EDITORIALS

I have given much thought over the years to how sailing is a lot like life. In dreamy meditation at the wheel of our sailboat, I have often thought about the unseen and uncontrollable forces affecting our progress and how through the skills I have acquired at her helm I have been able to m...

For those of you who are new to the networking process or who claim to not be very good at it, please know that even I am still learning.Friends are always in short supply, especially when it comes to managing your career. But, unlike all the consumer goods available just by taking out you...

There is no more important space on your resume than that first section after your name. Alas, I rarely see it used to good effect.Although cover letters allow you to “cover” matters perhaps not easily “covered” in your resume, more often than not your cover letter isn’t sent to the decisi...

hen you actually get into the finals for a significant “work opportunity,” you don’t want to muff it. (Just so you know, work opportunities used to be called jobs, but that implies they will last a long time, and we know they don’t.)Anyway, one of the rituals or hoops that many firms make ...

A jack of all trades, a master of none.In the world of CFO’s, Controllers and Treasurers, the primary skill sets of members of The FENG, it is certainly true that we can probably do anything. Still, at this stage of our careers the likelihood of anyone considering us to do “anything” is re...

As you all can probably imagine, I get a lot of email and phone calls every day.A previous editorial of mine titled “Say what?” focused on the content of your message. Tonight’s editorial is a little more on the mechanical side and touches on providing sufficient information to the person ...

To tell you the truth, I almost never read cover letters first. Perhaps you remember the joke about the doctor who told his patient to take a warm bath and 4 aspirin. When he called the next day, the patient informed him that he could barely get the warm bath down.It is much the same case ...

I know it is hard to believe, but some of us good natured and hard-working financial folks actually leave companies under conditions that leave us with the possibility of less than glowing references. Perhaps we were misunderstood, or in some cases, we just got a new boss. It is also possi...

There was an article in the New York Times several years ago about how employers and recruiters no longer seem to get back to job seekers, even when they have been serious candidates for particular opportunities. Things haven’t gotten much better over the years.As easy as it is to click re...

The subject of tonight’s editorial is “Your many hidden talents and the ones you are developing.”I talked to one of our active members recently and the thought occurred to me that all of you are probably developing skills and not even aware of it! Life does have a way of sneaking up on you...

If there is anything that typically jumps out at me when we I meet our members in person or on Zoom, is the need for us financial folks to be completely honest, even in our assessments of ourselves.However, interviews, 90 second announcements, networking calls or meetings are no time for a...

With the upcoming 4th of July holiday weekend, a great opportunity will be presenting itself to you in the form of gatherings of those who know you (and presumably love you).In order to enjoy the greatest benefit, you need to paint on a smile. I don’t care if you have been out of work 3 or...

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

Talking on the phoneIn speaking with members of The FENG over the years, it is clear that everyone would enjoy hearing a few words of wisdom on making phone calls. Of course, everyone knows how to push the buttons on the phone, but apparently not everyone is having as much fun doing it as ...

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...

For those of you who used to watch Sesame Street back in the 70’s, there was a great skit where one of the Muppets wanted a piece of pie and a glass of milk. Although there was no pie, the Muppet in need of that particular food item kept trying different variations such as a glass of water...

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

I don’t know about you, but I have always wished I were a few pounds lighter. That said, no one should suggest to me that this is the reason I can’t find a job. (As long as my clothes fit.)Gray hair shouldn’t be on their list. Nor should someone suggest surgery to look better. (This one is...

When I was in my mid 30’s, I had the great honor of being treasurer of my congregation, a job I held for 4 full years.It is probably true that I lean towards all-consuming jobs. Or, perhaps I just try to do a good job even when I am not getting paid. Nonetheless, I discovered a lot about h...

I know there are still a few unbelievers out there. Yes, they walk among us. Believe it or not, networking is the ticket. If you are waiting to be called and invited to the dance, think again. It isn’t going to happen.Let me suggest to you that The FENG membership database is the pot of go...

It has been my observation for many years that most of our members who are in their 40’s and 50’s move from large corporations to middle market ones. The reason, as I have often pointed out is that large corporations don’t hire senior executives except rarely. For good and valid reasons, t...