SkyWater Blog

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

Today and this whole week seem like an especially great time to pause for a moment to celebrate our country and the countless individuals who serve and have served it with honor:  our veterans.  And what better way to truly show our appreciation for our American veterans than to hire them when they get back home?

Fall is a celebrated season in the great state of Minnesota. Leaves transform into vibrant orange, yellow, and red colors. Apple orchards, corn mazes, and hay rides reserve their dates in our weekend calendars. A once beautiful and fashionable population of beach goers prepare to spend the next three months wearing the customary plaid and flannel Minnesotan uniform.