We're often asked if there are prequalifiers, such as education, that those we hire typically share. Most of the job openings posted on our career website are ultimately filled by college graduates. For those jobs that require strong technical knowledge, such as Sales Engineer or Service/Tech Support, a degree in music technology/audio engineering is extremely helpful. This could be either a bachelor's or an associate's degree, or a certificate from a top-notch vocational school that teaches how music is made in the digital world. However, "smart" isn't always determined just by a diploma. On occasion, we do hire someone who is self-taught and/or has some music industry experience. Ultimately, your educational background is only a part of the puzzle. There are a number of other things we typically look for to see if you'll be a good "fit" for our dynamic Sweetwater culture. Here are just a few qualities that most successful candidates possess:

Attitude:
This is number one. You can't consistently provide exceptional customer service if you look at the world as a half-empty glass. We repeatedly hear visitors comment, "Wow, it seems as if everyone walking around your headquarters is smiling." That didn't happen by accident. We want upbeat, optimistic, resilient people.

Maturity:
We aren't necessarily talking about age here. Think life experience, common sense, sound judgement, integrity, commitment, and the ability to take your job very seriously.

Proactive "Do-ers":
If we have to spend all day, every day trying to motivate you to be successful, you'll never fit our culture. We are supportive facilitators, not micromanagers or cheerleaders. We try to hire smart self-motivated professionals. We give them clear direction and even clearer philosophies, and then get out of their way. You'll need to exhibit your "fire in the belly" and convince us you'll be the type of employee who says, "Oh, please let me do that too," instead of, "I can't possibly get all that done."

Computer Literate:
The pace here is very, very fast. If you come to work here, we guarantee you will find gears you didn't know you had. We have an awesome computer system that allows us to take productivity to a very high level. It's important to know your way around the basics of a computer, multitask with a large number of applications and windows open on your screen, and be able to type quickly without looking at the keyboard. We'll expect you to not drop over from shock when you find out that your file cabinet is virtual and that your desktop is on the computer screen, not your actual desk.

Egoless:
Yes, you have to have a strong desire to be the very best, but an even stronger mindset to serve. One of our favorite sayings here is "the sum is greater than the parts." We are a team in every sense of the word. There are no corporate or individual turf wars here. We are here to serve ourselves and our customers, period. We aren't interested in how wonderful individual team members think they are. It's a cliché to be sure, but there really is no "i" in "t-e-a-m" — or in "Sweetwater," come to think of it.

Great Communication Skills:
Again, just about every job you see on this website is about doing one thing incredibly well: communicating to others. That doesn't mean lecturing, preaching, or texting; it means helping others to understand by providing clear, concise, relevant, and simple information — whether that is over the phone, via e-mail, or in person. For most positions, you'll receive a phone interview, even if you live only a half mile away from our headquarters. That's because we need to determine how well you communicate over the phone. Writing is another important skill we look for. You don't have to be a Pulitzer Prize winner, but you do have to possess the ability to write a decent business letter or e-mail. And, yes, spelling counts.

Career-minded:
Our whole business model is based on developing long-term relationships with our customers, so it only makes sense for us to hire people who want to be with us for a long time. We're interested in a marriage, not a blind date. If you want to come to Fort Wayne and "try the job out" for a year or two, then do us both a favor and don't apply. Working at Sweetwater is not a job or a gig; it's a career that will require relocation as well as a commitment to giving it your all for a number of years to see just how successful you can really be at Sweetwater. We really do think of each other as family, and family is all about being in it for the long haul.