EDITORIALS

Stop me if I am wrong, but I guess many folks find job search a painful process. Perhaps it is the lack of a steady paycheck, or the uncertainty, or the rejection. Just like beating your head against a wall, it sure feels good when you can stop. (Is this why we are having so much fun or wh...

I know we live in a world of email, text messages and Twitter, but I often times wonder if others realize what their messages look like on the receiving end?I have to assume that many of the people who write to me are very busy, too busy to take a minute and read their communications and s...

Since 1997 when I first became Chairman of The FENG, I have probably reviewed well over 250,000 resumes. (Gosh, I’m exhausted just thinking about it.)I would tell you that the biggest problem I see in resumes is the incredible clutter. Although some of the resumes I get are 3 or 4 pages, m...

Except for the Lone Ranger, none of us actually has silver bullets in our gun.I am frequently taken to task by members on the topic of networking. I suppose that to a very large degree I am guilty of touting networking as the ultimate silver bullet to the exclusion of all other methods.I g...

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...

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...

If going on an interview wasn’t stressful enough, having a telephone interview is even worse. (Try to get them to schedule a Zoom interview instead. It’s much better.)More and more these days, companies are doing a telephone screening of candidates before they go to the time and expense of...

I hope you don’t mind if I take a few minutes tonight to explain the best approach to contacting other members of our now vast organization.The best approach to contacting just about anyone, including other members, is to first send a letter of introduction with a copy of your resume. I kn...

Since much of what we do in The FENG is about job search, I thought it might be appropriate to make a few suggestions to everyone about what to do when you do actually find a new job.I’ll be blunt. Job search is primarily filled with uncertainty, highs and lows and activities like making n...

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 ...

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 ...

I have to admit that reading the newsletter most nights is like drinking water from a fire hose.The newsletter goes out to many audiences. Like the 6 blind men standing around the elephant, each of those audiences has different needs. This being the case, I will try to suggest a few approa...