o reads the headline from Saturday's Wall Street Journal.

Honestly, not a big surprise. I have been tracking the daily number of job leads posted to our Job Board and I could have told them things were slow. I have also had many conversations with "Friends of The FENG" (members of the search community who are registered with us.) Almost without exception, they have told me this is the worst job market they have seen in many years, especially for senior executives.

Reporting about the job market tends to focus on the number of "open jobs." These are the jobs posted to LinkedIn and other public boards as well as to company websites.

And it gets worse. As the number of posted jobs decreases, more and more applicants apply for everything they see.

And it gets worse. To deal with the volume, companies use applicant tracking systems. The net result is that there are almost no human beings involved in the process. Only computers (including yours) talking to other computers. Not exactly a warm fuzzy.

And it gets worse. Companies now routinely post all their jobs on public boards, not that they actually read your carefully submitted resumes and cover letters. When one of the few remaining recruiters independently posts on LinkedIn, takes the time to speak to you about an opportunity, and submits your credentials, they are often told you are in the company's files, and the company won't pay the recruiter. (Not that the company is talking to you, of course.)

And it gets worse. Knowing that the job market is thin, fewer people are leaving their jobs voluntarily. Churn is also down like it was in 2008 during the Great Recession when you knew if you lost your job, you might never find another one.

The only part of the employment process that isn't broken (at least for members of The FENG), is networking, networking and more networking. All made possible by our Member Directory Search feature, our Job Clubs, our 450+ meetings we run each year, and our Resume Review Committee.

Over 6 months ago we made a change to our business model from voluntary donations to a modest annual all-inclusive membership fee of $200. Although we are making great progress, sadly, not everyone has signed up. These dues enable us to support your career management requirements.

We have a major website rebuild for which we need to raise money. Given the current job market situation, it is in your enlightened self-interest to visit our website and process your membership dues at your earliest convenience. The direct link is: The FENG.

If you are currently happily employed, now is the time to help us improve our many offerings. Unlike the Fire Department and the Police Department, which you pay for with your property taxes, but hope you never need their services, there is a near certainty that you will need The FENG to be there when you are looking for your next opportunity.

As I say frequently and I hope everyone knows and understands: All jobs are temporary. My other favorite is: You are never really employed; you are just between searches.

The so-called "hidden job market" is where you will find your next job. The best way to access it is with the tools provided for you by The FENG.

Regards, Matt