EDITORIALS

Rejected out of hand Cover Image

If there is one thing that is certain about us financial types it is that we always know the answer.Ask us a question and it isn’t long before we are well into the “primarily due to’s and partially offset by’s.” Yet, this major strength of ours and important skill set is an impediment to s...


Aug 13, 2023

By Matt Bud, The FENG

By way of explanation

Correspondence

By way of explanation Cover Image

Whenever I sit and review candidates for assignments being handled through The FECG, I can’t help but be disappointed by many of the cover letters we get.I know that those who are applying feel they are qualified for the job in question, and being a financial guy myself, I know you could d...


Aug 10, 2023

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Meeting the RIGHT folks

Networking New Friends

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 ...


Aug 09, 2023

By Matt Bud, The FENG

That strange device with the numbers

Human Interactions Standing Out From the Crowd

That strange device with the numbers Cover Image

Although I must admit that I no longer use #2 pencils, I am still greatly addicted to using that ancient device called a phone. (Although I do lean more and more towards Zoom these days.)If you’re not sure what that is, it has a keyboard that looks a lot like a 10 key pad, but the number 1...


Aug 08, 2023

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Time stands still

Networking Old Friends

Time stands still Cover Image

I can never understand why people hesitate in contacting old friends.It has been one of the blessings in my life that over the 20+ years that I have been Chairing this august body, I have been able to reconnect with almost all of the people I worked with since the 1970’s. (Yes, I am that o...


Aug 07, 2023

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Members in need of assistance

Human Interactions

Members in need of assistance Cover Image

I am sure I don’t need to tell all of you that The FENG is a remarkable organization. It is also unusual in its tone.If I had to come up with two reasons why things are different in The FENG than in the rest of the world, I would start with the fact that EVERYONE in The FENG was sponsored ...


Aug 06, 2023

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Damaged goods Cover Image

There was an article in The Wall Street Journal quite a few years ago that made the following points:1. The unemployed are damaged goods2. Recruiters prefer finding those who are not actively seeking new jobs3. Networking groups are of little valueWhile to a degree I hesitate to take excep...


Aug 03, 2023

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Are you serious in applying? Cover Image

Let’s be honest. There aren’t a lot of job postings in our evening newsletter that really are a fit for your particular background, salary and location preferences.This being the case, you would think that if you saw an opportunity in our newsletter that strongly fit your background, you w...


Aug 02, 2023

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Always take the high road Cover Image

America is a great place, isn’t it? Everything is always someone else’s fault. I guess this is why Americans are so quick to sue. After all, we can’t take the blame for that which has happened to us. There were significant mitigating factors. Primarily due to, partially offset by. I’m sure...


Aug 01, 2023

By Matt Bud, The FENG

You sure can rattle on Cover Image

Breathing is a very important activity. And, during an interview, you should be doing a lot of it.The guideline we begin our lives with is the ever popular 90 second announcement. I hope that all of you have mastered this art form. The 90 second announcement is an important tool in your jo...


Jul 31, 2023

By Matt Bud, The FENG

A 1,000 words (plus or minus)

Standing Out From the Crowd

A 1,000 words (plus or minus) Cover Image

I assume that almost all of you have a LinkedIn account. I don’t know how each of you use it, but in addition to looking up your fellow members using our Member Directory Search feature, I strongly recommend that you check LinkedIn prior to connecting with just about everyone.If nothing el...


Jul 30, 2023

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Computers are here to stay Cover Image

I sometimes get the feeling from the format of emails I get and the strange formatting of resumes I see that there are those who believe computers are just a passing phase in our society.I don’t know how to break this to those of you who have been reluctant to “get with the program,” one o...


Jul 27, 2023

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Don’t curb your enthusiasm

Standing Out From the Crowd

Don’t curb your enthusiasm Cover Image

Perhaps it is because I have been a Chief Financial Officer that I find financial folks of all types to be interesting people. The rest of the world may disagree, but who cares?As a “breed” we tend to be individuals of high integrity, and generally personable and well spoken. By well spoke...


Jul 26, 2023

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Asking the right question

Networking

Asking the right question Cover Image

Networking appears to be filled with a lot of mystery, but it is actually a very obvious process.What most people do when they reach a networking contact is ask them if they know about any open jobs that would fit their background. This is one of the world's worst questions. Consider for a...


Jul 25, 2023

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Matt's secret decoder ring

Life Lessons

Matt's secret decoder ring Cover Image

Back at the beginning of time itself (1991-1992), I was unemployed for the first time since getting out of the Army in 1971.Although I did have an IBM compatible computer that I bought when I lost my job, this was a “pre-laptop” period of time. In order to keep all my contacts organized, I...


Jul 24, 2023

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Call me a compulsive Cover Image

Over the course of any given week I have the great honor of reviewing sometimes as many as 100 resumes. Honestly, no one should be allowed to have this much fun.As I page through the many approaches to presenting one’s credentials, I am frequently dismayed by the way that some of the most ...


Jul 23, 2023

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Don’t go it alone

Being Out of Work

Don’t go it alone Cover Image

Job search is in many ways a unique experience.In contrast to the world of work where we have had folks reporting to us and have had folks that we reported to, the world of job search can tend to be a lonely place.Back in the day, outplacement facilities with their rabbit warren of cubicle...


Jul 20, 2023

By Matt Bud, The FENG

It’s always better to be working

Being Out of Work

It’s always better to be working Cover Image

When I was growing up, my father was in the construction business. Being a plumbing contractor or a consultant or even a job seeker these days isn’t all that different with respect to finding what I call “work opportunities.”I sense from talking to many members that there are those among u...


Jul 19, 2023

By Matt Bud, The FENG

The FENG’s many power tools

Networking New Friends

The FENG’s many power tools Cover Image

The FENG is here to serve you. As noted below, our Job Search Clubs are off to a strong start.I thought I would use tonight’s editorial slot to remind you about our “Stop by My Office” offering. I don’t recall exactly when I started it, but it was quite some time ago and it doesn’t appear ...


Jul 18, 2023

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Don't be lazy Cover Image

During April, May and early June I am usually preparing our sailboat for our annual two week trip.I take pretty good care of my boats, but still, there is always a maintenance list. This year, as is my practice, I went through each and every locker, removed everything and went through it i...


Jul 17, 2023

By Matt Bud, The FENG

All things to all people Cover Image

It is a truth in this world that we get paid the most for doing something that is at the high end of our skill set.For example, you would be willing to pay big bucks to a skilled surgeon to take out your appendix, but you would probably not be willing to let me take out your appendix at an...


Jul 16, 2023

By Matt Bud, The FENG