Margaret Hamilton: the Software Engineer (and Working Mom) Who Landed Men on the Moon

Posted by Andrea Anderson on 3/12/24 2:21 PM

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Part of our Women's History Month Series: Celebrating Pioneering Women at Work    

This month, in celebration of Women's History Month, SkyWater Search Partners will highlight the achievements and legacies of Pioneering Women at Work. Here, we spotlight Margaret Hamilton, one of the most consequential yet under-appreciated figures in the history of space exploration.  A Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) scientist whose pioneering work in software engineering was central to the Apollo space program's success, Hamilton led the software team responsible for enabling Apollo 11 astronauts to land safely on the moon.

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Female Trailblazers: A Celebration of Heroic, Inspiring, Undersung Heroes

Posted by Andrea Anderson on 3/5/24 2:14 PM

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“I do not see myself as a footnote to someone else’s life…”

-Martha Gellhorn.

Part of our Women's History Month Series: Celebrating Pioneering Women at Work    

Today, in celebration of International Women's Day, SkyWater Search Partners is spotlighting Martha Gellhorn, a wildly talented trailblazer whose courage and tenacity paved the way for future generations of women in journalism. More than just a witness to history, Gellhorn was a fierce and fearless participant whose words and photographs captured the raw essence of human conflict and compassion.

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Stuck in a Joyless Job?

Posted by Adam Hoffarber on 3/4/24 8:15 AM

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“Don’t quit your job until you’ve lined up a new one.”

How many times have you heard that little chestnut? (In full disclosure, it’s advice I routinely dispense myself.) But like all good rules, this one has some important exceptions. When you’re trapped in a toxic job, the path to “something better” can be a steep, rocky, exhausting – and increasingly treacherous – climb.

If you’re stuck there now, you simply may not have the luxury, mental energy, or emotional wherewithal to launch a winning job search. More importantly, though, is this little fact that’s too often overlooked in the heat of the moment: you might not be in the best head space to know what your next job should be. Figuring th

at out requires time, introspection, and, ideally, a little healthy distance.

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Keeping the Lessons of Black History Month Alive All Year

Posted by Andrea Anderson on 2/27/24 10:00 AM

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During this Black History Month, I hope you and your team have enjoyed immersing yourselves in some of the celebrations available to us all this February. As we approach the end of the month, it feels like the right time to step back and reflect on how we can take the lessons of Black History and use them to do better as employers and community members. What can we do to advance the ideals of diversity, equity, and inclusion? How do we ensure they reverberate for our teams and shape our efforts going forward? At their core, these ideals are not only about becoming wiser, more inclusive human beings in our personal lives. They're also a rallying cry, encouraging us to reconsider the systems, practices, and structures that continue to get in the way of achieving diversity and equity in the workplace.

Here are some things we're learning along the way that are important for all employers to remember as we continue on our journey.

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Proofreading Tricks to Take Your Resume from Basic to Breakthrough

Posted by Dana Shapiro on 2/20/24 8:45 AM

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A well-crafted, error-free resume is more than a nice-to-have; it's a strategic marketing tool for job seekers. It’s the first impression you’ll create with executive recruiters and hiring managers each of whom will rarely spend more than a few seconds scanning it before deciding whether to toss it in the Yes, No, or Maybe pile.

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No Fail Responses to Questions About Your Salary Requirements

Posted by Kurt Rakos on 2/15/24 1:25 PM

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Did you know that in the state of MN, hiring managers can not ask about your current salary or salary history? Instead, they must rephrase the salary question to inquire about your salary targets. 

“What are your salary requirements?”  

That question – or any of its many variations – initiates one of the trickiest, most consequential decisions you’ll have to make when communicating with a potential employer.  

How should you respond?  

With forethought, a well-prepared answer, and a clear, confident tone, sure.

But what should you say?  

That depends… on a number of factors. 

If you write “salary negotiable” on the application, it might keep you in the running and buy you some time to figure out a more specific response. However employers are looking for candidates who understand the market, know themselves, and are confident placing a dollar figure on their professional worth.  If you just keep dodging the question by saying it’s all negotiable, you look timid and unprepared for the actual negotiation.  

At the same time, your answer needs to vary from employer to employer. Here’s how to determine – and adjust – your response for each opportunity:

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7 Galentine’s Day Lessons in Leadership from Leslie Knope, Managerial Muse

Posted by Allie Bornstein on 2/13/24 2:48 PM

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Since it was first introduced on NBC's sitcom Parks and Recreation, Galentine’s Day has become a real thing, embraced around the world as a day for women to celebrate and support each other. For me, it’s also become a day of revisiting some very real leadership lessons shared by the show’s iconic lead character, Leslie Knope.

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IT Recruitment: What Hiring Managers Need to Know in 2024

Posted by Zac Kallas on 2/12/24 9:15 AM

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At SkyWater Search Partners, we specialize in recruiting for multiple disciplines, each led by industry experts. including the fast-paced, constantly changing IT sector. Here’s our take on current trends affecting the IT sector and our advice to hiring managers seeking top talent in 2024:

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Resume Fads Every Job Applicant Should Ditch (and What to Do Instead)

Posted by Sujatha Ramanathan on 2/6/24 8:06 AM

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A well-crafted resume can be a job applicant’s powerful early advocate to employers and executive recruiters. More than a list of job titles and educational achievements, your resume must be carefully curated to make the first cut of the employer's Applicant Tracking System (ATS) and then catch the attention of hiring managers, headhunters, and human resources professionals. When written well, it showcases you, putting a spotlight on your most relevant qualifications and the value you bring, persuasively driving a narrative about how well your abilities align with the job for which you're applying. Wield it smartly and your resume can dramatically increase your chances of landing an interview and, ultimately, the job.

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3 Ways For Minnesota Employers To Celebrate Black History Month

Posted by Adam Hoffarber on 2/1/24 8:45 AM

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"There is no American history without African American history.”  

Sara Clarke Kaplan, executive director, American University Antiracist Research & Policy Center (ARPC), 2022 interview with NPR

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