EDITORIALS

It is a sad fact that most men don’t appreciate getting unsolicited advice. That said, there are even those among us who reject advice they have asked for out of hand and in a dismissive way.The giving and receiving of advice is always a delicate balance. Even though probably 75% of my mai...

Almost all of the resumes I see are from members or new member applicants. In any given week, I go through a batch of 40-50 resumes.What is surprising is how much trouble some folks go to disguising their seniority and great skills.It is my belief and I hope to make it yours as well, that ...

I have often wondered how actors polish their performances before the first show. With only the director and the producer in the audience it just can't be the same. Sure, you are up there on stage and perhaps even in full costume, but there is no audience clapping or talking to each other ...

I guess the old saw is that free advice is worth what you pay for it. The other popular expression I use from time to time is “consider the source.”There is a whole “guy thing” about the giving of unsolicited advice. In much the same logic as the old saw about guys not asking for direction...

Just as they should require finance and accounting courses for the members of the other professions in this world, they probably should require more marketing classes for the members of our profession.The question we are always trying to address, whether we are looking for work or currentl...

If I may paraphrase a line from the somewhat forgettable movie “My Cousin Vinny,” this is no time to blend. (With Marisa Tomei and Joe Pesci)The essence of a job search is identifying and communicating that which is unique about you to the rest of the world.It is of course normal for human...

I spoke to one of our members of long standing several years ago who joined when we only had 100 members. Yes, I know it is hard to believe that The FENG only had 100 members back in 1997, but it’s true. We have indeed come a long way!I guess I had one of my many flashbacks while I was tal...

As I mentioned in my fundraising note this past Thursday, there was an article in The Wall Street Journal entitled: The Secret to A Successful Job Search. (Exchange Section, Saturday/Sunday, June 1-2, 2024) Allow me to provide you with a few highlights.No great surprise to hear that employ...

We can all get a lot of help writing resumes. There are even lots and lots of very good books and articles on this topic.Still, the first thing most recipients read or at least glance at is your cover letter. As bad as most of the resumes I see are, the cover letters are often worse.We are...

Although this problem was more common many years ago when there were more corporate layoffs, I still from time to time see members waste the first 6 months of their job search. It’s not that they “goof off,” it’s more that they feel they have the luxury of time.As a sailor, I can assure yo...

If only those you interviewed with were legally able to tell you the truth about why you aren’t being considered for a particular job. Unfortunately, the things they are allowed to say to you are very limited. Lawyers do really run the world.If we lived in a Jerry Seinfeld world, they woul...

I know this will come as a shock to those of you who skip ahead to the leads, but The FENG is a social networking group, NOT a job listing service.Yes, I know this counter intuitive information is coming from someone sending you job leads 5 days a week, but please don’t be fooled. Only a s...

As it has been said, never put off until tomorrow that which you can do today. Of all the things one can buy with money, time is not one of them.For those who “walk among us” who are thinking that the time is not far off when they might have to look for another job, I would suggest that th...

The resume has a long and established history in our country, and while from time to time I see “variations on the theme,” the standard resume format is the one I always recommend.I would hope that all of us have lamented as Chief Financial Officers about our crazy vendors. Why can’t every...

I have often been heard to say that it’s always better to be working.Being overqualified for most of the jobs published out in the world can be a little unsettling. But, I think you just have to accept it as a fact of life that once you have 20-30 years of work experience, you have probabl...

Like the classic fable of the 6 blind men standing around the elephant, The FENG means a lot of different things to individual members.In part it is dependent on where they are in their career, whether they are active in a search, or if they are currently employed. It can also vary on any ...

Over the course of our careers, as financial people, we become hard wired to never take no for an answer. When a customer claims they won’t pay an invoice, we can come up with “offers they can’t refuse.” When engaged in a debate at work about the appropriate accounting treatment of some ex...

The difference between being viewed as possessing dogged persistence and being an outright pest is hard to define. Like beauty or obscenity, I guess we know it when we see it.I have had many jobs over the course of my career, some paid, some volunteer that have involved collection work.Whe...

One of the most important skills you bring to the party as a financial person is your ability to read and follow directions. If you accept this as being true, I can only wonder why so many members fail to carefully read the information so clearly presented in the postings that appear in ou...

I don’t know what the weather has been by you lately, but here in Connecticut we have had a very cold and windy spring.One thing you learn if you are a sailor is that there really isn’t much you can do about the weather. The wind is from whatever direction it is coming from and at whatever...

Perhaps this is a bit of an overstatement, but I am primarily talking about networking within The FENG.As you all know, we have a Member Directory Search feature out on our website for your information and use. If you become aware of a job at a specific company, the odds of someone in The ...