EDITORIALS

This is probably just a lucky guess on my part, but I have the very real sense that the high technology tools we have to conduct a job search are here to stay. (To quote Larry King, “High technology, what will they think of next?”)Friends, Al Gore invented the Internet a long time ago. And...

Many years ago I spent an evening out with an old friend of mine who previously had been in the search business.He is a very special friend. We first met in 1977 when I was Business Manager for CBS College Publishing and we have been close friends ever since. Since he lived nearby, our fam...

Every once in a while I get an assignment for The FECG that draws more than its fair share of attention.I think our all time high several years ago was an assignment that drew 225 responses. However, even when you get an assignment that draws more than say 40 responses, it can get a little...

Based on the email cover notes I see, I’m not sure we have all made the transition from messages sent in envelopes to those sent by email.Personally, I have always found electronic files to be maddening, especially very highly developed Excel spreadsheets. Adopting naming conventions so th...

No one ever said it would be easy. And, when it comes to finding a job after the age of 40, it can easily become a demoralizing situation. For those who are even older, like in our 50’s or 60’s, it can be extremely difficult.Let me start you out with the idea that you are no longer the lea...

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 ...

For those of you who are new to networking and for those of you who think you know everything about networking, I thought I would take tonight’s editorial space to distinguish for you the 3 kinds of networking.The first kind of networking is identifying new networking contacts. The recomme...

It is in some ways a shame that the idea of networking has gotten itself so tightly connected to job search.One of the reasons that I call members who have found new jobs is to remind them to continue networking. Sad to say that many people allow themselves to get so absorbed in their new ...

It has often been said that I am a sensitive guy. I don’t think anyone who does what I do as a volunteer could be characterized as anything different.Still, when it comes to job search, being sensitive probably isn’t a good thing. You know the golden rule: “Do unto others as you would have...

Just to prove to you how old I am, there used to be a show on TV called “The Millionaire.” (The show was in black and white. Need I say more?)It seems there was this wealthy man who wanted to give away some of his money and each week he would send this poor sap out into the world to hand s...

Gosh, please don’t call me. That’s the message that I seem to get from time to time when I am trying to track down candidates for the consulting assignments and full time jobs I am handling through The FECG. I have also been alerted to this fear by one of our chapter chairs who noted that ...

Although I constantly repeat our two mantras that all jobs are temporary and that one is never actually employed, only between searches, when this truth rears its ugly head I don’t know if anyone is really prepared.As the clock winds itself down on a current assignment, it is usually a str...

A long time ago I got into a discussion with another captain about the wisdom of setting two anchors.It may sound silly, since I am known on board my sailboat as Captain Safety, but I have never set two anchors. And, even though I have read a lot about it over the years, in most cases I do...

From time to time I get requests for information on how to do a proper 90-second announcement. So, I thought tonight I would share a few thoughts with you on this linguistic challenge.Since my wife is a speech pathologist by trade, I can tell you with great authority that speech is the slo...

One of the less well recognized phobias in this world is the fear of accepting help from others.Perhaps it is primarily a guy thing and it explains why we never used to ask for directions at the gas station, but when it comes to job search it is another one of the many things that “get in ...

I’m sure there are those of you out there who remember a positively awful movie starring Brad Pitt and Julia Roberts called “The Mexican.” Some of you may have seen it and have been trying desperately to forget it. I don’t blame you.Anyway, there was this one scene in the movie where Julia...

Money makes the world go around, or so they say. If this is the case, can there be any more delicate subject to bring up with a potential employer than your potential salary?There was a comment I heard on “Streets of San Francisco” many years ago that is applicable here: “First liar never ...

One of the most difficult challenges in a career is being faced with taking a step or two back.Because we tend to stay with companies longer than most senior managers, the gains we make in our career in terms of compensation and responsibilities are hard won and painstaking achieved. So, w...

If you haven’t seen the movie “My Cousin Vinny,” you may not really understand where this line comes from. If this is the case, please accept my apology for this reference out of left field. It is an old movie, and it wasn’t a great one.As opposed to the marketing and sales folks I have me...

So, what’s it all about?The “it” in the sentence above is The FENG. The FENG is many things. Is it about job leads? Is it about webinars? Is it about Chapter and Special Interest Group meetings?Well, one thing I can tell you is it’s not about the Hokey Pokey.I got the note below from one o...

There is no topic that comes up more frequently than how can we keep our alumni members deeply involved in the goings on of our organization.Among a small number of our members there is a desire to put their whole ugly job search thing behind them and move on with their lives. In some case...