SkyWater Blog

No. And here is why.

The economy is bouncing back after a crazy year, and the job market shifted overnight. Many talented individuals clung to their jobs for dear life during the pandemic with the strategy to hunker down and make it through the storm. Now, these professionals are ready to move on to greener pastures. Does this sound like you?

After receiving an offer from a new company, keep this in mind:

Recently, we’ve seen a rise in the number of counteroffers offered to candidates as sought-after skills becoming harder to find. As the labor market improves, we expect to see the number and strength of these counteroffers increase.

Should you accept your counteroffer? We believe you should never accept a counteroffer. Here is exactly why.

You’ve just gotten word about a great job at a company you admire and, from everything you’ve seen so far, it’s perfect for you.  Next step:  submit your application, resume and cover letter.  Next step after that:  sink into a state of fear and paralysis.  Why?  Because, not long ago, your career hit an ugly little speed bump.  You were demoted.  And while the personal pain of that event has started to subside, you worry that it has put a permanent stain on your resume – and your career aspirations.  As an executive recruiter, I am often struck by how highly competent professionals can remain haunted by a past demotion.  While no one can whip out a magic eraser and undo what has happened, I can offer you something better.  I can tell you what works.  Here is a realistic strategy for dealing with a demotion on your resume, in five simple steps.

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.

Perhaps you're thinking it's about time to review your career path options and explore the opportunities available out there. You might be asking yourself what your long-term career goals are and which employers will match those aspirations to support your career development.

7 Things Every Hiring Manager Wishes You Knew

I’ve been in Human Resources, here in the Twin Cities, for the last fifteen years. In all that time, the fundamentals of job interviewing have remained pretty much unchanged. Until now, that is. As with so many of our old paradigms, the rules of job interviewing have been completely upended by COVID-19. Suddenly, you and every other job seeker have been forced – ready or not – to showcase your job qualifications, communication skills, and grace under pressure on video.

Make a Positive, Lasting Impression at Your Next Job Interview

In your job search, you’ve likely visited your share of employer websites.  If you’ve been at it for a while, you’ve also probably applied for jobs online.  In other words, you have endured the seemingly endless procession of screens, asking you increasingly private and confidential questions.  It’s part of the process.  And if you want to be considered for the job, you accept that you need to answer them.  After all, “it’s policy.”

Today’s Minnesota jobs market favors candidates, but finding a job can still be a daunting prospect for many applicants. For ‘first time’ job seekers one of the most difficult aspects of the entire hiring process is salary negotiation.