SkyWater Blog

Far from being the buzzword du jour, empathy is the transformative – but often undervalued - force that influences your ability to recruit, retain, and yes, revolutionize talented teams.

When Star Tribune business reporter, Catherine Roberts recently wrote about the Star Tribune’s 2023 Top Workplaces, she mentioned the dramatic challenges and changes that employers have undergone since the pandemic. She then noted that, based on the survey answers received this year, the companies on the 2023 list “are likely to be more successful adapting to the new reality...”

Try this simple set of steps to guide your team toward clarity and inclusion.

In every organization, communication is the glue that holds the team together. But what happens when that communication becomes mired in jargon, the constant use of hyper-technical acronyms, and other cringe-worthy esoteric language - when plain words would work better? You know what happens: confusion spreads, morale plummets, and the overall employee experience is negatively impacted.

Video interviews are commonplace in today's hybrid work economy. If you're interviewing for a role, you may find yourself attending an interview that is conducted over Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet, or others. The mistake job seekers often make is to treat the video interview less seriously than an interview that takes place in an employer’s office. The next time you are invited to a video interview follow these tips:

As our nation commemorates Independence Day, all of us at SkyWater Search Partners wish you, your families, and your neighbors a happy and peaceful 4^th of July.

Over the past many months, we have all watched as the term DEI (for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) gets batted around by political figures, the media, and of course, social media.

Before I continue, let’s pause to acknowledge the obvious. These three words, “Diversity,” “Equity,” and “Inclusion” are self-explanatory:

At SkyWater Search Partners, we believe that vibrant communities are built through strong community partnerships. One way we live by that value is through our Employee of the Quarter Award. Each quarter, we honor a top-performing team member with the gift of a substantial financial donation, in their name, to a nonprofit organization that is important to them.

Congratulations, you’ve been invited for an interview! That means the employer has seen something in your resume that matches the requirements of the job you’ve applied for. The next step is to build on that initial impression during your interview. Attending your first interview can be a nerve-wracking experience, so we’ve put together our five golden rules to help reduce your anxiety levels:

The interviewer asks, point blank, “What is your salary requirement?” And there you are, trying to present yourself as forthright, easy to work with, and clear about what you need. It’s a tricky business, refusing to answer without looking rude, unprepared, or both. With thoughtful preparation, a little online homework, and careful scripting, you can navigate your way through these discussions masterfully.

Juneteenth is a newer national holiday, and as such, many of us have the day off work. Do take a minute to think about why this day has become a national holiday. Think about your workplace and how you and your colleagues can be inclusive an welcoming to coworkers with different backgrounds and life experiences from your own.

Happy Father's Day!

Being a parent stretches us all to find talents we never knew we had. These are valuable skills that are often overlooked and underappreciated. We polled the SkyWater dads to see what job titles and skills need to be added to their credentials on this very special fathers Day.

Here's what they had to share...