EDITORIALS

A sharp pencil Cover Image

There is no more powerful tool than a sharp pencil. (The only equally powerful tool is The FENG’s Member Directory Search feature.)I long ago declared war on unnecessary words. Why? Because they are unnecessary. Duh!The normal space allotment for a resume is two pages. Okay, if you have to...


Jul 13, 2023

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Human Interaction

Human Interactions

Human Interaction Cover Image

Since we have so many new members each year, I thought I would write something tonight about the mission of The FENG and how we accomplish our objectives for one another.Sailors are a naturally friendly lot. (Yes, another sailing analogy!) As one of the other couples my wife and I met at a...


Jul 12, 2023

By Matt Bud, The FENG

No right answers

Resume Writing

No right answers Cover Image

In my continuing “joys of sailing” series, I thought I would talk about docks around Long Island Sound. Although one can drag anchor, one rarely drags dock. (A little sailing joke for you.)Sure, it is a rather arcane topic, but hopefully it is one that you can use to amaze and astound your...


Jul 11, 2023

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Attention to detail Cover Image

I am at all times amazed and astounded at the lack of attention to detail by the many members who write to me. There are so many things that are easy to do, that no one seems to do.Let me start with my primary concern (and one I write about constantly), the lack of outgoing signatures. Inc...


Jul 10, 2023

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Your hidden assets Cover Image

 Almost all of the resumes I see are from members or new member applicants. In any given week, I go through a batch of 40-50 resumes.What is surprising is how much trouble some folks go to disguising their seniority and great skills.It is my belief and I hope to make it yours as well,...


Jul 09, 2023

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Am I qualified? Cover Image

One of my friends used to call me “the can do” guy. (Now he calls me “Mr. Chairman.”) I know he meant it in the nicest possible way, and I suppose that in many respects I am the can do guy. There really isn’t much that I won’t tackle. Perhaps it comes from my Midwest self-reliance or the f...


Jul 06, 2023

By Matt Bud, The FENG

A little breathing room

Being Out of Work

A little breathing room Cover Image

I have often been heard to say, “Cash is a four letter word.”It is for this reason that taking a sound approach to your job search REQUIRES that you have your financial house in order. There is nothing that is more distracting than to be concerned about your finances during a search.With a...


Jul 05, 2023

By Matt Bud, The FENG

The golden rule – revisited

Being Out of Work Networking

The golden rule – revisited Cover Image

As you all know, I get a lot of email. Most of it is actually pretty routine.There are the inevitable members asking me to reset their password for our website or to have their email address changed. Each week I also get a few good news announcements. (I always enjoy being the first to kno...


Jul 02, 2023

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Birds of a feather Cover Image

We are fortunate in the financial professions to be blessed with a very high degree of transferable skills.Still, the next job for most of us isn’t going to be all that much different from our last one. While it is certainly possible that we will change industries, it is less likely that w...


Jun 29, 2023

By Matt Bud, The FENG

What do companies want? Cover Image

I have written on many occasions about how to structure your resume. I have also written about bringing your resume through stages of development. Like any selling document it is essential that you keep it growing and fresh.Going through the birth pangs of building your resume can often fe...


Jun 28, 2023

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Unsolicited advice

Human Interactions

Cover Image

There was a cartoon I saw many years ago. The picture was of a man playing a piano in what was obviously a western saloon. The sign above the piano read: “Don’t shoot the piano player. He’s doing the best he can.”I have often lamented that the most difficult task I face each day is getting...


Jun 27, 2023

By Matt Bud, The FENG

The truth, as retold by ….

Being Out of Work Interviewing

The truth, as retold by …. Cover Image

I am always impressed by the eternal truthfulness of the many members of this august body. Unfortunately, it is one of the many things about us as financial folks that gets in the way of our finding a new job.As many of you know, I spent 9 years as Chief Financial Officer of an advertising...


Jun 26, 2023

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Selling from an empty wagon Cover Image

I often get the feeling listening to members of The FENG that they feel like they are selling from an empty wagon. Friends, it just isn’t true.What triggered tonight’s editorial is the continuing comments I get from our members about the issue of dates for your college degrees. The “produc...


Jun 25, 2023

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Practice makes perfect

Standing Out From the Crowd

Practice makes perfect Cover Image

Although we are all familiar with the above expression, I am not sure if everyone understands the importance of this idea to his or her search and how to get to where you need to be.The “big show” is of course an interview. When you finally get yourself in front of a hiring manager all asp...


Jun 22, 2023

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Can you hear me now?

Networking

Can you hear me now? Cover Image

I still remember with fondness the cell phone commercial where the technician is in the middle of a swamp somewhere and he is testing his cell coverage. I don’t know where he might be, but he wasn’t here in Weston, Connecticut where we have limited cell coverage. (Thank goodness we can now...


Jun 21, 2023

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Before you click send

Correspondence

Before you click send Cover Image

The fun never stops here at world headquarters of The FENG. I get more amusing emails probably than anyone else on the face of the earth.Let’s start with the use of “Matt’s secret decoder ring.” Thank goodness it is made out of a durable electronic material. Each day about 75% of the email...


Jun 20, 2023

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Reinforcing appropriate behavior

Human Interactions

Reinforcing appropriate behavior Cover Image

In one of the jobs I had early in my career I was Business Manager for the College Publishing division of CBS.It was an interesting job. All of the folks around me were well educated and always testing my knowledge and experience. They were also great teachers.One of our most popular books...


Jun 19, 2023

By Matt Bud, The FENG

A time of renewal

Being Out of Work

A time of renewal Cover Image

Although everyone thinks that spring is a time of renewal, actually (just like networking) any point in time and any excuse will do, as will any season.For those who are in their 40’s and 50’s, periods of unemployment early in our career have probably been non-existent. The experience of b...


Jun 18, 2023

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Awaiting a rising tide

Evolving Job Market

Awaiting a rising tide Cover Image

Although I would never willingly admit it, over the nearly 40 years I have been sailing I have had occasion to go aground. (It is always an embarrassing situation.)One time I dragged anchor in a storm (that I can assure you was not in the forecast) and the other times I managed to wander t...


Jun 15, 2023

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Snatching defeat from the jaws of victory

Interviewing References

Snatching defeat from the jaws of victory Cover Image

So, you have actually done it. A company has put you through the wringer and forced you to interview with just about everyone at the firm. You have beaten the competition to a pulp. You are standing all alone in your victory.Now comes the moment of truth. They ask you for references. Like ...


Jun 14, 2023

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Catching a tiger by the tail

Networking

Catching a tiger by the tail Cover Image

I hope we all spend a lot of time networking. (To paraphrase René Descartes, the famous French philosopher: I network, therefore I am.)So you have been hard at it. The FENG Member Directory Search feature is causing smoke to rise from your computer from over use, but incredible as it may s...


Jun 13, 2023

By Matt Bud, The FENG