The best jobs aren’t posted-DUH!

The best jobs aren’t posted-DUH! Cover Image

There was an article in The Wall Street Journal today titled: “The Best Jobs Aren’t Posted, But You Can Still Find Them”As a member of The FENG, I hope it won’t take you more than a “New York Minute” to guess how you find them.There are 3 proven ways. Wait for it … : Networking, networking...


Nov 03, 2022

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Talking on the phone

Talking on the phone Cover Image

In speaking with members of The FENG over the years, it is clear that everyone would enjoy hearing a few words of wisdom on making phone calls. Of course, everyone knows how to push the buttons on the phone, but apparently not everyone is having as much fun doing it as they should.Over the...


Jul 06, 2022

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Building your inner circle of friends

Building your inner circle of friends Cover Image

If you are actually sitting at your computer with not much to do the next several days, may I suggest you try increasing your inner circle of friends?The most valuable feature on our website is Member Directory Search: https://www.thefeng.org/members/searchAll you have to do is follow the ...


Dec 27, 2021

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Unsolicited advice

Unsolicited advice Cover Image

It is a well-known fact that men don’t like unsolicited advice. It is for this reason that we used to drive in circles from time to time, even though our spouse quietly suggested we stop at that gas station we kept passing and ask for directions. (GPS has at least solved that problem.) We ...


Dec 15, 2021

By Matt Bud, The FENG

When things get quiet

When things get quiet Cover Image

Every once in a while, things get quiet. There is no email (except for our newsletter), and there are no phone calls or Zoom meetings to attend.If you are actively looking for work, it can be a maddening experience.Instead of sitting with your hands folded on your desk, this is a good time...


Nov 22, 2021

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Putting your own mask on first

Putting your own mask on first Cover Image

For those of you who were flying road warriors before Covid-19, I can understand that you may no longer remember the very helpful discussion that preceded take off.Personally, I don’t think that anyone who doesn’t know how to work the seat belt should really be let out alone to wander the ...


Oct 20, 2021

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Two hours for lunch

Two hours for lunch Cover Image

One of the little jokes I used to tell back at the office was how hard it was to get anything done, what with an hour coffee break in the morning, two hours for lunch, another hour coffee break in the afternoon, combined with leaving early, there just isn’t much time to get things done.In ...


Sep 08, 2021

By Matt Bud, The FENG

The ultimate scam

The ultimate scam Cover Image

I was recently reminded of one of my favored approaches to networking that I discovered in the early 90’s.(Sometime in the late-90’s I stopped calling some of the things I was doing “scams” and started calling them “approaches,” which for some reason those in polite society found more acce...


Sep 07, 2021

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Please, no sad stories

Please, no sad stories Cover Image

As we all blast out of here for the long Labor Day weekend, let me give you a few suggestions to make your “time off’ most productive.I hope that all of you will be sharing some good times with family and old friends. (All my friends are old, but I digress.) If you are currently unemployed...


Sep 02, 2021

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Networking is easy

Networking is easy Cover Image

Have you ever had someone call you up to network and actually been able to help them in some way? I have to ask. How did it make you feel? My guess is that you felt pretty good inside.Perhaps you were only able to point out a typo on their resume, or perhaps you were only able to give them...


Aug 25, 2021

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Don’t call me late for lunch

Don’t call me late for lunch Cover Image

I don’t know if all of you have noticed, but our new member announcement has a field called “Greeting to use.” It is there because I think it is important in establishing networking connections to be able to call people by the name they find most “comfortable.”As I have often said, you can...


Aug 18, 2021

By Matt Bud, The FENG

A rhinoceros and a piece of paper

A rhinoceros and a piece of paper Cover Image

Many years ago, my son and I were rowing out to our mooring to go sailing with my father-in-law. My son, who was probably 8 or 9 at the time, asked my father-in-law if he knew the EXACT difference between a rhinoceros and a piece of paper. After several totally wrong guesses, my son gave h...


Aug 01, 2021

By Matt Bud, The FENG

The art of friendship

The art of friendship Cover Image

Perhaps because we fill in so many forms during the course of our careers, it seems that as financial types we are always looking for a fill in the blank approach to just about everything.Is there a formula for 90-second announcements, I am frequently asked? Well, there are some basic guid...


Jul 28, 2021

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Meeting the RIGHT folks

Meeting the RIGHT folks Cover Image

Being successful at getting meetings with potential decision makers who don’t have a job right now, but who might make one for you after they meet you, is why networking is the most successful approach to finding a job. Frankly, this is how most business is really done at our level.If you ...


Jul 18, 2021

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Lost at sea

Lost at sea Cover Image

It has only been since about the time of the American Revolution that sailors have had the technology available to find their exact location on the face of the earth. Although determining your latitude was possible (those are the lines that run around the middle of the earth like the equat...


Jul 07, 2021

By Matt Bud, The FENG

A fine line

A fine line Cover Image

The difference between being viewed as possessing dogged persistence and being an outright pest is hard to define. Like beauty or obscenity, I guess we know it when we see it.I have had many jobs over the course of my career, some paid, some volunteer that have involved collection work.Whe...


May 23, 2021

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Networking is easy

Networking is easy Cover Image

Perhaps this is a bit of an overstatement, but I am primarily talking about networking within The FENG.As you all know, we have a Member Directory Search feature out on our website for your information and use. If you become aware of a job at a specific company, the odds of someone in The ...


May 18, 2021

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Networking-A lifetime activity

Networking-A lifetime activity Cover Image

I was fortunate to speak with two of our more experienced chapter chairs a while ago who each in their own way in our wide ranging conversations reminded me of the importance of networking as a lifetime activity.I suppose to a degree, networking doesn’t come naturally to us financial types...


May 17, 2021

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Making introductions

Making introductions Cover Image

Everyone knows a few important people who they believe will at some point be helpful to us in our search for that perfect job. The problem how to keep your name in front of them so when that perfect job comes to their attention you will be top of mind.You certainly don’t want to waste thei...


May 06, 2021

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Keeping hope alive

Keeping hope alive Cover Image

Whether you are currently working and hate your job or are currently in active search mode, the most important job you have every day is maintaining an optimistic view of the future.The stresses and strains of a job that is winding down may at times seem beyond bearable. Back in 1991 durin...


Apr 29, 2021

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Bashfulness is not my strong suit

Bashfulness is not my strong suit Cover Image

Hard to believe, but bashfulness is apparently a quite prevalent condition among our membership.Yes, these same individuals who in prior lives as bankers were cutting off lines of credit or foreclosing on hapless widows have a near terminal fear of picking up the phone and calling other me...


Apr 27, 2021

By Matt Bud, The FENG