EDITORIALS

How often have we seen a speaker tap a microphone and say: Is this on?At least the person in question is preparing to speak. On the other hand, how often have we heard news reports about politicians saying things they shouldn’t have been saying (or thinking), not realizing that the microph...

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...

One of the most disconcerting aspects of looking for a job is that you often get the feeling that people aren’t treating you with as much respect as you deserve.I could be wrong, but I think that those of us who have been senior level financial executives may have a tougher time dealing wi...

According to Google, double entry accounting was developed around 1300AD. Shortly thereafter, someone came up with the expression: “Just give me the bottom line.” No one ever talks about the middle line. I have often wondered about that. Haven’t you?I don’t know about you, but as good acco...

I am never surprised when a member tells me that he isn’t good at networking.As financial professionals, we tend to “come with the woodwork.” In any major corporation, the accounting department is usually where you will find most of the longest service employees.And, it is not only our sta...

One of the gag gifts that my wife got once was a “Stress Busters” calendar. Since she couldn’t find a place for it on her desk at work, she gave it to me. (I suppose it was one step away from the garbage pail.)Since I got it after the start of the year, I was able to fast forward through s...

Since 1991 (when I was out of work for the first time in my career), I can’t begin to even estimate how many 90-second announcements I have heard. I also can’t tell you how many I have given. It is an interesting process to be sure.When I was in the Army back in 1969, the “Who am I” questi...

I have often been heard to say that job leads have no value. That’s why we share them. It’s not that they have NO value, it is just that their value is limited to you as an individual (you have to be a perfect fit) and that their shelf life is extraordinarily short.I would also argue that ...

A lot has been written over the years and in this newsletter about the do’s and don’ts of networking. In his book, Rites of Passage, John Lucht talks about the NFL approach to networking where you block and tackle your networking contacts and hold them down until they come up with at least...

Given that the number of job leads on our Job Board is growing, I thought I would repeat and expand on some thoughts I have had over the years as to why we share job leads.If I may quote from our website:The basic purpose of our group is to give individuals who have been Chief Financial Of...

Over the course of our own lives, we are often unaware of things we have said and done that have positively affected the lives of those we know. A moment of caring. A word of advice. Sometimes just listening when that is needed. For the person on the receiving end, it just may be something...

I don’t know how many of you go for humorous movies. There aren’t too many good ones, but when there is a good one, the part I enjoy the most is “the running gag.” In the movie Airplane, for example, Lloyd Bridges playing the part of McCroskey starts by saying: “Looks like I picked the wro...

As accounting professionals we always remember to ask: “What is the deadline?”The problem is that when it comes to job search, a deadline is often not indicated. I am sensitive to this little quirk that is apparently hard wired in the minds of my many friends, and for this reason, job lead...

Having a positive attitude at ALL times is the most important thing you can do in life. And, not just when you are job searching.But is it really possible to maintain a positive attitude ALL the time? Well, I suppose not, but it never hurts to try.If you are having trouble from time to tim...

One of the more difficult conventions to master of our many traditions is the 90 second announcement. Still, once you have mastered it, it can pay big dividends because it is the perfect answer to “so, tell me about yourself.”Let’s start out with my favorite mantra: Speech is the slowest f...

Staples, the office supply company, had an “Easy Button” that they sold in their stores many years ago. (Not sure they still carry it.) I worked on an assignment for Staples a few years ago and although we didn’t place anyone with them, their Human Resources contact sent me an Easy Button ...

If you really need to get someone you are interviewing off the phone or out of your office, there is no better approach than to use what I call “The excuse you can’t cure.”In the annals of job search, there is no better tool. No one gets mad. No one screams. No one hits you. (This is espec...

To call or not to call, that is the question. To write or not to write, that is the question. When is enough, enough? (Or perhaps you should just show up in person and demand to see someone?) At what point do you move from showing your persistence and tenacity to just being a pest?Well, th...

Acting as captain and primary navigator for a sailboat as I do is challenging at times. Back in the old days before I had a Loran or a GPS unit, life was much more difficult.Step one in navigation is to get out a chart of your local area that hopefully has both your starting point and your...

Have you ever had the feeling that the world was against you? How can I tell you this? It is.To be a member of our august body you need to have at least 20 years of work experience. You also need to have held a senior level title and earned at least $120k per year. Most of our members have...

One of the things you learn pretty quickly in sailing is that “Mighty Mouse” is not going to come to your rescue if you get into trouble. Sure, there is an “AAA” type of service for boats, but the risks out on the water and the timelines for help getting to you are always significant.In th...