EDITORIALS

What makes The FENG unusual?

Human Interactions

What makes The FENG unusual? Cover Image

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...


Nov 12, 2023

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Please, give me a hint

Correspondence Resume Writing

Please, give me a hint Cover Image

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...


Nov 09, 2023

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Email cover notes

Correspondence

Email cover notes Cover Image

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...


Nov 08, 2023

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Picking a restaurant Cover Image

People who know that my wife and I are into sailing often ask us what we most enjoy making for dinner when we are on the boat. My standard response is reservations.The hard part is, of course, picking the restaurant. Are we in the mood for Mexican food, Pizza, French, Italian, or Chinese? ...


Nov 07, 2023

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Reinventing yourself Cover Image

Much as I hate using cliché phrases as the one above, I don’t really know if there is a better one to describe the process of self-examination that is required when faced with looking for another “work opportunity.”(I call them work opportunities instead of jobs, because they don’t general...


Nov 06, 2023

By Matt Bud, The FENG

The competition is fierce Cover Image

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...


Nov 05, 2023

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Hard won personal relationships

Recruiters

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

Networking, networking and more networking

Networking

Networking, networking and more networking Cover Image

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...


Nov 01, 2023

By Matt Bud, The FENG

A lifetime commitment

Networking

A lifetime commitment Cover Image

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 ...


Oct 31, 2023

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Developing a thick skin

Being Out of Work

Developing a thick skin Cover Image

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...


Oct 30, 2023

By Matt Bud, The FENG

I’ll call him back

Human Interactions

I’ll call him back Cover Image

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...


Oct 29, 2023

By Matt Bud, The FENG

A fear of being contacted

Correspondence

A fear of being contacted Cover Image

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 ...


Oct 26, 2023

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Starting over is never easy

Being Out of Work

Starting over is never easy Cover Image

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...


Oct 25, 2023

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Two anchors or one? Cover Image

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...


Oct 24, 2023

By Matt Bud, The FENG

90-second announcements

90-Second Announcements

90-second announcements Cover Image

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...


Oct 23, 2023

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Accepting help Cover Image

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 ...


Oct 22, 2023

By Matt Bud, The FENG

The art of being sensitive

Being Out of Work Human Interactions

The art of being sensitive Cover Image

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...


Oct 19, 2023

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Handling compensation negotiations

Interviewing

Handling compensation negotiations Cover Image

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 ...


Oct 18, 2023

By Matt Bud, The FENG

No steps forward, two steps back

Being Out of Work

No steps forward, two steps back Cover Image

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...


Oct 17, 2023

By Matt Bud, The FENG

This is no time to blend Cover Image

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...


Oct 16, 2023

By Matt Bud, The FENG

And you thought it was the Hokey Pokey

Life Lessons

And you thought it was the Hokey Pokey Cover Image

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...


Oct 15, 2023

By Matt Bud, The FENG