Geese and golden eggs

Geese and golden eggs Cover Image

Since we have many new members each year AND many members who may be active again from time to time, I thought it might be a good idea if I wrote about our “qualified members only” approach to responding to job leads and why it works for you.First, let’s understand that posted jobs are onl...


Oct 13, 2021

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Running around recruiters

Running around recruiters Cover Image

Several years ago I received a phone call from a long standing Friend of The FENG.This particular search firm posted with us on a regular basis. In this case, the posting included the name of their client. You see, they felt that the relationship they had with The FENG was so strong and th...


May 03, 2021

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Managing our growth

Managing our growth Cover Image

By a significant margin, we are the largest networking group of senior financial executives in the entire world. Not only that, but by any measure, we are more connected with each other on a national basis than any other organization as well. And, our reputation is well known. We no longer...


Mar 13, 2024

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Geese and golden eggs

Geese and golden eggs Cover Image

One of our very most important audiences are members of the search community who are registered as Friends of The FENG. When you communicate with these folks, briefly, you are expected to behave yourself. Members of The FENG are expected to only respond when reasonably qualified. Wha...


Jan 17, 2024

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Tilting at windmills

Tilting at windmills Cover Image

From time to time, I have been accused of tilting at windmills. Actually, I am never offended when I hear this because in large part everything we do in The FENG has elements of it, and I’m proud of it.It has indeed been a long road developing The FENG. Most importantly, I haven’t had to d...


Dec 13, 2022

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Selling The FENG

Selling The FENG Cover Image

I need everyone’s help.No, The FENG isn’t for sale in the retailing sense. That said, it is vitally important that each us every day and in every way, make the “outside world” aware of our unique organization.Last fall I did a promotion to the search community. We have approximately 4,000+...


Jun 27, 2022

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Qualified members only

Qualified members only Cover Image

What is a qualified member? With many members out of work these days, and search firms with assignments in short supply, I thought I would take the time tonight to restate our approach to leads posted in our newsletter.Those leads which include “please use my name in contacting” and genera...


Jul 05, 2022

By Matt Bud, The FENG

There are evil doers

There are evil doers Cover Image

The executive search business isn’t what it used to be, but then what is?I hate to bore those who already know the primary difference between recruiters, but I hesitate to assume. Retained recruiters typically have an exclusive right to find a particular candidate for a firm and they get p...


Apr 24, 2023

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Damaged goods

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

Geese and golden eggs

Geese and golden eggs Cover Image

One of our very most important audiences are members of the search community who are registered as Friends of The FENG. When you communicate with these folks, briefly, you are expected to behave yourself. Members of The FENG are expected to only respond when reasonably qualified. What does...


Jan 11, 2018

By Matt Bud, The FENG

The FENG’s complaint department

The FENG’s complaint department Cover Image

I don’t know if all of you know it, but I started my career in retailing at B. Altman & Company, one of the old line “Carriage Trade” retailers in New York City, and an interesting place to be sure.To be successful in this retailing segment you had to treat your customers’ right. All m...


Nov 02, 2021

By Matt Bud, The FENG

You’re in my files

You’re in my files Cover Image

There are so many urban legends associated with job search that I generally don’t know where to start when I talk to new members.Since I get calls every week from members of the search community, I thought I would take a few minutes tonight and discuss the reality of your resume being on f...


Mar 31, 2022

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Retained versus contingency

Retained versus contingency Cover Image

There is a great deal of fuss made out in “the world” about the difference between retained and contingency recruiters. If you want a full discussion about their differences and differing motivations, a very good source is “Rites of Passage” by John Lucht.All recruiters handle jobs in whic...


Aug 21, 2023

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Search firm rules of engagement

Search firm rules of engagement Cover Image

I got a note a few years ago from one of our members asking how to manage his relationship with search firms and the points I made to him then are then are still relevant now.The first thing I would point out to everyone is that the search business isn’t what it used to be. (But then, what...


Apr 25, 2022

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Hard won personal relationships

Hard won personal relationships Cover Image

The world is actually built on a series of personal relationships.The truth of this statement was brought home to me many times during my near decade in the Advertising business, and subsequent to that from my experiences during my job search in trying to get to know people in the Venture ...


Nov 02, 2023

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Making a pest of yourself

Making a pest of yourself Cover Image

As I am sure all of you know, one of your responsibilities as a member is, to the best of your ability, to only respond to job postings when you are reasonably qualified.The greatest majority of job postings in our newsletter come your way through the good offices of your fellow members. I...


Sep 12, 2023

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Running around recruiters

Running around recruiters Cover Image

Several years ago I received a phone call from a long standing Friend of The FENG. This particular search firm posted with us on a regular basis. In this case, the posting included the name of their client. You see, they felt that the relationship they had with The FENG was so strong and t...


Apr 30, 2018

By Matt Bud, The FENG

When the newsletter thins

When the newsletter thins Cover Image

I realize that on days when the newsletter thins, there is the temptation to “click and shoot” all of the remotely possible postings that appear.Please don’t.One of the core values of The FENG is that we don’t respond to postings unless we are a good fit. Very simply put, if you wouldn’t h...


Nov 27, 2023

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Setting expectations

Setting expectations Cover Image

One of the very important issues facing us as an organization is the “care and feeding” of our many friends in the search community.While studies have shown that only about 15% of the jobs in this country are handled by recruiters, to me they are still an important audience for us to treat...


Apr 02, 2023

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Individual responsibility

Individual responsibility Cover Image

One of the themes that I like to present from time to time is the idea that each of us can make a difference.For those of us who live in these United States, it is all very easy to fall into the accepted American concept that everything in this world is actually someone else’s fault. Hence...


Apr 04, 2023

By Matt Bud, The FENG