--- title: SkyWater Blog | Executive search description: Executive search | Tips for Employers and Job Seekers alike. From resume building, to interview tips, and more. This may be the most important blog you read today. --- [![skywater](https://blog.skywatersearch.com/hubfs/SkyWater_April2019/images/skywater-logo.png)](https://skywatersearch.com) - [Employers](https://skywatersearch.com/employers/) - [Request Talent](https://skywatersearch.com/employers/request-talent/) - [Search Options](https://skywatersearch.com/employers/) - [Placement Areas](https://skywatersearch.com/practice-areas/) - [Executive Retained Search](https://skywatersearch.com/practice_areas/executive-search/) - [Accounting & Finance](https://skywatersearch.com/practice_areas/accounting-finance/) - [Engineering & Operations](https://www.skywatersearch.com/practice_areas/engineering-recruiters/) - [Human Resources](https://skywatersearch.com/practice_areas/human-resources/) - [Information Technology](https://skywatersearch.com/practice_areas/information-technology/) - [Legal](https://www.skywatersearch.com/practice_areas/legal/) - [Sales](https://skywatersearch.com/practice_areas/sales/) - [Marketing](https://skywatersearch.com/practice_areas/marketing/) - [Financial Services](https://www.skywatersearch.com/practice_areas/financial-services/) - [Construction](https://skywatersearch.com/practice_areas/construction/) - [Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG)](https://skywatersearch.com/practice_areas/consumer-packaged-goods-cpg/) - [Salary Guides](https://recruiters.skywatersearch.com/salary-guides) - [Client Reviews](https://skywatersearch.com/employers/client-reviews/) - [Recent Placements](https://skywatersearch.com/employers/recent-placements/) - [Candidate Assessments](https://www.skywatersearch.com/candidate-assessments/) - [Job Seekers](https://skywatersearch.com/job-seekers/) - [Search Job Listings](https://skywatersearch.com/job-seekers/search-job-listings/) - [Resume & Interview Tips](https://blog.skywatersearch.com) - [Submit Resume](https://skywatersearch.com/job-seekers/submit-your-resume/) - [Salary Guides](https://recruiters.skywatersearch.com/salary-guides) - [About Us](https://skywatersearch.com/our-team/) - [Why SkyWater](https://recruiters.skywatersearch.com/best-executive-search-firm-mn) - [Our Team](https://skywatersearch.com/our-team/) - [We're Hiring](https://recruiters.skywatersearch.com/careers) - [Commitment to DEI](https://recruiters.skywatersearch.com/diversity-equity-inclusion) - [FAQs](https://recruiters.skywatersearch.com/executive-search-faq) - [Press](https://www.skywatersearch.com/press-release/) - [Blog](https://blog.skywatersearch.com) - [Contact](https://skywatersearch.com/contact/) - [(952) 767-9000](tel:9527679000) # SkyWater Blog [![Succession Planning](https://blog.skywatersearch.com/hubfs/Succession%20Planning.gif)](https://blog.skywatersearch.com/succession-planning) ## [Succession Planning: A Strategic Imperative for Leadership Continuity](https://blog.skywatersearch.com/succession-planning) Posted by [Adam Hoffarber](https://blog.skywatersearch.com/author/adam-hoffarber) on 6/24/25, 9:00 AM [0 Comments](https://blog.skywatersearch.com/succession-planning#comments-listing) When leadership transitions occur without planning, organizations often struggle with disruption, turnover, and loss of institutional knowledge. In today’s environment, succession planning should rank among the top priorities for executive and HR leaders. [Read More](https://blog.skywatersearch.com/succession-planning) [![Hire a recruiting firm](https://blog.skywatersearch.com/hubfs/HR%20Hire%20A%20Recruiting%20Firm.png)](https://blog.skywatersearch.com/when-should-human-resources-hire-a-recruiting-firm) ## [When should human resources hire a recruiting firm?](https://blog.skywatersearch.com/when-should-human-resources-hire-a-recruiting-firm) Posted by [Andrea Anderson](https://blog.skywatersearch.com/author/andrea-anderson) on 5/13/24, 1:45 PM [0 Comments](https://blog.skywatersearch.com/when-should-human-resources-hire-a-recruiting-firm#comments-listing) A recruiting strategy is never just about filling roles; it's about building a bench of talent capable of sustaining a brand’s competitive advantage. When your talent acquisition strategy works, it's a game changer, empowering your organization to achieve business priorities and exceed growth goals. When it doesn't, it slows performance, frustrates senior leadership, and forces current team members to work around the gaps left by each vacant position. A few things can torpedo morale or breed employee mistrust, such as working in an understaffed department. [Read More](https://blog.skywatersearch.com/when-should-human-resources-hire-a-recruiting-firm) [![workplace jargon](https://blog.skywatersearch.com/hubfs/Workplace%20Jargon.png)](https://blog.skywatersearch.com/workplace-jargon) ## [Has Your Workplace Become a Jargon Jungle?](https://blog.skywatersearch.com/workplace-jargon) Posted by [Paul Beard](https://blog.skywatersearch.com/author/paul-beard) on 8/7/23, 12:50 PM [0 Comments](https://blog.skywatersearch.com/workplace-jargon#comments-listing) ### 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. [Read More](https://blog.skywatersearch.com/workplace-jargon) [![Why use an executive recruiter?](https://blog.skywatersearch.com/hubfs/custom-video-thumbnails/LD%20Long%20-%20Coffee%20Break%20With%20McKaela%20-%20HD%20720p-thumb-1.jpeg)](https://blog.skywatersearch.com/why-use-an-executive-recruiter) ## [Why Partner With An Executive Recruiter?](https://blog.skywatersearch.com/why-use-an-executive-recruiter) Posted by [Lindsay Dubbeldee](https://blog.skywatersearch.com/author/lindsay-dubbeldee) on 1/3/23, 10:15 AM [0 Comments](https://blog.skywatersearch.com/why-use-an-executive-recruiter#comments-listing) ### The answer is in the consultative approach. Have you ever wondered what an executive recruiting firm is for, or why a company would choose to engage with an external firm to conduct its search? Growing numbers of organizations are turning to executive recruiters to help them source the best available talent rather than advertise their vacancies on job boards. It's true that working with a specialist recruiter can help you gain access to that hidden candidate (meaning, gainfully employed people who may be open to a change, but haven't started looking yet) and save you a LOT of time (most clients say their recruiter saved them several weeks of time in sourcing, screening, and interviewing candidates for important roles). In this article, we will review our [advice for hiring managers working with a recruiter](https://blog.skywatersearch.com/making-the-most-of-your-recruiter-advice-for-hiring-managers), and some ways to [tell the difference between a good recruiter and a great recruiter](https://blog.skywatersearch.com/good-recruiters-versus-great-recruiters). [Read More](https://blog.skywatersearch.com/why-use-an-executive-recruiter) [![perm vs contract search](https://blog.skywatersearch.com/hubfs/Hiring%20an%20executive%20recruiter.png)](https://blog.skywatersearch.com/perm-vs-contract) ## [Hiring an executive recruiter? Ask these 3 questions first.](https://blog.skywatersearch.com/perm-vs-contract) Posted by [Kurt Rakos](https://blog.skywatersearch.com/author/kurt-rakos) on 5/9/22, 9:32 AM [0 Comments](https://blog.skywatersearch.com/perm-vs-contract#comments-listing) ### Permanent Placement and Contract recruiting both serve important functions. But beware of the firm that tells you they can do both. Is it just me, or have you been sensing a little pessimism creeping into the “talent wars” conversation lately? For some hiring managers, the goal seems to be shifting away from building organizational bench strength**,** toward something that might appear more achievable: just fill the empty seat, asap. It's a tempting pivot, particularly within the engineering, accounting and finance, and IT fields, where hiring battles run especially hot right now. I get the argument. If you give up on your hiring goal and engage a “contract recruiter” instead, you stand a good chance of having a temporary professional in that seat within a few weeks or even days. But is switching to a contract approach a good idea? Sometimes. Before going there, though, consider the differences between a permanent recruiting firm and a contract one. Then ask yourself the 3 key questions I outline below. [Read More](https://blog.skywatersearch.com/perm-vs-contract) [![Julie Amende Financial Services Recruiting](https://blog.skywatersearch.com/hubfs/Julie%20Video%20Bookend%20Start.png)](https://blog.skywatersearch.com/financial-services-recruiter) ## [Julie Amende to Launch our New Financial Services Practices Area](https://blog.skywatersearch.com/financial-services-recruiter) Posted by [Beth Varela](https://blog.skywatersearch.com/author/beth-varela) on 1/4/22, 2:28 PM [0 Comments](https://blog.skywatersearch.com/financial-services-recruiter#comments-listing)     As leaders throughout the Twin Cities investment community are well aware, the competition for investment management and executive talent has grown increasingly fierce over the past two years. In response to the growing demand for executive recruiting expertise in this area, SkyWaterSearch Partners is pleased to announce the launch of our new Financial Services Practice area, to be led by Julie Amende. [Read More](https://blog.skywatersearch.com/financial-services-recruiter) [![](https://blog.skywatersearch.com/hubfs/Chicago%20Executive%20Recruting%20Firm.png)](https://blog.skywatersearch.com/chicagos-accounting-finance-talent) ## [How to Win the post-COVID Battle for Chicago’s Top Accounting & Finance Talent](https://blog.skywatersearch.com/chicagos-accounting-finance-talent) Posted by [Josh Schneider](https://blog.skywatersearch.com/author/josh-schneider) on 5/11/21, 9:22 AM [0 Comments](https://blog.skywatersearch.com/chicagos-accounting-finance-talent#comments-listing) Thanks to recent, remarkable successes in vaccination rollouts, a growing number of Chicago businesses are reopening their doors and ramping back up. This surge in activity is, of course, a reflection of optimism that the U.S. economy is in recovery mode. As organizations prepare for strategic growth, we are seeing a spike in demand for accounting and finance professionals.   [Read More](https://blog.skywatersearch.com/chicagos-accounting-finance-talent) [![Executive Recruiters](https://blog.skywatersearch.com/hubfs/SkyWater%20Recruiters%202021.png)](https://blog.skywatersearch.com/recent-additions-to-skywater) ## [Recent Additions to SkyWater](https://blog.skywatersearch.com/recent-additions-to-skywater) Posted by [Adam Hoffarber](https://blog.skywatersearch.com/author/adam-hoffarber) on 1/21/21, 8:00 AM [0 Comments](https://blog.skywatersearch.com/recent-additions-to-skywater#comments-listing) It goes without saying that 2020 was tremendously unique year. Through it all, we've done our best to broadcast the industry trends that we have been able to observe through our access to the job market in the industries we serve. Recently, we shared the [single biggest hiring mistake we've seen in 2020](https://blog.skywatersearch.com/hiring-decisions), which speaks to a trend we saw of companies freezing their hiring of key leadership roles out of caution.  [Read More](https://blog.skywatersearch.com/recent-additions-to-skywater) [![](https://blog.skywatersearch.com/hubfs/SkyWater%20Legal%20Recruiters.png)](https://blog.skywatersearch.com/meet-lauren-swartout-and-our-newly-expanded-legal-practice-area) ## [Meet Lauren Swartout and Our Newly Expanded Legal Practice Area](https://blog.skywatersearch.com/meet-lauren-swartout-and-our-newly-expanded-legal-practice-area) Posted by [Adam Hoffarber](https://blog.skywatersearch.com/author/adam-hoffarber) on 1/19/21, 9:30 AM [0 Comments](https://blog.skywatersearch.com/meet-lauren-swartout-and-our-newly-expanded-legal-practice-area#comments-listing) In the eight years since SkyWater Search Partners first opened our doors, we have partnered with law firms and corporate legal departments to match highly talented attorneys with exceptional career opportunities throughout the Twin Cities and Upper Midwest. In response to growing client demand, we recently made a strategic decision to expand our legal practice and bring in a leader with the experience and insights to oversee that growth. [Read More](https://blog.skywatersearch.com/meet-lauren-swartout-and-our-newly-expanded-legal-practice-area) [![](https://blog.skywatersearch.com/hubfs/Saving%20a%20candidate%20tips.png)](https://blog.skywatersearch.com/what-to-do-when-a-job-candidate-gets-cold-feet) ## [What To Do When a Job Candidate Gets Cold Feet](https://blog.skywatersearch.com/what-to-do-when-a-job-candidate-gets-cold-feet) Posted by [Alex Bowes](https://blog.skywatersearch.com/author/alex-bowes) on 8/27/20, 9:00 AM [0 Comments](https://blog.skywatersearch.com/what-to-do-when-a-job-candidate-gets-cold-feet#comments-listing) ***3 Steps (and a Free Template You Can Use) to Save a Great Candidate*** Have you ever been waist-deep in the hiring process with your dream hire, only to have them second guess the opportunity and decide to stay where they are? 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