Paul Beard

Paul Beard
I am one of the co-founders of SkyWater and have over 28 years experience conducting contingent and retained search services. Recent retained projects include: President/CEO, CFO, CIO, EVP of HR, VP of Global Sales, EVP of EVP of Operations, EVP of Global Sourcing, VP of Supply Chain, VP of Marketing, and a variety of Director level positions that roll up to these positions. While the vast majority of my work is conducted in the Twin Cities, I do work on a national basis.
Find me on:

Recent Posts

Play It Cool: Post-Interview Tips While You’re Waiting For THAT Decision

Posted by Paul Beard on 5/22/23 11:38 AM

0 Comments

Emerging from a job interview that went really well is a great feeling. You answered all the questions just as you wanted, put some relevant ones of your own forward and the hiring manager was hinting at a job offer. After a few days without a phone call or e-mail from the employer you naturally begin to get anxious. As a few more days pass by, doubts and frustration begin to creep in.

Read More

Email Templates: Responding To A Lowball Salary Offer

Posted by Paul Beard on 2/15/23 9:15 AM

0 Comments

 

 

If you have received a job offer but the salary presented does not meet your needs, the first thing you should to is get in touch with your SkyWater recruiter to discuss next steps.

If you are without a recruiter in your corner, and are in need of a template to begin crafting your email response to a lowball salary offer, you've come to the right place. These email templates are meant to get you started in your response.

If you have not yet determined your salary target, review my post titled "2 Things You Should Never Do After A Lowball Salary Offer, And The 7 Steps You Should Take Instead."

Read More

Productivity Paranoia got you down? You're not alone.

Posted by Paul Beard on 12/5/22 8:15 AM

0 Comments

A new study finds that an astonishing majority of managers worry that remote workers aren't actually working.

 

It's called Productivity Paranoia.  Here's why you can't afford to go there - and what you can do, instead.

In January 2020, a mere 5% of full-time professionals worked remotely, under arrangements that were largely seen – and supervised – as exceptions to “normal” employment. Three months later, that number spiked to nearly 60% and continued to climb, shaking up the workplace as we knew it. It was a painful, abrupt transition, fraught with unknowns and steep learning curves. But it also opened up a whole new world of possibilities for working professionals.

Read More

As recession fears grow, it's time to adjust your hiring strategy

Posted by Paul Beard on 8/17/22 9:00 AM

0 Comments

3 ways to protect your unfilled roles

In spite of national and state-wide continued strong job reports, worries about a potential slowdown are starting to show in some employers’ budgeting decisions. If you have been struggling to fill empty but critical roles within your organization, you may have heard rumblings about potential hiring freezes or worse, open positions being eliminated altogether.  

Read More

This Veterans Day, Tap Into This Hidden Talent Pool: Hire a Veteran!

Posted by Paul Beard on 11/11/21 9:39 AM

0 Comments

Today, as we honor the service and sacrifice of our veterans, all of us at SkyWater Search Partners would like to put a spotlight on one particularly powerful way you can recognize the skills and strengths of those who have served in our military: Hire a veteran.

Read More

What Is An ATS-Friendly Resume?

Posted by Paul Beard on 2/24/21 8:45 AM

0 Comments

Experienced recruiters are expert relationship builders and career coaches. They have a skillset that allows them to connect their clients with top candidates that the client would never have been able to find alone. But how do recruiters do it? Well, every recruiter has their own special talents, but many of the most successful/efficient recruiters use an ATS to stay organized and speed their searches. Believe it or not, there is such a thing called an "ATS-friendly resume," and we'd love to share some tips on how to achieve this with yours.

Read More

2 Things You Should Never Do After A Lowball Salary Offer

Posted by Paul Beard on 2/15/21 4:21 PM

0 Comments

And The 7 Steps You Should Take Instead

There are very few moments in a job search as thrilling as learning that the employer of your dreams is about to extend an offer.

And then, there are few moments as demoralizing as receiving that offer… only to discover that it is nowhere near the salary you thought it would be.

You’ve been lowballed, my friend.  And it happens more often than you might think (even to very strong candidates). We have a team of executive recruiters in Minnesota, and a team of executive recruiters in Chicago, and both teams will tell you that they have helped candidates craft professional counter offers many times over the course of their recruiting careers. We're here to explain why this happens, and what you can do about it.

Read More

Better Employee Engagement Starts with a Better Survey

Posted by Paul Beard on 8/6/20 4:15 PM

0 Comments

Over the past several years, the concept of “Employee Engagement” – and the practice of using surveys to measure it – has attracted a lot of attention among managers and the HR leadership who support them.  It’s also generated a great deal of confusion.  What is employee engagement?  Isn’t it just a new name for employee satisfaction?  We keep surveying them but nothing ever changes… why bother?

Read More

Forbes Magazine Names SkyWater Search Partners one of America’s Best Executive Recruiting Firms in 2020

Posted by Paul Beard on 6/15/20 10:15 AM

1 Comment

SkyWater Search Partners has been recognized by Forbes Magazine as a Top Executive Recruiting Firm in its 2020 ranking of America’s Best Executive Recruiting Firms. Compiled by analytics firm Statista, this year’s Forbes rankings were based on a survey of more than 18,000 participants. While thousands of firms across the country were considered for inclusion, SkyWater Search Partners was one of only 200 firms that made the list, including only 3 in Minnesota.

Read More

New Hire Ramp Up: The 5 Focus Approach

Posted by Paul Beard on 2/5/20 8:45 AM

0 Comments

Zero in on these Critical Areas for Fast, Effective Onboarding

You’ve probably seen the studies linking employee retention to new hire experience.  If you haven’t, you might start with this one by the SHRM Foundation.  In it, you’ll find a compelling argument for re-investing in your onboarding process.  Whether your new hire is fresh out of school or a seasoned veteran, they need to experience a guided, intentional introduction to your organization, their new team, and their role within it.  And if you thought that you could save a few dollars by just “buddying them up with Betty Lou over here because she really knows the ropes…” well… no, you can’t.

Read More
Content not found