EDITORIALS

Trick questions

Interviewing

Trick questions Cover Image

Now that the job market may be slowing down again, I thought we should turn our attention to the favorite trick questions that interviewers like to ask. In the spirit of sharing our knowledge and experience, I would ask those of you who have your favorites to send them in, hopefully with a...


Jan 23, 2023

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Developing a thick skin

Being Out of Work

Developing a thick skin Cover Image

As someone who now makes sales calls all day long, it is sometimes hard for me to remember the difficulty I initially had in picking up that 400 pound phone.Back in the dark days of 1991-1992 (the two years I was out of work), I found that my experience doing collection work as a CFO sort ...


Jan 22, 2023

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Tinker Bell, fairy dust, happy thoughts and time

Networking

Tinker Bell, fairy dust, happy thoughts and time Cover Image

For those of you who are not familiar with the Tinker Bell story, all you need to know to understand tonight’s editorial is that the fairy dust Tinker Bell could sprinkle on you would only make you fly if were thinking happy thoughts.Let me add to this idea about thinking happy thoughts, o...


Jan 19, 2023

By Matt Bud, The FENG

The competition is fierce Cover Image

What everyone should be clear about is that although I believe that “been there and done that” is more respected now than in most previous time periods in our great nation, you still have to “prove the null hypothesis” that you can do the job better than anyone else. The reduced lack of ag...


Jan 18, 2023

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Is the glass half full?

Being Out of Work

Is the glass half full? Cover Image

We are probably all aware and have been known to ponder the enigma of: “Which came first, the chicken or the egg?”As good accountants, we have also probably pondered whether the glass was half full or half empty. If only “they” had a good accounting procedure, I am sure we would know. We w...


Jan 17, 2023

By Matt Bud, The FENG

The suspension of disbelief

Networking

The suspension of disbelief Cover Image

Key to the success of most movies is the suspension of disbelief. There are so many improbable events that make of the fabric of what you are viewing, that without this critical element in full force, in most cases the pleasure you experience wouldn’t be there. (My favorite phrase is “base...


Jan 16, 2023

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Summing it all up

Resume Writing

Summing it all up Cover Image

Not unlike your 90-second announcement, the space at the top of your resume is vitally important to getting folks to “listen” to the rest of your story.Try to visualize if you will, 200 resumes piled up on some poor screener’s desk. With any luck, they have been printed and collated correc...


Jan 15, 2023

By Matt Bud, The FENG

More information please Cover Image

I am more often than not surprised by the amount of time it can take for a company to develop a position description and yet at the end of the day not really be able to capture the essential elements for a particular opportunity.I suppose in part this is because senior level position descr...


Jan 12, 2023

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Hang on tight

Being Out of Work

Hang on tight Cover Image

I often receive messages in which members comment about how job search puts you on an emotional roller coaster and I thought I would address this issue in tonight’s editorial.I am not a professional psychologist, but having been out of work myself for two very long years back in 1991 and 1...


Jan 11, 2023

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Coziness is a state of mind

Networking New Friends Old Friends

Coziness is a state of mind Cover Image

I suppose that at times being a member of the runaway train we call The FENG would appear not to lend itself to a whole lot of warm fuzzies.Ah, if only we could return to those halcyon days when there were only 50 of us and on a good day 15 of us would gather around that small table in the...


Jan 10, 2023

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Conflicting advice

Life Lessons

Conflicting advice Cover Image

Wouldn’t it be nice if every time you asked a question, you got the same answer? Unfortunately it seems that every time you ask a question, sometimes even of the same person, you get different answers.Perhaps this is good. It gives you the chance, as an adult, to make your own decisions an...


Jan 09, 2023

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Building your inner circle of friends (part two)

Networking

Building your inner circle of friends (part two) Cover Image

The idea that you can wipe the slate clean is an enduring and endearing idea of mankind, and one I fully support. No matter how bad you have been at networking in the past year, this week you have the opportunity to get a strong start on building and strengthening your inner circle of frie...


Jan 05, 2023

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Building your inner circle of friends

Networking

Building your inner circle of friends Cover Image

If you are interested in getting your job search off to a flying start in 2023, 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 link abo...


Jan 04, 2023

By Matt Bud, The FENG

When your cup runneth over

Being Out of Work

When your cup runneth over Cover Image

From time to time I have gotten messages from members who either had multiple offers outstanding or wanted me to discuss what to do when you are so blessed. Or, is it cursed? (I don’t know about you, but I hate having too many choices.)Of course, when faced with the possibility of multiple...


Jan 03, 2023

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Welcome to 2023!

Networking

Welcome to 2023! Cover Image

One of my observations is that everyone seems to be shutting down earlier and earlier around holiday periods and returning later and later. Last week was especially quiet. Today was deadly quiet as well.Well, we’re going to be off to a flying start tomorrow. My advice is wait until Wednesd...


Jan 02, 2023

By Matt Bud, The FENG

No sad stories Cover Image

As everyone heads off to welcome 2023, I would suggest that those of you who are actively seeking a new position keep in mind the “warning” I give to those I coach on 90-second announcements: NO SAD STORIES.Whether you are with family or friends, keep in mind what I tell anyone who will li...


Dec 27, 2022

By Matt Bud, The FENG

A delicate subject

Being Out of Work

A delicate subject Cover Image

I know there are some members who have been “in the hunt” a long time and may feel that they are getting “a little long in the tooth.”I can understand the problem since I was out of work for almost two full years – 1991-1992.Tradition has it that if you are still at work, your most recent ...


Dec 26, 2022

By Matt Bud, The FENG

The consummate professional Cover Image

Although there is no truth to the rumor that I have a pair of wing tip boat shoes, I do try to dress well for our meetings here in Connecticut as well as to any other networking event I attend.I suppose since the meeting of the Westport Chapter is near where I live, at the end of day, and ...


Dec 21, 2022

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Performing the behaviors

Networking

Performing the behaviors Cover Image

I’m not sure why it is, but most financial folks think they are terrible networkers.The truth is that scattered throughout our newsletter every night are ideas you can harness in your daily life to earn the title “Master Networker.”All of us are amateurs, I suppose, at most things we do in...


Dec 20, 2022

By Matt Bud, The FENG

If the phone doesn’t ring, it’s me

Human Interactions Networking Old Friends

If the phone doesn’t ring, it’s me Cover Image

Several years ago, a very old friend of mine called my attention to this song by Jimmy Buffet.I’m not sure why it is, but many people never call anyone. In the enigma within a puzzle that is life, they are also always wondering why no one calls them.When I was in college, my grandmother on...


Dec 19, 2022

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Our open door policy

Human Interactions

Our open door policy Cover Image

II’m sure all of you have heard the joke about the executive who was addressing the entire staff and when he came to the part about having an open door policy, he asked that whoever took his door would give it back.Well, the open door policy in The FENG is of a similar nature. None of us s...


Dec 15, 2022

By Matt Bud, The FENG