The 80/20 rule

The 80/20 rule Cover Image

I have always been a keen observer of managers. One of my favorites was a gentleman who worked at the Thomson Corporation in a senior financial role. He was one of those tall wiry types who always seemed to be in motion even when he was standing still. Sort of like your favorite basketball...


Feb 19, 2018

By Matt Bud, The FENG

A few left over parts

A few left over parts Cover Image

When I was growing up, my father was a plumbing contractor and I had the great experience of working with him weekends and summers from my early teens until I graduated from college. The test we used to determine whether or not we had correctly completed a complicated installation was whet...


Mar 28, 2018

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Your most recent 10 years

Your most recent 10 years Cover Image

While from time to time I silently wish to myself that many of our members would take the time to read a good book about how to write a resume, I find that other members have read a book or an article, but they have either read the wrong book or have misunderstood what the author was tryin...


Apr 29, 2018

By Matt Bud, The FENG

A standard communication device

A standard communication device Cover Image

The resume has a long and established history in our country, and while from time to time I see “variations on the theme,” the standard resume format is the one I always recommend. I would hope that all of us have lamented as Chief Financial Officers about our crazy vendors. Why can’t ever...


May 29, 2018

By Matt Bud, The FENG

A simple framework

A simple framework Cover Image

I’m not sure why people go their own way, but the standard resume framework is very much the “gold” standard. If you accept the idea that most resumes only get 10 seconds, I think you can begin to appreciate why straying from the traditional structure can get you into trouble. Of course yo...


Aug 08, 2018

By Matt Bud, The FENG

A riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma

A riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma Cover Image

I can see from the resumes that cross my desk, that more than a few of our members don’t take to heart some of the editorial material presented in this newsletter, or are taking advice from lightweights in matters related to job search. I hope this will stop!(For our loyal readers and foll...


Sep 23, 2021

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Dumber than dirt

Dumber than dirt Cover Image

There is a lot of poor thinking going on out in the world about how to be considered for jobs that are a step or two back in your career.The thinking seems to be that you have to dumb down your resume. I agree. I just don’t agree that deleting work history from earlier in your career or le...


Sep 22, 2021

By Matt Bud, The FENG

In the box thinking

In the box thinking Cover Image

I know that all of us take great pride in being “out of the box” thinkers, but there are situations that taking an innovative approach is the same as shooting yourself in the foot.One of those situations is in being innovative with the standard resume format.The traditional resume begins w...


Nov 30, 2021

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Putting your best foot forward

Putting your best foot forward Cover Image

The development of a resume can be a long and involved process. There are so many ideas that others have to share with you, and each person with whom you speak has their own perspective about what is right and what is wrong.Your resume is also in part an historical document charged with ch...


Dec 13, 2021

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Cheap tricks that don’t work

Cheap tricks that don’t work Cover Image

In today’s job market, everyone is trying to create a little edge for themselves so they can beat the competition. I know that none of you are actually the source of these ideas. However, there are a lot of “so called” career counselors out there who try to create perceived value by introd...


Jan 19, 2022

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Running the high hurdles

Running the high hurdles Cover Image

Between reviewing new member applications and going over candidates for assignments with The FECG, I spend a lot of time reviewing resumes.What continues to amaze and astound me is how difficult most folks make determining the key elements of their background. Basic stuff, like where they ...


Jan 16, 2022

By Matt Bud, The FENG

A gasoline rag tune up

A gasoline rag tune up Cover Image

Many years ago I had to buy my son a car to get to school. So, we went down to the local used car lot and I spotted a Ford Escort. It was kind of cute. If memory serves, it was black and it was a stick shift.Having grown up poor, I wasn’t new to buying a used car. I opened up the hood and ...


Feb 09, 2022

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Little white lies

Little white lies Cover Image

Sad to say, a lie is a lie is a lie. Some would also argue that the withholding of important information is also a lie. I believe this to be the truth and you probably do too.One would have to wonder then why those of us of the accounting profession who pride ourselves on “no surprises” an...


Feb 03, 2022

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Selling into job leads

Selling into job leads Cover Image

Job leads can be a tremendous resource for you, even if you aren’t interested in them.I know it sounds silly, but although most job leads aren’t going to interest you for one reason or another, it can still pay to read them. The most obvious problem with specific job leads is that they are...


Mar 22, 2022

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Call me Mr. Magoo

Call me Mr. Magoo Cover Image

Tonight’s editorial will be somewhat of a repeat for our more senior members as it is on resumes. Yes, those terribly difficult to construct documents that make the critical difference between being pulled from a pile of 500 resumes, or not.You should all accept the fact that writing your ...


Apr 06, 2022

By Matt Bud, The FENG

A compelling summary

A compelling summary Cover Image

There is no more important space on your resume than that first section after your name. Alas, I rarely see it used to good effect.Although cover letters allow you to “cover” matters perhaps not easily “covered” in your resume, more often than not your cover letter isn’t sent to the decisi...


Feb 28, 2023

By Matt Bud, The FENG

The blur of 100 resumes

The blur of 100 resumes Cover Image

I have always had great interest in how others do their work, and more importantly how others utilized my work product. To deliver a report in person and actually observe it being used I always found to be a real learning experience.I think you will agree that most financial reports are ha...


Jun 08, 2022

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Adapting in Darwinian fashion

Adapting in Darwinian fashion Cover Image

I’m not sure if any of us really want to adapt to changing world conditions in true Darwinian fashion. That would require that only those of us with appropriate features survive to create the next generation.As human beings, we have the unique ability to adapt who we are and what we are to...


Sep 15, 2022

By Matt Bud, The FENG

10 seconds or less

10 seconds or less Cover Image

Based on the resumes I see on a daily basis, I am not sure there is full appreciation for the amount of time any reviewer gives to your carefully crafted opus.The sad truth is that unless the information presented has a clarity greater than the other documents in that stack of 100-500, it ...


Sep 06, 2022

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Standard formats

Standard formats Cover Image

As many of you know, one of my weekly occupations is reviewing new member applications.I try to keep in mind that for the most part I am seeing resumes that have just been completed out of whole cloth. In effect, these are the first result of days of writing and rewriting. Unfortunately, m...


Oct 06, 2022

By Matt Bud, The FENG

The FENG’s Resume Review Committee

The FENG’s Resume Review Committee Cover Image

My dear friend Norm Weinstock passed away a little over 10 years ago. Norm agreed to Co-Chair of The FENG when I began my Chairmanship back in 1996 and he also acted as our Treasurer and raised money for us to buy our first computers and to hire our first Administrative Assistant, Ann Mari...


Jan 19, 2020

By Matt Bud, The FENG