Learn the two most important soft skills you can demonstrate at a Cleared Job Fair, plus what cleared candidates need to know about job fairs that they may not realize. All from Ashley Testa, Director in the Government and Public Sector at BDO. “When we create resumes, one change that we can all make is to focus on those quantifiable achievements, and those specific contributions in your work experience. So instead of just merely listing job responsibilities and duties, you want to highlight the...
Oct 11, 2023•17 min
General Dynamics Mission Systems is one of ten General Dynamics business units. Toni Johnson, Senior Director of Talent Acquisition and Diversity & Inclusion, has a wide array of hiring needs including software, systems and electrical engineering. These cleared positions are at sites across the country, with 60% of their openings being hybrid or remote opportunities. “There's technology out there that has been around for a long time, but candidates don't always take full advantage of that te...
Oct 04, 2023•17 min
Iron EagleX is headquartered in Tampa and maintains a focus on contracts with Special Operations Command. Director of Staffing, Sebastian Lambert recommends you focus on building relationships in your career and job search, and that you beat the ATS by being qualified for the job you’re applying for. “I think that defense contracting specifically is a great place for transitioning military. A lot of times you're in that same environment, you're working with a lot of the same folks, you're just w...
Sep 27, 2023•27 min
In this special bonus episode, our hosts share some of the most surprising things shared by our guests on the podcast. From surprising tidbits and tips about topics like Continuous Vetting, to the relevance of words like “tomato,” “ballerina” and “cake decorator” in your job search, we hope you’ll enjoy this roundup of surprises. Find show notes and additional links at: https://clearedjobs.net/cleared-job-search-advice-that-may-surprise-you-podcast/ _ This show is brought to you by ClearedJobs.N...
Sep 20, 2023•14 min
As an Alaska Native Corporation, every Chenega MIOS employee is considered an extension of the village, shares Duane Butler, Talent Acquisition Team Lead. “Everybody is better when you like what you do,” is a simple statement, but a goal for Duane’s recruiters as they help candidates on their career journeys. And if you’re in an active job search and the phone rings…pick it up! “Finding a job is a job. You can't just apply for two jobs, then go back to playing Call of Duty. It does not work like...
Sep 13, 2023•22 min
People who thrive at BAE Systems run toward a fire when they see it, they don’t run away, shares David Reynolds, VP in the company’s Intelligence & Security sector. The company focuses on hiring for a career versus a job, as they believe retaining top cleared talent begins before that individual starts their first day of work. David’s advice to gain invaluable experience is to find out what’s broken in your company and volunteer to help fix it. “Retaining top talent really starts even before...
Sep 06, 2023•19 min
TekSynap is a company that leans heavily on employee referrals and rewards those employees in innovative ways. With a focus on treating people differently and a culture of doing what needs to be done, the company has recently grown to over 1k employees, shares Kearstin McGinnis, Vice President of Employment. “Respond to those emails or respond to those phone calls, even if it's just a ‘Hey, thanks for reaching out, but we're not interested.’ I always say, no conversation is a bad conversation. A...
Aug 30, 2023•23 min
Are you impacted by the No TikTok ruling regarding government devices? What are the ways that you can get into trouble with social media and your security clearance? Learn more in this special episode featuring Tony Kuhn, Managing Partner at Tully Rinckey PLLC. “If you're posting something on social media that you think after the wine wears off you're going to regret it, you should probably delete it before you post it. Or you're going to answer for it. You can come back and delete it if you wan...
Aug 16, 2023•10 min
Hear how Cohere Technology Group founder and CEO, Dan Haug values problem solving skills when making hiring decisions – he does not chase individual technology knowledge. Most of Cohere’s work is in the National Capitol Region, but Dan is an advocate for remote work when it’s feasible, and seeks to move the company to even more solutioning work for the agencies they support. “I look for the engineers who know how to problem solve, and are particularly interested in the problem that is being face...
Aug 02, 2023•22 min
“If you did it in the military, there’s a high probability you can do it with us,” shares Brian Heffernan, Army veteran and Global Manager – DEI & Military Programs for Amentum. Their diverse hiring needs include facilities maintenance, many OCONUS roles, plus SkillBridge opportunities. “We all want to beat our chests. And we all want to say everything that we've done and accomplished. But when you're building a resume targeted to a specific job, the only thing that company cares about is wh...
Jul 19, 2023•20 min
This special Bonus Episode of our podcast shares our tips on how to deliver your best introduction, across a variety of settings. Find show notes and additional links at: https://clearedjobs.net/master-your-personal-introduction-podcast/ _ This show is brought to you by ClearedJobs.Net. Have feedback or questions for us? Email us at rriggins@clearedjobs.net . Sign up for our cleared job seeker newsletter. Create a cleared job seeker profile on ClearedJobs.Net. Engage with us on LinkedIn , Facebo...
Jul 05, 2023•11 min
If you’re Red or Blue Team cyber, learn more about Millennium Corporation and their secret weapon Ben Clark, author of the “Red Team Field Manual.” Better yet, start networking with Director of People Services, Angelica Ngo, and her team: 50% of their cyber hires come through referrals. Plus they’re interviewing and providing contingent offers to select transitioning military members 12-18 months before they separate. “Research the company and the people you're interviewing with. Be prepared. Te...
Jun 28, 2023•18 min
Bay Systems Consulting, headquartered in Palo Alto, is primarily hiring cleared IT professionals for contracts which include NASA sites across the country. Most of their positions require a Secret security clearance and many are hybrid remote. Pro job seeker tip: No means no right now, not forever. “Just because someone says no, it means no right now. So you’ve got to do your due diligence and follow up. You never know, they might have another open position in a month, in three months. And you'r...
Jun 21, 2023•17 min
SIXGEN is focused on cyber security for the intel community in the Fort Meade and Dulles corridors. As Shawn Devroude, EVP of Cyber shares, SIXGEN has “spicy” or tip-of-the-spear work opportunities that very few cleared professionals get to experience. Nearly 90% of their employees are veterans, and the company prides itself on an employee-first focus. “Because SIXGEN is filled with patriots, everybody wants to do their part to make the nation more secure, to fight against its adversaries. But t...
Jun 14, 2023•23 min
“The best part of recruiting is being an advocate for candidates.” A powerful statement from Meg Pexa, the Principal Cyber and Robotics Recruiter for Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque. Sandia is about more than just nuclear non-proliferation, and has a very accepting organizational culture. Plus a hot resume tip about considering the first person who sees your cleared resume. “He just wanted a tiny bit more money. So he and I worked together and came up with a game plan: Alright, tell ...
Jun 07, 2023•23 min
This special Bonus Episode of our podcast gives you our top 10 list of things you must do to excel in an interview. Find show notes and additional links at: https://clearedjobs.net/how-to-ace-your-interviews-podcast/ _ This show is brought to you by ClearedJobs.Net. Have feedback or questions for us? Email us at rriggins@clearedjobs.net . Sign up for our cleared job seeker newsletter. Create a cleared job seeker profile on ClearedJobs.Net. Engage with us on LinkedIn , Facebook , Instagram , X , ...
May 31, 2023•12 min
SOSi is a mid-size government contractor with four business units and robust OCONUS cleared opportunities, shares Kristen DeJohn, Director of Talent Acquisition. There really is a person named Sosi, and she founded this still family-owned company in 1989. SOSi’s cleared hiring needs are diverse and go well beyond the language-related positions where they began and still thrive today. “Remember that you're interviewing the company as well. This is a job that you're seeking, for whatever your reas...
May 24, 2023•24 min
TekMasters has a focus on longer-term stable programs in the intelligence community in Northern Virginia and Maryland, shares John McLaine, Director of the Program Office. Every prospective employee meets with the program team and the agency team before they interview. “We look for very stable programs. We don't go for the temporary ones or the bridge contracts. All of the programs that we have, that we align ourselves with, we want to make sure that if we place someone they have a good stable h...
May 17, 2023•26 min
LLNL hiring needs, while focused on scientists and engineers, are quite broad as the Lab is a self-contained city with nearly 9k employees. Frank Trigueros, Talent Acquisition Group Leader, talks why cleared professionals should never burn bridges, SkillBridge opportunities, internships, and more. “You can have a multi-dimensional career at the laboratory. You may come in and start doing one thing, then after a couple of years there could be another project that could be something completely dif...
May 10, 2023•22 min
If you’re looking for a different type of cleared professional experience, yet still want to support the mission, this could be it. With over 1,600 employees, the Applied Research Laboratory at Penn State is probably bigger than you realize, and their needs are broad-based and extend beyond Happy Valley. Learn from Deputy Director Meghan Flannery Hayes how you might fit in. “It's very collaborative. It's about a lot of teams -- small teams -- and then building new and different teams. You're not...
May 03, 2023•22 min
Did you know your security clearance is already being Continuously Vetted by DCSA? Continuous Vetting’s purpose is to help clearance holders mitigate small issues before they become big problems – not to “gotcha,” and kick you out. Ryan Dennis, the Deputy Assistant Director of Continuous Vetting shares the information you need to know to better understand the program and its impact on your security clearance. “Security is always too much. Until it's not enough. I understand the security clearanc...
Apr 26, 2023•25 min
As an ambassador for the ManTech brand, Senior Technical Recruiter Martha Schneegans is focused on providing value for both parties, and she takes a long-term view of her relationship with you. Service members, Martha is ready to talk to you now . “Let’s start talking early,” well ahead of your terminal leave date. Listen for the best example we’ve heard about why your cleared resume should mirror the terminology you find on the job posting. “Listen, you have to write your resume to make sure th...
Apr 19, 2023•20 min
Katie Sargent is the Talent Acquisition Manager for Two Six Technologies, named for the date the company was founded. The company hires 35-40% of its cleared professionals from existing employee referrals, and the recruiting team follows up on those referrals within 48 hours. Find out why they’re doing in-person interviews when feasible, and their commitment to the SkillBridge program. “Look into the company. Look at what they're doing. Look up your interviewers. See if there's any common thread...
Apr 12, 2023•17 min
In this anniversary episode we share some of the things we’ve learned over the past year from our cleared facilities employers. Plus, we ask Kirsten Renner with Accenture Federal Services what’s changed in the past year for cleared employers and transitioning military. “Post COVID, people have a new appreciation for what is possible in terms of flexibility. We had to adapt, so people come from a different perspective. Now they're like, ‘I know this is possible. What can you give to me, because I...
Apr 05, 2023•21 min
Peraton is a large company in start-up mode, shares Talent Acquisition Senior Director, Aaron Turner. Learn about their Family First Program that gives priority to current employees when contracts end, plus how does a cleared professional get noticed when the company receives so many applications each month? “We have a Family First Program that focuses on when projects come to an end. These people that are going to be displaced are the most important people to help them on their next opportunity...
Mar 29, 2023•20 min
Bob Wheeler is a Navy veteran, former recruiter, instructor, conference presenter, and expert on connecting cleared talent with cleared recruiters. He hosts Military Monday webinars, advising transitioning military on their road to the civilian sector. Bob shares some of his top tips for cleared professionals on distilling your resume, marinating in your industry and when veterans should start attending job fairs. “Marinating means it sits for a while in the sauce. There's no way you can marinat...
Mar 22, 2023•19 min
Omega Minds is a small defense contractor focused on polygraph work in Maryland with a culture of working and playing hard, shares Omega Minds CEO Alison Flanigan. Alison views herself as a matchmaker with an innovative hiring process that offers cleared professionals a menu of options to consider. “What's something that you learned in this past year that really made you excited? That helps me understand how that person thinks about continuous growth. And then, what are they thinking about for t...
Mar 15, 2023•27 min
Tom Foos is President and Co-Founder of ARMADA, a defense contractor with just over 90 employees. The majority of their positions are hybrid remote, requiring Top Secret and higher security clearances, and are focused on the DC metro area though they have opportunities scattered around the country. “I think what you're getting at the end of the day is we value our employees. If our government client says, ‘Such and such is doing a great job,’ we hand out what we call Core Value Awards. And that ...
Mar 08, 2023•25 min
Carson Solutions is a small family-focused firm where the individual really matters, shares Brandi Wajd, Human Resources Generalist. They’re recruiting for IT-related positions, all of which require polygraphs. Transparency and honesty are their most important values. “Don't be afraid to share an offer. If it's a real offer, share it so we have something to go on. I trust you, but I'm HR. If it's not in writing, it didn't happen. I need it in writing to take to my management team to say, this pe...
Mar 01, 2023•22 min
This bonus episode of our show shines light on employment scams in the cleared community. Our guests Kirsten Renner with Accenture Federal Services, and Kris Rides with Tiro Security and Via Resource, talk about employment-related scams and ways to avoid them. “They would take one of our real postings, real job titles, real job descriptions, congratulate the person, it had our company logo. It wasn't us. People did their diligence, thank goodness. And they were reaching out to the regular recrui...
Feb 22, 2023•27 min
