Rod Colon

If You Choose To Do It; Observe The Protocols!

noreply@blogger.com (Rod Colon) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 12:48:00 +0000

While there are very few hard and fast rules on social networking sites, there are guidelines and protocols you should follow to ensure a positive experience and avoid problems, conflicts, and confrontations:

• If you're going to participate in social networking, do it properly: Participate frequently, respond to questions, and portray your brand in a positive way.

• Don't sell: People want to know about you as a person first and that takes some time.

• The best strategy: Spend time watching and learning to get a "feel" for the dialog; then, gradually start participating.

• Always try to determine how you can add value to the comment stream.

• It's not about making impressions, it's about making friends! Friends will share the truth with you.

• Always begin by seeking advice or asking some questions.

Make it happen … I know you can!

Next Week:
• I will see you on the radio this Sunday, January 29th at 8am (EST) with “Careers in STEM: Science, Technology, Engineering and Math” with HISPA Founder, Dr. Ivonne Diaz-Claisse on Your Career Is Calling on 107.7 FM and online on www.1077TheBronc.com. I look forward to taking your calls at 877.900.1077.

Best wishes and keep networking alive,

Coach Rod

How To Work Hidden Job Market as CEO of ME, Inc.

noreply@blogger.com (Rod Colon) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 12:30:00 +0000

Contact Coach Rod

The Hidden Job Market is the name given to all the opportunities out there that are unadvertised, either because a company wants to find candidates through its employees' networks or because no such position currently exists. In the last case, you must depend on your own ingenuity to identify potential opportunities at an intriguing company, do your homework to determine what that company truly needs, then figure out how to create an attractive, value-added position. Finally, you need to “sell the concept.”

How Do You Access It?
Due to the sheer volume of applicants competing for a fixed number of positions, many employers don’t even bother registering their openings on big-name job boards like Monster, Dice, and CareerBuilder.

Instead, they turn to their existing employee network to help recruit qualified candidates. This means there may be great opportunities at a company of interest, but you’ll never find out about them via the traditional approach of querying Internet job boards.

Why would an employer do this?
There are two immediate advantages. First, hiring managers can avoid the torrent of paperwork from job seekers who aren’t even remotely qualified for a position. Second, they can bypass the registration process with the job boards and confine interview time to a bare minimum.

There's something else you need to know about The Hidden Job Market. Step 2 of the 7-Step Job Search Methodology is based on the spot market. In other words, it uses today's market conditions to determine what positions are currently available. By contrast, The Hidden Job Market is based on the futures market, that is, the potential for positions that might exist or that could be created in the future — your future.

The Role of Networking in The Hidden Job Market
You’ve built a network of trusted relationships. But why bother to network if you never plan to leverage it? It’s now time to do some asking because you’ve earned the right to do so. You’ve followed the rules and observed the connection protocols. It’s time to tap your network’s connection horsepower to help you find a position.

In order to set you up with the proper mind-set for exploring the Hidden Job Market, I’d like you to consider the following somewhat offbeat illustrative scenario:

Let’s say you’re a surgeon who has been assigned the task of finding and removing a dangerous tumor somewhere in the lower abdomen of a 52-year-old man. Theoretically, you could start performing exploratory surgery right away, reaching in through various incisions to feel for any lumps or masses that don’t belong there.

But is that really a medically sound practice? Before performing surgery, wouldn’t it be better to gather as much information about the soft tissue in the patient with a CT-Scan or an MRI? Wouldn’t these diagnostic procedures give you far greater intelligence about the size, shape, and precise location of the tumor? And wouldn’t it make much more sense to have all of the diagnostic work completed before the first incision is ever made?

The point is this: While investigating the Hidden Job Market, your primary function will be networking, not selling, and your aim is to gather intelligence from those individuals you’ve identified as being reliable but only in the specific area in which your skills are a precise match. Your job is to connect with individuals who can truly help you because they’re in the same industry, not going on some fishing expedition inside industries that have no relevance to yours.

To put it in slightly different terms, it’s not going to do you any good to tap into a pipeline of business intelligence for the pharmaceutical industry if you’re seeking a position as a tax accountant. You need to refine and refine again the “filtering” of your contacts to make sure you’re picking up intelligence for the industry — and, if possible, even the precise niche — in which you want to work.

Your ultimate goal is to answer two very specific questions:

1. Who does what you do?

2. Who hires people who do what you do?

Once you’ve mastered this “precision targeting” technique, the flow of your conversation will be along these lines:

“Where do you see the industry heading? What’s going on? What’s hot? What’s not? What groups should I belong to? This is what I’m hearing; what are you hearing?”

Finally, when you judge it to be the correct time to do some asking, you must do it as an assertive CEO, not a spineless wimp. It must be a direct request for a specific action to achieve a targeted goal. Don’t worry, you’ve earned the right to ask because of your golden reciprocity track record. Furthermore, most business owners appreciate direct, straightforward requests.

Make it happen … I know you can!

• I will see you on the radio this Sunday, January 22th at 8am (EST) with “Managing the Financial Side of ME, INC.” with CPA and Business Owner, Surekha Vaidya on YOUR CAREER IS CALLING on 107.7 FM and online on www.1077TheBronc.com. I look forward to taking your calls at 877.900.1077.

• HPNG is having their monthly meeting on January 26 at 6pm in New York City. See you there!

• I am giving my next speech “The Brand Called U” on Tuesday January 24 at 7:30pm in Lakewood, NJ. For details visit Lakewood Piners.

• Go Giants!

Best wishes and keep networking alive,

Coach Rod
Contact Rod

The Importance of Giving Back

noreply@blogger.com (Rod Colon) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 14:04:00 +0000

Leaders all over the world recognize the importance of giving back to the organizations that put them in power. Empowering Today’s Professionals Network leaders feel the same way and realize that their selfless efforts make a great difference to the organization as a whole.

Investing time in the group as a leader means helping the “next wave” of CEOs to blossom and grow. An earlier group did it for you, correct? And when you were on the receiving end of all that mentoring, I’ll bet you were occasionally curious about how those leaders made their way into those positions of leadership.

Giving back to the organization is clearly not an obligation. But most leaders give back because they know that sustaining the new wave of CEOs will have far-reaching benefits for them, too, e.g., expanding their networks, gaining exposure as networking leaders, providing high-powered resume enhancements, and so on.

Think of it this way: If you have kids, you know how important it is to ensure the success and well-being of the next generation. It’s just another reminder that things are not always “just about me”; sometimes it’s necessary to direct attention to a generation that will someday replace you.

It’s the natural order of things.

Make it happen … I know you can!

• I will see you on the radio this Sunday, January 15th at 8am (EST) with Business Owner Wanda Megaro on “How I Transitioned from an Employee to Running my Own Recruitment Business” on Your Career Is Calling on 107.7 FM and online on www.1077TheBronc.com. I look forward to taking your calls at 877.900.1077.

• The Breakfast Club of NJ is having their monthly meeting tomorrow at 8am at the Days Hotel in East Brunswick, NJ. See you there!

• I am conducting a webinar open to public on “Identifying Your Market Demand” on Friday, January 20 at 7:30 AM. For details email me at Rod[AT]RodColon[DOT]com

• I am giving my next speech “The Brand Called U” on Tuesday January 24 at 7:30pm in Lakewood, NJ. For details visit Lakewood Piners.

Best wishes and keep networking alive,
Coach Rod
Contact Rod

Empowering Today's Professionals in 2012! Join Us...

noreply@blogger.com (Rod Colon) — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 13:48:00 +0000

When friends learn that I've written a book about my networking organization, EMPOWERING TODAY’S PROFESSIONALS Network they often ask, "Rod ... There are at least 15,000 books out there about networking. Why write another one?”

For one thing, this isn’t just another book about networking. This book is about a bold new approach to finding jobs, clients, and business opportunities — as well as performing complete career makeovers. It’s about helping business professionals win the race for 21st century jobs.

The second reason for writing this book — a far more compelling reason in my view — is that it was the right thing to do and now was the right time to do it.

Many people out there are in pain. Their financial situations are dire. They have lost their jobs, their life savings and in many cases, their self-respect while chasing around looking for a new position.

It's that "chasing around" part that started to bother me many years ago, long before today’s economic turmoil started creeping toward critical mass. It became obvious to me that far too many people were conducting their job searches in an illogical and self-defeating way. They were lured into the easy, deceptive world of Internet job boards where hunting for a job simply meant finding an interesting opening, uploading a resume and cover letter, clicking a few buttons, then waiting for a response.

I used to imagine job seekers sitting by the phone, waiting for that special call from a key decision-maker telling them that, yes, they’d been chosen for an interview and to please make all the necessary preparations.

But the folly of this approach is that the job board, at best, is nothing more than a piece of software. It cannot engage in meaningful two-way communication with humans. Without a human-to-human “networking” component in the equation, how can anyone expect to get meaningful results?

This is the connectionless void in which so many people have spent thousands of hours toiling their lives away in the false hope that a database somewhere in cyberspace would electronically ride to their rescue, find them a job, reinstate the flow of money into their households, and make things right with the world again.

How much more wrong could they have possibly been?

As the Founder of Empowering Today’s Professionals Network, Empowering Today’s Professionals is exactly what we do in this unique organization. We teach people how to take control of their careers in the same way a Chief Executive Officer directs all critical operations of a large corporation.

The key difference separating the Empowering Today’s Professionals Network from every other networking organization can be traced back to something that happened to me in the 1990s when I worked as an corporate recruiter and hiring manager at J. P. Morgan.

The position gave me an unobstructed, 20/20 view of both sides of the interviewer’s desk. I learned a great deal about the mistakes made by candidates applying for jobs as well as the techniques and strategies used by hiring managers to screen those very same candidates.

I knew what hiring managers were looking for — the best talent for the companies they represented. After all, everyone knew these managers earned their salaries by correctly and consistently choosing the best talent to meet the needs of their employers.

It’s easy to see why hiring managers continue to live by these same stringent standards. In today’s high-pressure business environment, these individuals still have the strongest leverage in the entire job search process — and they use it!

I wanted to find a way for job seekers like you to reduce that leverage by applying some leverage of your own. I concluded that you needed to grasp, master and integrate four critical skills:

1. Exceptionally effective networking
2. Thinking and acting like the CEO of a large corporation
3. Developing a bulletproof value proposition to make you as attractive as possible to decision-makers, and
4. Expertise at following a precisely-targeted 7-step job search methodology that leads you directly to an interview.

In order to do this, I realized it would be necessary to set up a highly specialized networking and career management training organization.

That’s what Empowering Today’s Professionals Network is and that’s what differentiates it from almost all networking organizations where the emphasis is on making introductions, giving 30-second elevator speeches, exchanging business cards, then calling it a night.

Today, you will be hard pressed to find another networking organization that matches what the Empowering Today’s Professionals Network does. Our signature benefit to members is the 7-step job search methodology, unavailable anywhere else, that provides a clear and logical path for moving from “in-transition” to “employed.”

You are most welcome to join us on your job search journey. We are here to teach you, coach you, guide you, and inspire you. We are not here to do the heavy lifting for you — that is your job entirely. While you manage your job search as the CEO of ME, Inc., we will be here to support you in winning the race for 21st century jobs.

But please be careful: Contrary to what you may hear elsewhere, there is absolutely no free ride to your next position. Although Internet job boards may be useful for gathering information, that’s where their practical value ends.

To really make progress, you need a team that’s already been on the journey you’re taking now, a willingness to commit to some very hard work, and the mental toughness to see the program through to completion.

EMPOWERING TODAY’S PROFESSIONALS Network is that team. I hope you will join us.

www.ETPNETWORK.org – visit us today - there is powerful team of “Networking Angels” ready to support you!

Make it happen … I know you can!

• I will see you on the radio this Sunday, January 8th at 8am (EST) with Networking Expert, Boxer and Author, Michael Goldberg on “Knock-Out Networking” on Your Career Is Calling on 107.7 FM and online on www.1077TheBronc.com. I look forward to taking your calls at 877.900.1077.

• Thank you to all who voted for my mentee Ashley Cisneros. A testament to the power of networking. She won the voting component of her application by over 4000 votes. I do appreciate it!

• Quick reminder that I will give my speech “The Golden Nuggets Called Advocates” on Tuesday evening at 7:30pm in Lakewood, NJ. For details visit www.etpnetwork.org.

Best wishes and keep networking alive,

Coach Rod
Contact Rod

Rod Colon to give speech titled “The Golden Nuggets Called Advocates” on Tuesday, January 10th at 7:30 PM Lakewood, NJ

noreply@blogger.com (Rod Colon) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 14:13:00 +0000

Rod Colon to give speech titled “The Golden Nuggets Called Advocates” on Tuesday, January 10th at 7:30 PM Lakewood, NJ for the Lakewood Piners Toastmasters meeting at the Lakewood Municipal Building - 231 Third Avenue, Lakewood, NJ. Meeting room on the 2nd floor off the rear corridor - Conference Room "C"

On Toastmasters International:

In October 1924, a group of men assembled by Dr. Ralph C. Smedley met in the basement of the YMCA in Santa Ana, California, U.S.A., forming a club “to afford practice and training in the art of public speaking and in presiding over meetings, and to promote sociability and good fellowship among its members.” The group took the name “Toastmasters.” The Lakewood Piners Toastmasters Club is a local chapter of Toastmasters International.

Today, Toastmasters International is a non-profit organization which gives its members the opportunity to develop and improve their public speaking abilities through local club meetings, training seminars and speech contests. Toastmasters International includes more than 199,000 men and women in more than 9,300 clubs in more than 70 countries.

Experienced professionals and beginning speakers alike can benefit from our practical, face-to-face learning program. Whether you're speaking to the board of directors, your customers, your co-workers or your kids, Toastmasters can help you do it better. You'll learn and practice in a friendly, comfortable environment with people who are there for the same reason you are—to become better communicators.

At Toastmasters, members learn by speaking to groups and working with others in a supportive environment. A typical Toastmasters club is made up of 20 to 30 people who meet once a week for about an hour. Each meeting gives everyone an opportunity to practice conducting meetings, giving impromptu speeches, presenting prepared speeches, and offering constructive evaluation.

Lakewood Piners Toastmasters meet at the Lakewood Municipal Building - 231 Third Avenue, Lakewood, NJ. You'll find our meeting room on the 2nd floor off the rear corridor - Conference Room "C".

Our club meetings start at 7:30PM on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month --we are open to the public and heartily welcome all who wish to attend our meetings!

The 7-Steps to Career Empowerment

noreply@blogger.com (Rod Colon) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 13:01:00 +0000

Happy New Year! I wish you all the best in 2012 and that you resolve to take control over your career and become the CEO of ME, Inc. Enterprises – managing your career as a business. You can do it!

Second, incorporate my 7-Step Job Search Methodology into your core competencies in 2012. It can be used for internal or external positions and by students and professionals. It doesn’t matter if you live in New York City or Beijing. It works! The process is tweaked to near-perfection over the past seven years but will undoubtedly be tweaked many more times whenever improvements are discovered, tested, and evaluated.

7-Step Job Search Methodology

Step 1
First, you will determine what your core skills are. Everyone is good at something; so what are your skills, talents, and abilities? What would be a suitable title for someone who does your kind of work?

Step 2
You call your work by a particular name; now it’s time to find out what the marketplace calls it. Are you a Java Developer? A Financial Analyst? You’ll make good use of a web site called Indeed.com to perform this task. You’ll also get a first look at opportunities that may be a good fit for you. The importance of this step is that it helps you determine the market demand for your skills (i.e., the spot market; a snapshot of what the prevailing market conditions look like).

Step 3
Now, using LinkedIn and your networking skills, try to identify advocates; these are people either in your network or in the networks of friends, business contacts, etc… who can “connect the dots” for you within a targeted company to get your name circulated among key decision-makers. At this step, you are performing “networking research”, that is, you are not actually reaching out to these advocates yet, just identifying who they are.

Step 4
You will then develop your value proposition consisting of: 1) a targeted resume; 2) a cover letter (or T-Letter), and 3) the job description itself. In this step you are building your case for the job. Since these documents will either make or break you, you will want to have them as close to perfection as possible.

Note: Although the value proposition consists of 1) the job description, 2) the targeted resume, and 3) the T-Letter, you will only actually submit the resume and cover letter. Decision-makers don’t need to see the job description. We include it as part of the value proposition to make sure that we keep ourselves properly tracked with its requirements while engaging advocates.

Step 5
Once you’re SURE you understand the position for which you’ve identified suitable advocates, prepare to connect with them. For advocates who are in a decision-making role, you'll place a call to them and sell, i.e., your “Sales & Marketing Team” swings into gear. With advocates who are friends, or friends of friends, you'll network to establish a communications chain to the decision makers (your “Research & Development Team” manages this). In all cases, you will document all contact with advocates to ensure timely and appropriate follow-up.

Step 6
After that, you will submit your value proposition as instructed and set up a specific follow-up schedule. You will track your contact with all advocates to ensure that no follow-up calls or e-mails are forgotten.

Step 7
Finally, you will repeat the process. As the CEO of a business, you never settle for having just one client. When you’re in transition and actively looking for work, your goal should be to find at least one new client a day.

Here are a few questions to determine your current work satisfaction:

1. How satisfied are you with your current work?

2. To what degree do you have the skills necessary to flourish? What skills are needed?

3. How long do you believe to stay in your current line of work?

4. How do you define “success”? To what extent are you achieving your version of success?

5. What is the biggest problem you have in your career?

6. What are you doing about question #5?

7. What decision are you trying to make about your career?

Make it happen … I know you can!

I will see you on the radio this Sunday, January 8th at 8am (EST) with Networking Expert, Boxer and Author, Michael Goldberg on “Knock-Out Networking” on Your Career Is Calling on 107.7 FM and online on www.1077TheBronc.com. I look forward to taking your calls at 877.900.1077.

Best wishes and keep networking alive,

Coach Rod
Contact Rod

Positive Attitudes Blend with the CEO of ME, Inc.

noreply@blogger.com (Rod Colon) — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 17:29:00 +0000

Anyone can willfully adopt the right attitude. No matter where you’re from or how much innate talent you have, the right attitude can make a difference in your career. Try adopting these 10 attitudes as the CEO of ME, Inc. (from an article by Kate Lorenz, Editor, CareerBuilder.com):

1. I am in charge of my destiny.
If you want something bad enough, you must “make it happen.” Don’t expect good fortune to fall out of the sky and into your lap. There’s a huge difference between wanting something and executing a well-planned strategy for obtaining it.

2. Anything is possible.
Many of us blindly accept the notion that some things are just “impossible.” As a result, we often make no attempt to reach for them. The reality is that people around the world achieve what they previously considered impossible by being relentless in their pursuit of it.

3. No task is too small to do well.
Those who are serious about getting ahead in life assign importance to all tasks, regardless of their size. They realize that others are watching and evaluating their performance — even on the small stuff.

4. Everyone is a potential key contact.
None of us ever know ahead of time who will become a key contact or perhaps an important business ally. That means it’s essential to treat everyone with dignity and respect at all times.

5. I was made to do this job ... and the one above me.
Enthusiasm is contagious. When you bring enthusiasm to the table, you get noticed … and you never know when someone noticing could turn out to be a key decision-maker.

6. It's not just what I know, but who I know.
It’s unwise to entrust your personal success to your intellect alone, smart as you may be. In the 21st century jobscape, you must become a masterful connector and networker. It’s more important now than ever before to understand the economic power contained within relationships.

7. What else can I do?
We’re all busy and we only get 24 hours in a day. But taking on extra work, volunteering, and offering time without getting paid for it is a sign of someone who is committed to success. This is the kind of energy and commitment that gets noticed — and rewarded!

8. Failure helps pave the way to success.
It sounds odd, but failure is often the best thing that can happen to us. Why? It highlights weaknesses and imperfections, providing a perfect starting point for new growth.

9. I am my own biggest fan.
When does exuding self-confidence cross the line into bragging? Most CEOs know how to display a healthy self-image without letting it get out of control. And it’s important to understand this: Having a healthy self-image is part of what makes you attractive to the business community.

10. My opportunity monitor is never turned off.
Opportunities are all around us all the time; it’s just that many of us “tune them out” when we get extra busy or pressed for time. The opportunity monitor must be left in the “on” position so that the truly great ones don’t slip by unnoticed.

Make it happen … I know you can!

I will see you on the radio on Sunday, January 8th at 8am (EST) with Networking Expert, Boxer and Author, Michael Goldberg on “Knock-Out Networking” on Your Career Is Calling on 107.7 FM and online on www.1077TheBronc.com. I look forward to taking your calls at 877.900.1077.

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and keep networking alive,

Coach Rod
Contact Rod

P.S.: May the New Year grant all of us the grace to live in love for one another!

Rod Colon's Mentee - Ashley Cisneros - Needs Your Support

noreply@blogger.com (Rod Colon) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 18:25:00 +0000

ASHLEY CISNEROS, INC.

Contact: Ashley Cisneros

Ashley Cisneros, Inc.

Tel: 407.608.8765

ashley[AT]ashleycisneros[DOT]com

www.ashleycisneros.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, December 8, 2011

CENTRAL FLORIDA WRITER COMPETES FOR $10,000 IN STARTUP FUNDS

ASHLEY CISNEROS IS THE ONLY ENTREPRENEUR SELECTED FROM SOUTHEAST U.S. FOR NATIONAL COMPETITION

ORLANDO, FLA. —Lake Nona-based newspreneur Ashley Cisneros is one of 14 national finalists competing for a $10,000 startup business investment prize, the only program Fellow selected from the Southeast and Florida. Four winners will receive the seed money from the New U: News Entrepreneurs Working Through UNITY initiative, a competitive program for journalists of color who want to become entrepreneurs.

“I’m grateful to live in a country where you can make something profitable out of nothing if you work hard and take smart risks,” said Cisneros, 29. “This seed money means opportunity, and will help me hire more writers to meet demand. I want to create jobs.”

A former newspaper reporter, magazine editor, tech writer, marketing manager and PR practitioner, Cisneros helps individuals and companies engage their target audiences. Her company, Ashley Cisneros, Inc., produces communications products for clients around the world. In October, Cisneros was honored as a Fellow at the New U national startup boot camp in Las Vegas, Nev. During the camp, Cisneros was mentored by Rod Colón, master networker, executive coach and weekly co-host of the “Your Career Is Calling” radio show. In addition, she learned from world class presenters Sumaya Kazi, CEO of Sumazi; Harry Lin, executive in residence at Idealab; and Mike Green, co-founder of The America21 Project, among others.

“This was an invaluable opportunity to learn directly from seasoned news entrepreneurs about business plan formation, funding opportunities and gain an insider look at working with angel investors and venture capitalists,” said Cisneros, who earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a master’s degree in entrepreneurship from the University of Florida.

A portion of each Fellow’s score will be determined by the number of votes garnered for his or her pitch. Voting is open from Dec. 8, 2011 through midnight on Jan. 3, 2012, and voters may vote as many times as they like. To vote for Cisneros' business pitch, visit http://unityjournalists.org/newu/newu2011/newu11videos/nahj-video-pitches.

About Ashley Cisneros, Inc.

Ashley Cisneros, Inc. helps individuals and companies leverage the selling power of words. The firm achieves this by delivering communication products such as advertorials, articles, speeches, annual reports, sales letters and more. These products save corporations, small businesses and magazines precious time and money while helping engage their target audiences. Ashley Cisneros, Inc. communication products have helped clients achieve key goals such as increasing brand awareness, getting more sales or earned media. For more information, visit www.ashleycisneros.com.

###

Note: Ashley Cisneros is available for interviews and presentations about entrepreneurship, journalism, women in business and minority issues. Call 407.608.8765 or email ashley@ashleycisneros.com to request an interview or hi-res images.

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Just Do It ... You Are Ready!

noreply@blogger.com (Rod Colon) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 16:59:00 +0000

As student pilots approach the end of their formal training, they take one last trip with their instructors before going up for that first nerve-wracking solo flight. Instructors report that some students become so obsessed with dials, gauges, and basic maneuvers that they forget one of the most important rules: Sometimes you just have to sit back and fly the plane! The preliminaries are over. You know the cockpit controls inside out. You know how the emergency procedures work. You could probably fly the plane blindfolded and still land safely.

At this point, you’re ready to own your career as a business and test your skills for that first solo flight. You’ve fine-tuned the necessary connection and networking skills, fully embraced the CEO of ME, Inc. mind-set, tested your skill at crafting powerful, persuasive value propositions and mastered the 7-Step Job Search Methodology that will enable you to find the job best suited to your unique skills and abilities.

Don’t worry if you hit occasional turbulence such as neglecting to make a key follow-up call or perhaps misreading some core skills in a job description because those types of errors will occur. But by the time you’ve gone through a few complete cycles of the methodology, you will have acquired enough experience to claim that you “know where all the rough spots are.” Having successfully navigated those rough spots, you now become someone who can lead others — and make no mistake, others will want to follow you to learn from your successes and your failures.

Right now, however, it’s time for you to integrate all that you’ve learned into a single, seamless, and logical plan to manage your career as a business. To put it another way, it’s now time for you to just fly the plane!

Make it happen … I know you can!

I will see you on the radio this Sunday morning at 8am (EST) with Roche Executive, Luis Alberto Colón on “The 4 “E’s” to Career Management – Just Do It” on Your Career Is Calling on 107.7 FM and online on www.1077TheBronc.com. I look forward to taking your calls at 877.900.1077.

Happy Holidays and keep networking alive,

Coach Rod
Contact Rod

Beyond ME, Inc.

noreply@blogger.com (Rod Colon) — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 13:21:00 +0000

The race for 21st century jobs doesn’t stop just because you’ve successfully navigated your way into a targeted position or landed that ideal client; this entire program is much more than simply “landing a job.” The story is just beginning.

If you’ve internalized the CEO of ME, Inc. paradigm, you now recognize its unique value as a powerful business strategy, too. Simply put, you become a business leader within your network not only because it’s the right thing to for the network, but because it’s the right thing to do for your own business. There is an obvious mutual benefit in this type of business model.

In my view, there are three levels of CEOs that emerge from applying my principles of owning your career and becoming the CEO of ME, Inc.:

1. CEOs of ME, Inc.
Many people will master and implement the job search methodology and CEO mind-set described in my book and go on to find opportunities whenever they’re needed. They are winners in the race for 21st century jobs because they’ve discovered that the process — the 7-Step Job Search Process — really works.

2. CEOs as Networking Leaders
A smaller group will move into positions of leadership, recognizing the value of helping others while improving their branding, exposure, and ever-expanding networks, all of which nourish their own CEO of ME, Inc. business.

Networking Leaders are winners in the race for 21st century jobs because they see the long-term potential of owning their careers and establishing business rules based on reciprocity and trust. They recognize the extraordinary business value in branding themselves as someone who gives freely and without restriction.

3. CEOs as Strategic Partners
Finally, there is a select group of entrepreneurs who combine the CEO of ME, Inc. paradigm with dynamic leadership to develop truly creative and powerful business strategies. Their unique application of the ME, Inc. paradigm is built on tapping the immense reserves of talent and opportunity within their networks to promote products and services that are in high demand. Once the profit motive is appropriately factored in to the business model — while preserving trust, integrity, and the inherent value of relationships — we now have a strategic partner, the highest level of CEO career and business management.

I will see you on the radio this Sunday morning at 8am (EST) with TARGET Executive, David Neiman on “The Retail Industry Is Hot and Here to Stay – Engage the New World of Retail” on Your Career Is Calling on 107.7 FM and online on www.1077TheBronc.com. I look forward to taking your calls at 877.900.1077.

Best wishes and keep networking alive,

Coach Rod
Contact Rod

The Situation Then and the Situation Now of the Job Search

noreply@blogger.com (Rod Colon) — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 04:30:00 +0000

One message I want to be especially clear about is this: In the late 20th century (generally the early 1990s), the employer/employee model under which most of us labored convinced us that we would always have a position as long as we worked hard and performed at or above expectations.

That model no longer exists. Now it's up to individual "CEO" to direct the business functions of their own careers, e.g., "R & D" (networking and market intelligence), "Sales & Marketing" (resume and interviewing), etc... in order to secure a viable niche in the business landscape of the 21st century.

For better or worse, you are and will be engaged in an uncomfortably tight race for employment survival in the decades to come. My program lays out the rules for that race and asserts that your only real chance of winning is to boldly leave old-style job search thinking in the dust. I firmly believe that my Extreme Job Search System "the 7- Steps" is the best single defense against any extended periods of transition and the needless suffering endured by you and your family as a result.

Best wishes and keep networking alive,

Rod Colon

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Success or Failure in the Job Search - Your Choice

noreply@blogger.com (Rod Colon) — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 04:30:00 +0000

I designed this program so that individuals with the highest level of commitment will achieve the greatest success. This is precisely what The Black Hole does not offer.

That said, not everyone is comfortable with my system. I've seen this situation many times in the past. Students of my program with all best intentions, step themselves through some orientation material, get off to a reasonably good start - then pull back when they realize that the full burden of "working the program" rests on their shoulders alone.

But most students find the experience challenging, energizing, and inspirational. They like the idea that their next job (or client) is right around the corner. They like the feeling of being in control of all decisions and actively managing different aspects of their career "enterprise" to achieve success. And they especially like the freedom that comes from knowing they are no longer shackled to The Black Hole.

Best wishes and keep networking alive,

Rod Colon

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Rod Colon's Extreme Job Search 7-Step System

noreply@blogger.com (Rod Colon) — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 04:30:00 +0000

The Extreme Job Search System consists of four core components:

Networking (The Machinery) Make solid connection and build a warm, trusted network; then maintain it with care
CEO of ME, Inc. (The Mind-Set) Adopt the CEO of ME, Inc. mind-set to run your career as a business
Value Proposition (The Magnet) Design a powerful, compelling value proposition that leads to an interview every time.
7-Step Job Search (The Methodology) Learn, master, then execute the Extreme Job Search Methodology

Students of my system learn and absorb this system significantly shrink the time between the initial discovery of a suitable job description and the call for an interview.

To cite just one example of how this is accomplished, I teach individuals how to build a powerful case for their candidacy with bulletproof relevance and memorable impact.

I also train them to build value propositions that are so compelling that they practically require

decision-makers to keep an extra interview slot open; after all, how can they refuse to interview someone who meets the published requirements - "Like a Glove"?

In adopting this methodology for the job search, my students begin to view their role in the process as gradually shifting from an "employee mind-set" (i.e., dependence on traditional corporate hierarchies) to a "CEO of ME, Inc." mind-set (i.e., an independent business owner), complete with all necessary adjustments to develop a positive mental attitude and a continuous supply of mental toughness.

Best wishes and keep networking alive,

Rod Colon

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A Seismic Shift for the 21st Century Job Search

noreply@blogger.com (Rod Colon) — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 16:35:00 +0000

Up until a few years ago, The Black Hole was the only game in town. Today, that's no longer true. In 2004, I started engineering a whole new job search system for professionals who wanted to manage their careers in the same way a CEO manages a company.

The system is logical, precise, and driven by CEO-style business logic. It leverages the power of advocates - people who will help you get connected to decision-makers or contacts who know those decision-makers within a company that interest you. It requires you to develop a powerful value proposition which, if designed correctly, will just about require any sensible decision-maker to grant you an interview.

The system is starting to pick up traction on blogs, networking and job search web sites, and local newspapers, but the message is really starting to gain attention on social networking sites like LinkedIn.

There's a good reason for this : It gets results.

There are four key components to my job search system:

Users must:

Develop their networking skills in order to form relationships based on mutual trust and reciprocity
Adopt a CEO mentality in running their careers as a business
Craft a compelling value proposition that will attract the attention of any decision-maker
Follow a precise 7-Step Job Search Methodology for carrying out their search.

The work will be demanding. There are no shortcuts or guarantees. Your commitment to the program is purely binary: You're either in it to win it, or you're not in it at all. Let's get started.

Best wishes and keep networking alive,

Rod Colon

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The Black Hole For Your Job Search - You Can Do Better!

noreply@blogger.com (Rod Colon) — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 04:30:00 +0000

Don't get me wrong about those people on the other side of the SUBMIT button. I'm sure they are very nice, friendly, and perform their work honestly and ethically. They may belong to the same civic organizations, read the same books, shop at the same stores, and browse the same websites as you. But nothing changes the fact that they don't know you and you don't know them ... are you beginning to see the problem? There is no human-to-human interaction here. You are conducting your job search in a connection-less environment.

The people who handle Internet-based resume submissions are part of a nebulous region of the business universe that I call The Black Hole. When you send your resume and cover letter into The Black Hole, it almost always ends up in exactly the same place: nowhere.

There's another disturbing aspect to The Black Hole. When we solve problems, human nature typically drives us to find the shortest distance between two points. Call me a skeptic, but I'm highly suspicious of an approach that requires so little effort to achieve as formidable a goal as landing a new job. In my mind, this is a perfect example of the GIGO: Garbage In Garbage Out. Hardly an effort in ... hardly an value out. If you ask me, that's a pretty flimsy model on which to pin any hopes for securing an income for you and your family. While it's true that some individuals will luck out and find a job using The Black Hole, the majority will not. The majority will endure disappointment, frustration, and heartache because they will wait endlessly for a response that - when you stop to think about it - has no rational reason for ever being sent.

Over the past few years, I've collected some disturbing statistics about job seekers who rely on The Black Hole approach:

85% get absolutely no response - at least not from the client
10% get a generic response - "Don't call me, I'll call you."
3% get a "discount store special" - companies looking to undercut value.
2% get a client telephone screen, i.e., some type of contact with a client.

Let's put things in perspective. Most people use The Black Hole for two reasons:

It's easy; and
There are no other options.

I won't deny the seductive simplicity of Reason#1. But I have a lot to say about Reason #2 - a whole lot. In fact Reason #2 is the very reason I wrote the book, "Win The Race For 21st Century Jobs."

So if you're thinking about staying with a job search and career management system simply because it's easy and convenient, just remember: It's "Click and Woooooosh!" off your resume goes - off into The Black Hole - probably forever!

Best wishes and keep networking alive,

Rod Colon

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The Job Search: It's Your Decision

noreply@blogger.com (Rod Colon) — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 04:30:00 +0000

There are two ways to conduct a job search in the 21st century. One has a dismal track record. The other one, a newcomer to the job search landscape, has been specifically engineered for both short-and long-term success.

Whichever method you choose is entirely up to you. You can stay with the traditional method if you don't mind extended periods of frustration and emotional distress. Or you can take charge on your own career with a bold new system that:

1. Places full accountability for success on your own shoulders

2. Demands that best you have to offer nothing less; and

3. Requires you to have mental toughness and a positive mental attitude.

In my daily blog I will describe that bold new system and provide you with a career management plan for winning the race for 21st century jobs.
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Buzz About Rod Colon Consulting

noreply@blogger.com (Carl E. Reid) — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 05:01:00 +0000

About Rod Colon Consulting

In their own words from people across the United States, here are benefits and results experienced with engaging speaker and coaching services provided by Rod Colon Consulting.

Hi Rod,
Thank you for coming to speak with us at the Professional Service Group of Mercer County! It was a pleasure to meet you and the group absolutely loved your presentation. We'd also like to extend our thanks to Jackie Alix for working with us so extensively to organize this successful event.

Feedback was excellent across the board with the highest ratings for the value of the presentation, clear presentation skills, and delivery. Comments from the group included extra appreciation for your practical and direct approach, sincerity and new perspective in approaching our job search as a business owner. Others also highlighted their better understanding of how to use LinkedIn contacts, with one member saying this was the kick in the pants that they needed! -Irene Tan, Executive Co-Chair, Professional Service Group of Mercer County

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"It is not often that one gets to witness greatness in any field, but the 90 minutes Rod Colon spent with our group teaching us the 7 essential steps to networking were 90 minutes of greatness. I personally learned more about networking from Rod in those 90 minutes than I have in more than 30 years of my own trial and error. Rod's mini-seminar was direct, blunt, brilliantly organized and passionately delivered. It was also insightful, invigorating and intensely motivational. There isn't a businessperson alive who would not benefit from his incisive teachings." -Richard Pawlak, PSG) of Mercer County, Public Relations Committee Chair

"I had the great pleasure of meeting Mr. Colon a few months ago at the HISPA (Hispanics Inspiring Students’ Performance and Achievement) 2011 Youth Conference which took place in Princeton University. Mr. Colón’s charisma and energetic personality quickly and inevitably filled the room. At the end of the Conference, when I got to shake Mr. Colon’s hand and speak with him, his message to me was clear: “Own your career! You can do it!” I could not help to feel inspired by our conversation; soon after, I obtained a copy of his book, “Win the Race for 21st Century Jobs.” -Jose Medina, Mechanical Engineer

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"If job hunting is a basketball game and Rod is you coach, he would definitely be teaching you how to utilize the full court press. He starts with career managing, teaches you the art of networking, drills you on interviewing skills and adds the important step of follow up. He personally demonstrates the high energy relentless work ethic that you need to succeed and at the same time never hesitates to stop and work with you on an individual basis to get you the help you need. Simply said, if you need a job, join Rod’s team!" -Mark Altenburger, VP, Business Development at Healthcare Resources Online

Rod,
Thank you very much. Your presentation last night was truly inspiring. I wish I knew you many years ago. I am already trying to reach out to as many people as possible verbally. You reminded me of a motivational speaker, Ric Elias, who made a riveting 5 minute speech of his experience of being in a plane plummeting to earth over the Hudson River that he survived due to the brilliant landing by pilot Sully Sullenberger last year after the plane hit a flock of birds. I hope to be working in the near term. -Robert Harris, Information Technology and Services Professional

"Rod assisted me through the Empowering Today's Professionals while I was in between positions. Through ongoing encouragement and support through webinars, in person meetings and telephone support through the ETP 'solution center,' I eventually landed a new position.

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Rod's group is well worth joining, and I hope to be able to return the favor by helping others in his network to find fulfilling work and to understand the ongoing importance of having an active professional network." - Norman Reiss, Director at Nonprofit Bridge

"Rod is a high caliber presenter that provides the insights for career management in a way that quickly adds value for those who attend his events. His topics are timely and the practical guide he is assembling on the the internet will be a required 'Go To Expert' for anyone wanting to increase their effectiveness in managing their careers." -Yolanda Baker, Sr IT Auditor, NJISACA Board Director

“Rod is great coach and advisor on the job search process. He has an intimate knowledge of the tools and techniques for a successful campaign. Always available, and very helpful.” - Joe Gadino, Professional Services Client Partner

“I have the pleasure to highly recommend Rod as a great professional career coach. Rod has effectively guided my professional career, he is passionate to empower the success of your own business "The CEO of ME". Rod leads strategically powerful insights to explore opportunities, his input and willingness to help will add success to your career search...” -LINA CONTRERAS, Financial Contract Validation Analyst

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“I've known Rod for a couple of years now. Rod is, without a doubt, the best professional networker I know. I have made use of strategies I've learned from Rod to improve how I approach my "CEO of Me" business challenges and also to share that wisdom with others.” -Peter Hance, Regional Business Development Manager

Thanks again for your presentation at last night’s NJ ISACA Membership & Career Connect event. Preliminary feedback is excellent. -Jennifer Lynn Spiewak, CISA, IT Audit Manager

Thank You! I enjoyed your presentation at ISACA last night. It was inspirational. I look forward to reading your book and networking with you. -Lou Schroeter - CISA, CISSP, CGEIT

"Thank you for your wonderful and enlightening LinkedIn presentation this morning! The staff was very impressed with the session and look forward to updating their profiles for potential connections. I would like to continue our conversation about ways to build our relationship with Rider students and alumni." -Joyce Tyler, Director of Career Services, Rider University

“Rod has been my career coach for about two years.He has a deep understanding of what today's hiring manager is looking from the C-level executive to the lower levels of management. Rod has given me a practical way of treating my career as an owner of a business provider.” -Santos Torres, Jr., M.B.A.

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“Rod is an excellent career coach. He is extremely easy going and has a great attitude. As a career coach, he is extremely passionate about empowering people achieve their career goals. He is very well versed in the Human Resources field and provides clear guidance for approaching any career-related issue. Rod is able to achieve such great results with you by asking the right kind of questions. I recommend Rod to anyone serious about taking their career to the next level!” -Alina Trigub

“I have had the honor to work with Rod over the course of the last three years while with the NJ Chapter of NSHMBA. I highly recommend Rod as a career coach or as a speaker, panelist for your events. You will not be disappointed." -Miguel Saez, New Jersey Chapter President, NSHMBA

“Rod is a gifted teacher, motivational speaker, and power networker. Rod has been the Featured Speaker for the TPNG on two separate occasions where he received rave reviews.” -Paul Villafane Sr, PMP, CSM, Co-Chair and Facilitator, Technology Professionals Networking Group (TPNG)

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“Rod Colon is the coach's COACH. As a successful business career coach, social media consultant and intrapreneur, Rod is one of those visionary thought leaders I engage for coaching. He has helped me up my networking game as a person of influence within my network. I highly recommend Rod as both a career coach and enlightening speaker. His presentations at meetings I have organized always provide attendees with multiple WOW moments!!” -Carl E. Reid, Chief Savvy Intrapreneur

"Without a doubt, the concepts and skills Rod teaches are valuable both from a current and long-term career perspective. Rod is someone I recommend as a resource as you think about career directions.” -David Pincus, Consulting CFO / COO, North Beach Associates

“Rod is 'career coach, extraordinaire'. Rod teaches strengths identification, personal brand development (CEO of Me, Inc.). Rod is insightful and continually sees one step beyond. His energy, commitment and effectiveness have enabled his clients/students to establish a meaningful direction and successful attitude in life. Rod is a consummate professional” -Phyllis Shelton, CEO & President, iPower Global Solutions

"If need another external engergy force to help keep you going, need a trusted guide to help you over that wrinkle and into those rough waters, then you can't ask for better than Rod.” -David Leech, Technology Infrastructure Manager, Investment Bank Credit Markets, JPMorgan Chase

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"Rod's MISNetwork Networking Dinner presentation of the ME INC. concept provided me with a valuable new way of thinking about my personal situation, on how to move forward and on how to allocate my resources. I regularly go back to my notes to review the 7 steps to moving forward. Rod's presentation forced me to change my focus and set specific objectives. Thanks -Bob

WOW! Just received “Win The Race for 21st Century Jobs”. I read through several pages and love it. Easy to read and it’s like having you there talking to me about the method. Thanks so much.
Regards -Mike

Good Morning, Rod!
Thank you for your excellent presentation last night at CEO of Me. That was the best networking event I have ever attended. I am really looking forward to continuing our association. -Cornelia

Re: Rod's Job Search & Networking School
I liked the personal attention given to the each participant, even though it was a group call. The 1st session was per my expectation. I will have more thoughts on this as we progress. For now, I like the way the session was conducted. I look forward to these sessions helping me stay ahead of the game by networking and being proactive and creative in my job search. -Paddy

In response to attending Rod's job search school webinar says . . . It feels great to participate in such a session. I feel more charged up, upbeat. The format of the session is great: lecture followed by each participant questions and/or weekly activities. -Mario

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Rod Colon's High Level View on Managing The Job Search as a Business

noreply@blogger.com (Rod Colon) — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 14:23:00 +0000

One of the areas that I cover as a motivational speaker and career coach is educating students and professionals on

1) how to network effectively and continuously improve their networking skills;

2) how to adopt a CEO-like mind-set for managing their careers;

3) how to create a powerful and compelling value proposition to make themselves as attractive as possible to decision-makers; and

4) how to fuse the three preceding skills into one megaskill while following a well-engineered and precisely targeted 7-Step Job Search Methodology.

As part of this training, I teach members how to leverage the power of advocates, individuals who know you, trust you, and are willing to “connect the dots” for you if the circumstances warrant it. We leverage the power of these advocates to help you “network your way” into organizations or companies of interest. Let's start with the mission.

My mission is to encourage, train, support, mentor and advise fellow CEOs in all areas of responsibility to their Personal Board of Directors. The key to a successful CEO enterprise is accomplishing these five goals:

1. Secure a job/business where passion and income intersect

2. Build a trusted personal network of 200+ people

3. Create a career backup plan

4. Generate multiple sources of income not in conflict with the primary source

5. Become a networking leader

The Guiding Principle: Own Your Career — Run It as a Business

You take ownership of your career when you make the decision to run it as a business, complete with CEO (you), a Board of Directors (your family) plus R & D (networking and business intelligence), Sales & Marketing (interviews) and all other components that make up a fully functional organization.

At first, many individuals struggle with this paradigm. They think it’s silly, uncomfortable, or inconvenient; some actually believe it’s all three. But once they begin to apply it in real-life situations, they quickly see its value because it forces them to take responsibility for their actions. Suddenly, there is no room for excuses, no blaming others for bad decisions or errors in judgment. It finally hits them: Success or failure is totally in their hands.

Knowing that the safety and security of a Personal Board of Directors is your “corporate responsibility” every day is a powerful motivating force to keep you relentless in your job search and focused on your objectives.

Are you too tired to draft a targeted resume? Look at the faces of your children and think about how much they depend on you. Maybe you’re too weary to track down one more well-matched opportunity? Listen to the voices of your loved ones and read their body language. You owe it to them to be successful.

Own Your Career. It’s a powerful, emboldening statement. In three short words it captures the essence of the my philosophy and serves as a powerful differentiator. It also represents the difference between Black Hole thinking and CEO of ME, Inc. thinking.

Have a great week!

Best wishes and keep networking alive,

Contact Rod

The Buzz on Rod Colon's Extreme Job Search Program: Seven Steps That Could Change Your Life

noreply@blogger.com (Rod Colon) — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 23:23:00 +0000

Do you really want to know how I help professionals land during these difficult times? Are you sure?

Pour yourself a cup of coffee and let’s get to work on my Extreme Job Search program. It is a procedure that’s been tweaked to near-perfection over the past six years but will undoubtedly be tweaked many more times whenever improvements are discovered, tested, and evaluated.

As you step yourself through this process, we'll take the networking skills you learned, the powerful CEO mind set, and the magnetic attraction of your value proposition and weld them together for maximum impact.

To do this, your CEO business brain must think in four dimensions, i.e., remember that each component (networking, CEO mind-set, value proposition, and methodology) becomes supercharged when combined with the other three but has ample horsepower to stand on its own when the situation calls for it.

This will be challenging work and at times you may become frustrated. But the payoff is substantial: You will cut yourself free from the grip of The Black Hole. Instead of being dependent on people who don’t know you to advance your career goals, you will learn to network your way to an interview, job or contract by leveraging the power of advocates — people who not only know you, but like you, trust you and will gladly help you to “connect the dots.”

The Seven Steps: High Level Overview

Step 1

As the CEO of ME, Inc, you will determine what your core skills are. Everyone is good at something; so what are your skills, talents, and abilities? What would be a suitable title for someone who does your kind of work?

Step 2

You call your work by a particular name; now it’s time to find out what the marketplace calls it. Are you a Java Developer? A Financial Analyst? You’ll make good use of a web site called Indeed.com to perform this task. You’ll also get a first look at opportunities that may be a good fit for you. The importance of this step is that it helps you determine the market demand for your skills (i.e., the spot market; a snapshot of what the prevailing market conditions look like).

Step 3

Now, using LinkedIn and your networking skills, try to identify advocates; these are people either in your network or in the networks of friends, business contacts, etc… who can “connect the dots” for you within a targeted company to get your name circulated among key decision-makers. At this step, you are performing “networking research”, that is, you are not actually reaching out to these advocates yet, just identifying who they are.

Step 4

You will then develop your value proposition consisting of: 1) a targeted resume; 2) a cover letter (or T-Letter), and 3) the job description itself. In this step you are building your case for the job. Since these documents will either make or break you, you will want to have them as close to perfection as possible.

Step 5

Once you’re SURE you understand the position for which you’ve identified suitable advocates, prepare to connect with them. With advocates who are friends, or friends of friends, you'll network to establish a communications chain to the decision makers (your “Research & Development Team” manages this). In all cases, you will document all contact with advocates to ensure timely and appropriate follow-up.

Step 6

After that, you will submit your value proposition as instructed and set up a specific follow-up schedule. You will track your contact with all advocates to ensure that no follow-up calls or e-mails are forgotten.

Step 7

Finally, you will repeat the process. As the CEO of a business, you never settle for having just one client prospect. When you’re in transition and actively looking for work, your goal should be to find at least one new client opportunity per day.

For a detailed plan on my Extreme Job Search program or if you would like me to present this program to your group/association, please email me at Rod@RodColon.com.

Enough for now and have a great weekend!

I will be conducting my award winning workshop “Extreme Job Search” on Monday, October 3, 2011 at 6pm from the Manalapan Library – for details go to www.etpnetwork.org. All are welcome.

Complete listing of my speaking engagements visit www.RodColon.com

Best wishes and keep networking alive,

Rod Colon

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We Are Networking Professionals

noreply@blogger.com (Rod Colon) — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 14:50:00 +0000

My friends often tease me, saying: “Rod, you’re always networking. Why not give it a rest?” They might as well say, “Rod, you’re always breathing. Why not give it a rest?” My answer is the same for both questions: “I can’t.”

For me, networking is all about interacting with people no matter who they are, where they are, or what they’re doing. It could be members of my family, neighbors, members of the PTA, or the UPS driver. I don’t care. I gravitate to people because they fascinate me. I love them. They charge me up and give meaning to my life. Everyone has a story to tell, and I love hearing those stories.

Of course that’s the practical, everyday, “fun” side of networking. I need to make sure you understand the business imperative of networking, too.

That’s why I now tell you this: If you decide not to manage your career as a business, be absolutely sure you read the following passage before making the decision final:

Relationships are the new “capital” of the 21st century and as such, will have a much greater impact on growth in almost every business sector of the economy. If you opt out of networking, you are taking yourself out of the career landscape for a long time to come. It’s not JUST about the job search; it’s about becoming masters of networking with an eye toward securing a viable place in the relationship-based global economy of the future.

It all begins networking. And networking must never stop.

I will see you on the radio this and every Sunday morning at 8am (EST) on Your Career Is Calling on 107.7 FM and online on www.1077TheBronc.com. I look forward to taking your calls at 877.900.1077. This Sunday our topic is: Secrets to an Effective Job Search with President of Expert Landings, Alex Fruend.

I will be conducting my award winning workshop “Extreme Job Search” on Monday, September 26, 2011 at 6pm from the New Horizons facility in New York City – for details go to www.etpnetwork.org. All are welcome.

Complete listing of my speaking engagements visit www.RodColon.com

Best wishes and keep networking alive,

Rod Colon

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The Lack of Total Control

noreply@blogger.com (Rod Colon) — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 15:10:00 +0000

Let's say you posed in a bikini last summer and the photograph, while flattering, was just a little bit provocative. Now let's say a friend posts that photo on Facebook. And now let's suppose that the individual you hope to have an interview with spots the same picture. It was nothing you did; but you cannot control what others do and some of their actions can unintentionally hurt you.

Think before you submit. Be careful out there, you are the CEO of ME, Inc.

Keep networking alive,

Rod Colon

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High-Level View of Targeting Your Resume

noreply@blogger.com (Rod Colon) — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 14:37:00 +0000

Random House Webster’s Dictionary Definition:

RESUME 1. SUMMARY. 2. an account of one’s education, employment, etc., submitted to a potential employer

Is the employer interested in seeing an account of an individual’s education and employment history or are they looking for the individual who can get the job done by clearly articulating what they have accomplished?

The Lost Resume

As a Human Resource recruiter for 15 years in both a corporate and agency setting, I have given a third of my life to reviewing resumes. Like any industry I have seen every combination of fads and styles of resumes through the years. It is crystal clear to me that professionals spend too much time and money developing the winning RESUME when the client is not looking for a resume at all. The client is not interested in knowing “an account of an individual’s education and employment”. The client is interested in knowing if the candidate has the skills required and have they successfully demonstrated those skills in their recent history:

• Do they have the required skills

• Did they clearly describe how they used the skills in their last few positions

• Did the candidate demonstrate success in the skill sets required

• Did the candidate, if not a perfect fit have enough of the skills to be worth pursuing

• Is the candidate able to clearly communicate this on the resume or is it poorly written

• Is the compensation expectations in line with the role

• Is the candidate a fit from a level perspective or are they looking to take a major step down just to find employment and increase the risk of them leaving once a better opportunity presents itself

• Will the candidate fit within the culture of the organization

I have studied this issue closely and began to submit my resume to over 500 Human Resources, Technology/Medical Recruitment positions over the past year.

What did I submit?

I submitted my generic (I personally think its great) resume to over 500 positions around the United States.

What Type of Role Did I Submit for?

Any role, at any level to do with Human Resources and Medical/Technical Recruitment

Who Did I Submit to?

I submitted my resume to the Unknown Network.

What is the Unknown Network?

An individual or organization that does not know you personally and there are no referrals involved.

• Internet Job Boards

• Agencies

• Corporate Job Boards

• Newspaper Ads

Result

85% Absolutely No Response – Zippo, Nada, Zilch – The World of the Black Hole (I may have received a notification of the submission from the Job Board server but the client did not respond directly to me in anyway)

10% Generic Response – Don’t call me I’ll call you email

2% Wal-Mart Specials – Companies looking to undercut my value

1% Client Telephone screen, some type of conversation

Even though I was sending trial balloons, absorbing the rejection was a hit to my ego, I began to test my theory which is to forget the word “RESUME” and begin to think like an attorney and build your case.

Targeting Your Resume

Once you have identified a potential position – follow these steps:

Step 1

Think as the Author of the Job Position

• You are now the Job Owner; try to figure out what I am looking for in this role “No Rose Colored Glasses”

• Once you have a good feel for the opening, as the manager, ask yourself “Would I Hire Myself for this Role?”

• If the answer is YES, move to step 2, if the answer is NO, Stop and move on to the next position

Step 2

You now have a good sense for the opening

• Write down what are the 4 to 6 critical skills needed to do this job (although they may ask for more)

• Ask yourself did I successfully do these 4 to 6 critical roles in my last few positions – If the answer is YES move to Step 3, if NO, Stop move to the next position

Step 3

You now know you can do the job because you have accomplished similar roles in the past; you are prepared to develop your case

• Do not make the mistake and indicate how you match in the general summary or technical summary without making the case in the experience section

Example:

The position is for a business analyst with UML experience

Joe Smith’s Resume

Summary

I have worked as a business analyst for 10 years using UML

Experience

Mango Tango Consulting Firm 2003 to Present

• Description of what Mango Tango Firm does

• Develop mainframe applications for pharmaceutical client

• Created Test Plans using Web Automated Tools

• Led a team of 20

Issues:

• Joe Smith did not make a case – he settled for the summary section to build the case with no reference to Business Analysis and UML in the position

• It is critical that you build your case in the experience section not just the summary or in some FAD styles which simply list all the accomplishments and leaves the bio reviewer guessing what was accomplished when

Step 4

Preparing the Case

• Using the example above you build the case

• In building your case you find out there are 4 key skills/criteria for the positions

o Business Analyst

o UML

o Financial Services

o BS Computer Science

Joe Smith’s Resume (Improved)

Summary

Over 10 years current experience as a business analyst with strong UML (3 years) experience in a financial setting

Technical Skills Summary

UML (3 yrs)

Rational Rose (1 year)

Business Analyst (10 Years)

Education

Georgian Court University

BS: Computer Science (1990)

Experience

Mango Tango Consulting Firm January 2003 to Present

Sr. Business Analysis Consultant

Client: JC Goldman Brokerage Firm (May 2004 to Present)

• Lead Business Analyst for a major trading floor risk application involving etc…

• Extensive UML experience with (information pertaining to the technical aspects of the role)

• Keeping to the Job Specification Theme - describe your accomplishments in the position and how they benefited the firm

• Awards or Special recognition in the role

Client: BB Boutique Hedge Fund (January 2003 to April 2004)

• You are going to keep to the same theme of the critical skills required and how it is relevant making sure the bullets are in order of importance – do not add the best and most relevant bullet to the end or it will be interpreted as the weakest skill

Merrill Jones Financial Services June 1990 to December 2002

Credit Risk Group (January 1998 to December 2002)

AVP, Business Analyst

• Continue with the theme of the critical skills required in this area and try to go back at least 5 years from today’s date building the case

• Prior to 5 years you want to build the case of success and bring in as much of the critical themes as possible

Congratulations! You've done it!

Keep networking alive,

Rod Colon

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Leveraging a Connector via Rod Colon's System

noreply@blogger.com (Rod Colon) — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 18:10:00 +0000

Click picture to register for Rod's FREE 7 Day Mni Course

Recent email correspondence that will help all...

Hey Rod how you doing? I came across an job lead at McGraw-Hill through smart radar that I believe I am qualified for, so as I was checking the company in LinkedIn I notice that you and I have common connection in there, can you help me to connect in there, if so what would you need form me? Thanks.

Sincerely yours,

Raul H. (IT Services Professional)

Raul,

Here you go and I am copying the team so we are all on the same page.

1. Identify a position that is a 70% or better match against your verifiable skills

2. Search on LinkedIn or any other personal CRM system if you have access through your network to someone working at the company

3. Develop your value proposition (copy of job description/T-Letter/Targeted Resume)

4. Reach out to your connector/s (I am your potential connector on this one) to introduce you to the advocate (person working at the company) and give the connector your value proposition.

5. Connector will review value proposition and instruct candidate (you) what their next step will be (connectors are not required to connect based on the following: 1. their relationship with the potential advocate is weak or 2. the value proposition was not compelling). Either way the connector will provide you with feedback on their next move.

Raul – I hope this helps.

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Ernesto Espin Inspiring Speech - The Next Generation of Professionals

noreply@blogger.com (Rod Colon) — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 14:52:00 +0000

The following is the transcript for one of the most inspiring speeches I have heard given by Ernesto A. Espin student and intern for the The Center for Hispanic Policy, Research & Development. I hope you enjoy this as much as I did.

Ernesto gave me his permission to share ...

Enjoy,

Rod ColonContact Rod

Ernesto A. Espin

CHPRD Class of 2011

Speech Graduation

Muy buenas tardes damas y caballeros, good afternoon ladies and gentleman, distinguished guests, dear families, friends, and my exceptional class of the 2011. Today, ladies and gentleman I am not here to give a speech, but to send a powerful message, that I know eventually you will be pass it on to others, because a speech can be forgotten, but a message will last forever. First of all, I want to give thanks to my dear God, for giving me this opportunity, I want to also deeply express and acknowledge the love and support of my wonderful family, my coworkers, Adam, Matthew, Mr Kent, and my dear friends of the 2011 Class, which I would ask an applause for them because without their support I wouldn’t be here speaking to you today, that’s why, this is for you guys!

It has been an unforgettable experience and a wonderful opportunity to have been part of the Center of Hispanic Policy Research and Development, and I will like to share with you one little annotation I wrote on my journal about the impact that this program has had in me. June 8, 2011 “One of the experiences that I will forever take with me from this program, happened when I had a sort of vision, of my friends of the 2011 class. While Dr Bonilla-Santiago was instructing us in the art of understanding the nature of people and their colors and personalities, I stopped for a moment to slowly, see everybody in the room, and I took a special attention to the eyes of my friends, and I saw the potential that Mr. Abraham Lopez spoke about it, the first day of the ceremony. He said “you are here, because you deserve to be here, we saw something in you, a potential, a gift, and that’s why you are here”. In that moment while I was looking at my friends I remembered the great Cesar Chavez, one of my favorite leaders of all time, whose incredible intellect, love for social cause and care for his community, was able to inspire promising bright young Latinos, and eventually was able to make a whole country support the farmworkers cause. Just there, I realized something about my friends, my beautiful people and I.

You my Latinos are the finest result of a combination of eastern and western ideological, spiritual and intellectual legacy that began with our African fathers, passing through our Caucasian, Asian brothers and ending with our great native Indians from the Americas. Feel proud of what you have in you, because We belong to an incredible family, a family that carries universal truths.

I humbly believe that Latinos are bridges, bridges that eventually will help to reconnect the world. My Latinos are being prepared to lead this world, think for a minute, all the struggles, injustices, and inequalities were created only to push and to create women and men of greatness, and that’s what we Latinos are. We are the brown daughters and sons of God; we are women and men of greatness!

Now I will have a few words for my young Latino leaders. Please remind yourselves that, the minute that you think you know everything, you know nothing. Try to be an empty cup, and as years pass by and water is being poured down to you, try to keep refreshing that water again and again. There is no bigger tragedy or problem than the one you put yourself. Foment and foster honest and true collaboration among yourselves. Collaborate one another for a common good cause, collaboration, is the word of this century, use it as your primary tool, knowing when to be firm and to be flexible to apply it. Use reason and feeling, to know that knowledge and experience is the application of wisdom. Look for the essence of life, we could have lots of titles, degrees and have graduated from the best schools and programs. But I encourage you to graduate from the school of life as well, and follow a bachelor in how to treat one another, then do a master in how to help others without waiting to get something in return and finally get your PhD in humanity! In invite you to not only be part of the workforce and industrialize world, but to be dreamers, idealistic, entrepreneurs, owners of your own ideas, and masters of your own destiny. Open your own law firm, your own clinic, your own business, be a exceptional scientist, write the best book, make the gratest painting ever, and making this in the glory of the greater purpose.

We need to be proud of who we are, we possess beautiful intrinsic values and virtues as humans. My parents taught me, if you look to your side, there is always somebody needing a smile, a help, a hug. Yes, I know we are not social workers or personal counselors but we all need love, without it we cannot be part of the human race, without it we cannot be who we really are. We all need that love that goes beyond our physical world, a love that heals, that gives people, hope, compassion, charity, peace, an inner happiness and well-being. Look to be that kind of leader, a leader that gives all his and her love to the world. Inspire yourselves to be, the kind of leader that heals himself first and gets rid-off the pains, the sufferings, the instabilities, the anger, those secrets that chain you and doesn’t let you be free and evolve as the glorious being that you are. Gandhi said, “By changing yourself first, you will change the world”, so BE that CHANGE You want to see in the world!

The Center of Hispanic Policy Research and Development has had an impact in me that I will take for the rest of my life. I learned that this message is for those who are ready to listen. The old ways of how to handle things are ceasing to exist and the new school is being born. And one of the hopes of this country relies upon the hands of you my Latinos. We might have entered thru the back door, but we are so staying here to help this nation to be even greater than already is. We were brought to this beautiful country to be transformed and to serve a divine plan that will serve a divine purpose! And as I’m talking to you right now, millions of Latinos that went to other nations looking for better opportunities are getting prepared for greatness. The Latino diaspora shall help and impact this world as it never has seen before.

This is where I honor the noble brothers and sisters for humanity, and those who will come after me. We were born to shine my people, all of you present here this morning. Listen to this, we were born to shine. Give hope to the world and the world will have hope. Walk with me in the path of justice, in the path of unity, in the path faith, walk with me, I want to be a better person, and I invite you to do the same. I also encourage the organizations, agencies, corporations and individuals that are here this morning to support this program. Think what’s really important, do what is right in your soul. Support US! And we will support you, invest in US and we will make sure that YOU will have a future where you can live a happy life, guide and walk with us, because after the sands of time starts to arrive to the end of the road, we will look and take care of you. Support these kinds of programs, support education, support charter schools, and deliver what is needed. You will be remembered for your actions, not for your promises or words. Even with the little that you can give, the big it can help, and at the end of the day, wise is for those who want to empower a community, than for those who want a bigger paycheck in their pockets. Remember, support us, and we will support you!

Work with your head my dear Latinos, we are no longer that working labor race, we are a race of vision! Have vision and maintain that humbleness, charisma and love that we all possess, and I assure you, we will do extraordinary things for this whole world. We will march with our heads up, with firm steps, with peace in our hearts, with a smile in our faces and with so much love in our souls. Because we are leaders, and as leaders you will stand above poverty, you will stand above ignorance, you will stand above hatred, and intolerance, because you all belong to a bigger destiny. And you will have the power to speak to the eyes of those who need to change their way, you will have the power to fight against corruption, you will have the power to speak truth in the presence of those who need to hear it, and you will lead all nations in victory and peace! For today I have said this you as part of my mission on this earth, and tomorrow you will say it to someone else! Because …We are leaders… we are leaders….AND WE ARE READY TO RISE FOR GLORY!!!!!!

What You Always Wanted to Know About PERSONAL BRANDING!

noreply@blogger.com (Rod Colon) — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 18:22:00 +0000

Chip Hartman did it again! Another great e-book to add to his collection for you to consume – this one is on Personal Branding. There is no one better than Chip who takes a topic and dissects and prepares the steps that are attainable and achievable for the CEO of ME, Inc. to execute. His passion for empowering professionals is second to none.

Thank you Chip for writing and sharing freely this wonderful powerful e-book on Personal Branding. We love what you do and we are all greater for it!

Rod,

This is an introductory e-book about the basics of personal branding in a “Q & A” format. It is the first e-book in a series I’m preparing on personal branding that will extend into December, 2011.

http://www.meridiasystems.com/docs/basics-of-personal-branding.pdf

Chip Hartman

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