Culture & Jobs at KLA

Fall is shaping up to be a busy season around the region for startup and tech events. Let's party! Here's a breakdown of the top events this season. Mark your calendars and RSVP! 

Finding a purpose-driven job just got a little easier. Last week, we launched a brand new job board with over 3,000 purpose-driven tech and startup jobs, each company vetted by our team.

The Midwest region — and beyond — is home to many excellent startups and tech companies. Gone are the days of leaving home to find a great career in tech on the coasts.

Mark your calendars! The summer is starting, and the Midwest momentum is only growing. Tech events all around the Midwest are lined up for the season. Mark your calendars for happy hours, tech panels, Pride celebrations and more. 

Looking for a new tech job? While layoffs are continuing (Microsoft just cut hundreds of more jobs), they are slowing down. And many companies are still hiring as tech jobs are still "the most in-demand" according to some experts. 

Working fully remote is not for everyone. Some people thrive in a collaborative, team environment, yet still enjoy some flexibility with occasionally working remotely.

If a company’s product is what they do, and their purpose is why, their company culture is how.  How does the company operate, how do people interact with each other, and how do things get done. It’s sometimes laid out in concrete terms and examples, and sometimes it’s a vibe. It’s also one of the top things job seekers look for in a new role.

Time for a change? More and more tech companies are hiring and looking for talented people to join their teams. In fact, according to Crunchbase, in the last week of May, only around 350 job cuts were recorded in their Tech Layoffs Tracker. While that may sound like a lot, it's actually far fewer than the thousands that Crunchbase usually adds to the tally each week. 

Artificial intelligence is one of the hottest topics in tech, but the reality is — AI companies have been working on this for a long time. 

Tucked in the woods just east of Ann Arbor, Michigan, is a $200 million, state-of-the-art office that feels, well, out of this world. 

Looking for a Software Engineer job at a cool Midwest startup? There are companies out there that are still hiring! And they want to meet you👇

High-tech semiconductor manufacturing, venture capital, and Silicon Valley share a common origin story. 

You’ve heard it before: Earth Day is every day. It’s a cutesy slogan used in April pretty much every year and although its excitement has worn off with time, it’s not wrong…As information continues to surface about our environmental impact and the necessity of sustainable practices, Earth Day really should be every day. 

A fulfilling career goes far beyond a nice paycheck and a modern office space. It even goes beyond remote-life, flexible working hours, and work-life balance. Okay, that last one is preeeetty important. But what really makes for a fulfilling career is working for a mission-driven company that does good in the world. 

If you're one of those people who is looking for a new opportunity because you didn't like the review you received, didn't get the raise you wanted, saw that sun decided to come out — whatever the reason — you came to the right place!  We love to promote highly technical jobs because we know there's such great technical talent in the Midwest that deserves the opportunity to work for these great companies. But, this week we're featuring non-tech jobs — for those of you who aren't "technical" but love working

There’s . . . a lot going on right now.  About 10 days ago we saw the 2nd and 3rd biggest bank collapses in U.S. history with the run on Silicon Valley Bank and then Signature Bank just two days later. Last week, many startup founders frantically tried to figure out their finances, make sure they met payroll, and assure their employee's things would be okay. The dust is still settling, but one thing is for sure: it was a scary time for the startup industry. And it’s not doing anything to help the already

You spoke, and they listened. As job seekers continue to prioritize flexible working locations in their job search, more and more companies are looking to create flexible policies. This week we're featuring Midwest tech jobs that are either hybrid or fully remote.

New year, new you! We’ve been hearing this sentiment a lot in the past few weeks and have probably heard it every year since we can consciously remember. Many of us take time at the end of each year to establish goals for the new year — and many of those goals are wellness-focused. 

It’s no surprise that the new year didn’t bring an instant stop to layoffs.  According to Layoffs.fyi there’s already been 170+ tech companies that have laid off over 56,000 employees. Also according to layoffs.fyi, only about 800 of those 56,000+ laid off were at Midwest-based companies.  That’s only 1.43%. 

Ann Arbor is home to some of the brightest startups in the Midwest, and in the country. With a world-class university feeding talent and funding into the tech ecosystem, plus the ripple effect of many successful startups, it’s a quickly growing tech hub.

Happy new year! January is usually one of the best times to find a new job as companies unlock new hiring budgets and the lull from the holidays is over. Of course, over the last six months or so we’ve seen a major hiring slowdown, but we still expect to see an uptick in open jobs this January.  Because here’s the deal. The majority of these layoffs are happening at Big Tech companies — yes, “Big Tech.” Startups (though they did also see the worst reductions in November) are in fact different from Big Tech.

This time of year we like to take a moment to reflect on giving back to the community. One of the biggest themes of giving back in the startup world is returning the love to the people and the planet that provides support when you’re getting started.   As part of this reflection, we’d like to bring to light a few companies that keep the community and our environment top of mind. 

We’ve said it before, we’ll say it again: tech companies are still hiring! I know it doesn’t seem like it, but it’s true.  If you’re someone who’s been recently laid off, I know it sucks. It’s a scary, frustrating and sometimes sad time. But there’s hope.

Ann Arbor is a growing hub for startup and tech companies. With a top university growing and supporting entrepreneurs, major tech companies like Google with hubs in the city, and a culture for innovation, Ann Arbor has some amazing places to work in the startup and tech ecosystem. 

Layoffs, hiring freezes, venture capital slow down . . . these are the headlines currently making the news. And yes, there's no doubt all of that is happening right now. But during this uncertain time, there's also quite a bit of growth happening, too.  So we partnered with our friends at PeerSignal to stay on top of everything happening in the tech hiring market right now.

Hay rides. Pumpkin picking at the pumpkin patch. Apple picking at the orchard. There are tons of fall activities to take part in that kick off the season right. And the Midwest tech community is jumping on board! We've rounded up some of the most exciting events happening in the Midwest this fall — our community of tech companies and startups are bringing people together through creativity, innovation, and a good time. 

Let’s take a step back for a moment.  In 2021, we saw some really crazy growth for startups all over the country. Venture capital funding was at a record high, companies were hiring like mad, and the startup and tech industry was like a rocket ship. 2022 has been a different story. But if you take a step back and look at the last 6 months all together, it might not be what you think.

How and where we work have changed so much over the last two years, it’s having a lasting impact on company structure. Job seekers demand flexibility when it comes to location, schedules and culture because the old way of working, well, wasn’t really working. 

Happy October! Okay, so the market might be looking a little spooky lately, but it’s not all doom and gloom. Every week, we’re scouring the news to get a look at the full picture of the state of startups and tech companies. We’ve also partnered with Adam Schoenfeld at PeerSignal to stay on top of B2B hiring trends — stay tuned for this month’s market report…

How is one company a part of every technological advancement? Semiconductors are in virtually every piece of technology. Even a lightbulb can have a chip, and KLA is helping those chips get to market faster.

My dad always says, "If you're not learning at your job anymore, it's time to move on." Professional growth and development are huge factors for taking — or leaving — a job. 

There’s no doubt a shift is happening in the hiring landscape. Many companies, big and small, have gone from rapidly hiring to cutting teams and reorganizing their labor force. But that’s not the whole story.  Despite the media’s focus on layoffs and hiring freezes, there are still many companies that are hiring. Just in the last couple of weeks, we’ve seen companies continue to hire, raise money and grow.

There’s no doubt a shift is happening in the hiring landscape. Many companies, big and small, have gone from rapidly hiring to cutting teams and reorganizing their labor force. But that’s not the whole story.  Despite the media’s focus on layoffs and hiring freezes, there are still many companies that are hiring. Just in the last couple of weeks, we’ve seen companies continue to hire, raise money and grow.

There’s no doubt a shift is happening in the hiring landscape. Many companies, big and small, have gone from rapidly hiring to cutting teams and reorganizing their labor force. But that’s not the whole story.  I want to provide a consistent place for anyone impacted by layoffs, or having difficulty landing a job during this time. A place with regular open job listings, resources to help you along the way, and ultimately some stability during this time. And as always, you can contact me directly at

Morning! 

Regardless of the current state of the job marketplace, we see employers posting new opportunities every single day. While the unfortunate layoffs are what we hear of most, there are still plenty of companies that are growing.  And they need great talent like you in order to continue that growth. There are over 160 companies hiring on the Purpose Jobs platform, but here are just a few that we especially love.

Job searching can be an exhausting journey. There. We said it. It’s because of the work and effort we know you have to put into this search, that we want to make it simple for you to see what jobs are available while getting a quick glimpse into a company. So use this 5-minute break from your daily tasks to check out these open jobs.

In celebration of Pride Month, we're highlighting companies that are founded by a member of the LGBTQ+ community or are LGBTQ+ friendly. Highlighting these organizations helps in the effort of bringing to light the environments that are safe for LGBTQ+ professionals and their allies.

Ann Arbor continues to be one of the top growing tech ecosystems around the country with some great hiring tech companies. A combination of university talent pipelines, top-rated quality of life, a growing startup ecosystem, and growing VC funding has Tree Town topping lists as one of the best places to start a tech company or find a top tech job. 

From renewable energy to cyber security, there are a ton of great companies hiring engineers to work on exciting projects. If you’re looking for a job with a purpose, a team to call home, or the ultimate work-life balance, check out these 13 engineering roles that are hiring right now. {{cta('5f6df6ea-8370-4070-9b21-e7064a12d0f8','justifycenter')}}

Women are — and have always been — making big moves in the tech industry. They're starting, joining, and investing in tech companies at record rates. Even still, women are underrepresented in the tech industry. 

We're virtually heading to SXSW, one of the country's biggest festivals and conferences. We're teaming up with our friends at Midwest House to host the career fair on March 15th and connect top employers and job seekers.

If you’re part of the 76% of job seekers and employees who report that a diverse workforce is an important factor when evaluating companies and job offers, you may be wondering: how do I find a diverse company?

Americans are leaving their jobs in record numbers to search for something better. So when it comes to the best places to work in 2022, what does that look like?

As the old saying goes, Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither was Silicon Valley, nor the Silicon Prairie. 

The list is out for 2023 — check out the Top Ann Arbor Tech Companies & Startups to Watch in 2023   Ann Arbor continues to be one of the top growing tech ecosystems around the country with some of the best startups to watch. A combination of university talent pipelines, top-rated quality of life, growing startup ecosystem, and growing VC funding has Tree Town topping lists as one of the best places to start a tech company or find a top tech job. 

This month, leading tech company KLA opened its second headquarters on the northside of Ann Arbor, Michigan. Two years in the making, this new North American headquarters is a state-of-the-art facility that's a testament to KLA's growth and innovative vision.

You don't have to be technical to work at a tech company. While top startups seem to always have open jobs for engineers, there are tons of great roles open to non-technical candidates, too. 

Company Benefits are evolving like never before, and in-demand tech and startup workers are looking for new types of employee benefits, culture, and purpose.

Are you interested in a product job at a tech startup? You might only think of the coasts when it comes to product, because historically the Midwest tech scene was focused on IT and engineering. 

In April, four million people (equivalent to 2.7% of the American workforce) quit their jobs—a record high since 2000. Now, as 41% of workers worldwide are considering leaving their jobs, experts are dubbing this era the “Great Resignation”. There are various factors that go into this trend, but with a record number of jobs opening in the US, workers are much less hesitant about leaving their current jobs for greener pastures.Employee disengagement is always costly, but with employees now actively looking

Are you looking for a healthy work environment with a job that offers mental health benefits? As the mental health crisis continues to worsen and companies continue to work remotely, startups are rethinking their benefits—free snacks and Ping Pong just aren’t cutting it in a remote world.

Whether hiring for remote jobs or looking for local talent, many startups and tech companies are looking to tap into the amazing talent pool in the Midwest. And many of these companies are hiring on the Purpose Jobs platform. 

On April 13th, we hosted the Midwest Startup & Tech Virtual Career Fair: Best Places To Work. We had tons of companies join and hundreds of jobs seekers. But if you missed the event and are looking for a job in tech—whether that’s in software engineering, marketing, people, product, sales, or other—don't worry. You can still apply to jobs at these amazing companies.

There’s no doubt that the Midwest is a great place to be for tech jobs. And if you still have doubts, just check out some of the best startups and tech companies that call the Midwest home. They’re great places to work, and, with competitive salaries and affordable cost of living, life in the Midwest can be pretty good. 

The list is out for 2022 — check out the Top Ann Arbor Tech Companies & Startups to Watch in 2022   Ann Arbor is perfectly positioned to be one of the best cities for tech jobs. Not just in the Midwest, but in the country. 

On August 25th, purpose.jobs and the Midwest Tech Banking team at Silicon Valley Bank hosted the Midwest’s largest virtual career fair. Within 60 minutes we had…