: Write down your top 5 core skills

• Each core skills must be described in 3 words or less (project manager, nurse, lawyer, marketing manager, etc.)

Step 3: What is the demand for your core skills in the local market?

• Use any job search engine and determine what is the market demand for your core skills (www.indeed.com, www.simplyhired.com, www.dice.com, www.hound.com, etc.)
• Input one of your core skills and zip code and see how many openings are within 50 miles of the location of interest.
• If you find 75 or more jobs within 50 miles - you are doing well.

Step 4: Success is in the Job Description Review Process

• Read the job description once quickly and determine if the location/dollars/overall job responsibilities are of interest to you.
• If you are interested in the job, find the Required Skills Section.
• Copy and past the required skills to a blank page (word document).
• Review the required skills section and determine if you have 70% of what is REQUIRED SKILLS (if you do not have 70% of the REQUIRED SKILLS stop and move on to a new opening).
• If you have at least 70% of the REQUIRED SKILLS do the following.
• Put the required skills in priority order.
• Remove the required skills that are soft skills (verbal skills, communication skills, great leader, etc.)
• The final list should be no less than 4 and no more than 7 of the REQUIRED SKILLS

TIP/HINT: This list is now the left hand side for your EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Step 5: Complete the EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

• Read and apply the tips/hints in document JobAid The Executive Summary (Download this document from www.etpnetwork.com articles section).
• The JobAid document clearly describes the step by step process of developing a powerful Cover Letter (ETP members call this the EXECUTIVE SUMMARY).

Step 6: The RESUME

• Now that you have a powerful EXECUTIVE SUMMARY – DO NOT SETTLE FOR A GENERIC RESUME
• Read every word in your resume and make sure each statement is positive or neutral to the job description
• Use the EXECUTIVE SUMMARY as the basis for the theme in your resume
• Make sure to include parts of the Job Responsibilities section of the job description in the resume (ONLY if you have done these tasks in the past)
• Use a bullets and statements to describe your relevant accomplishments; begin each statement with an action verb
  
• Examples:
• Created a 2.6 million dollar fixed income pricing model using C++
• Triaged 25 patients for the ambulatory care unit
• Managed and diagnosed computer hardware and software support issues for six major financial services institutions
• Remember documents are read top to bottom and the perception is the top bullets are stronger than the rest – so the first bullet in each section will be perceived as your strongest skill set
• Remove bullets and information that is useless or irrelevant to the job description

Step 7: Finding ADVOCATES

• Now that you have done a great job in putting together the cover letter and resume (ETP calls these two documents The Value Proposition) Do NOT submit to the black hole.
• Use LinkedIn’s “Advance Search” page to find the following advocates:
• Corporate Recruiter (Human Resources)
• Hiring Manager
• Agency Recruiter
• Employees working at the company of interest
• ETP Angels (ETP’s exclusive advocate group)
• Now that you are armed with a powerful Value Proposition – make your case to the advocates (As a business owner you are required to do some selling – it is now time to sell YOU!)
• Never single thread into a job (do not rely on one advocate to take you to the finish line; find as many advocates as needed)

Step 8: Role Play/Practice

• Practice the sales call to an advocate with a networking mentor
• Ask questions of your networking colleagues for “Best Practices”

Step 9: Leverage ETP’s Training and Development System

• Engage Rod Colon as your Job Search and Networking Coach
• Join the ETP Network and access 1000s of articles to assist in your job search and networking (www.etpnetwork.com) program
• Join ETP Network’s weekly conference call
• Tap the 7 million professionals available to the ETP Network
  

Referenced Articles:
(You can download these documents from the ARTICLES section of: www.etpnetwork.com):

• The ABCs of the Job Search (Chip Hartman)
• JobAid: The Executive Summary (Chip Hartman)

Using Online Tools to Help Build Professional Networking Relationships

One of our ETP Network Board of Advisors, Thomas E. Kenny, is an accomplished writer on networking. Tom wrote the following piece about the importance of building relationships in professional network and some ideas on how to use online internet tools to accomplish them. I am happy to share it with you all.

by Thomas E. Kenny
Much of this focuses on the use of online internet tools but that should not be a substitute for telephone calls nor face to face meetings when the relationship develops to that stage.

Stage 1. Get to know the person you want to develop a relationship with via their work and their interests.

• Search for their LinkedIn profile but don't ask to connect to them yet as the value of the relationship is not yet known.
  
• Search for their Facebook profile but don't ask to be a friend yet.
  
• Search for them on twitter and follow them if permission is not required.
  
• Find out what publications (magazine, e-newsletters, podcasts) they contribute to or publish and of course read them.
  
• Find out what organizations they belong to and consider joining them. Sharing a common interest can provide a common bond in the future.
  
• If possible find out what blogs they read and post comments to.
  
• Google them to find out more ways to reach them. If they are a publicly known individual setup a Google alert so you'll know when they or their company are in the news.
  

Stage 2. Provide positive valuable feedback on their work to get on their radar screen.

• Purchase their product or service and give direct feedback (not only good points but constructive valuable criticisms and ways they can improve/expand).
  
• Read and leave valuable comments on their blog if they have one and on blogs you know that they read.
  
• Recommend their product/service on LinkedIn.
  
• If appropriate (i.e. a book) write a useful and insightful review on Amazon.com and BarnesAndNoble.com.
  

Stage 3. Create a vehicle for an ongoing direct dialog that is of mutual benefit.

• Build a relationship with those that connect you to that person if you haven't yet established a direct relationship.
  
• Find a way to continually provide value to them on an ongoing basis to keep the relationship alive. For example, provide endorsements and referals for their product/service.
  
• Once you have a trusted relationship ask to connect with them on Linkedin, Facebook and Plaxo.
  
• Get to know their birthday (if you have not obtained it already via Plaxo) and what holidays they observe so you can contact them on those dates.
  
• Get to know more about them such as if they are a Mother, Father, Veteran or other things you may have in common.
  
• If they require permission to follow them on twitter this may be the time to ask.
  
• Keep an eye on changes to their profiles, Google alerts and such and congratulate them or comment on news regarding them.
  
• As the relationship develops occasional phone calls and face to face meetings should occur.
  

Stage 4. Leverage your relationship.

• Once you have a lasting trusted relationship you may now ask for a favor or assistance regarding a shared interest.
  
• However, of course remember that networking is a two way street. If a favor is asked of you do whatever you can to deliver.
  
• Now your strong relationship will reach out so that friends of friends on both sides benefit as the cycle of networking continues like ripples on a pond.
  
• There is a lot here to consider and each item is not always applicable, but I've tried to cover all bases.
  
• Building mutually valuable relationships requires a serious investment of time. However, I'll let you in on a secret. In committing to such you have an advantage since not everybody is willing to make that investment. Those that don't understand the value of networking and who are looking for quick drive by results won't do such. So be smart and successful by using the above road map to achieve your professional goals via building valuable warm trusted relationships!
  
• I've found the ETP Network to be an excellent educational venue and I'm very happy to share what I've learned. The favor I ask of you is to please supply me with feedback. If you've found some thing that worked for you please share so that we can all learn from our mutual experiences. On the other hand if some thing above does not work for you please let us know so that we can determine alternatives as well.
  
• Finally, I have to thank Chip Hartman for being such a great catalyst and mentor regarding my writings. Some times I don't realize the wealth of useful knowledge I've learned via my professional networking and involvement in the ETP Network. So Chip thanks for reminding me and encouraging me to share with the group.

Thanks Thomas, a great article. If anyone has any thoughts on this article, I'd love to receive them, and feel free to pass them on to Thomas.