Let's say you've 'padded' your resume with some vanity job titles and additional duties. Will those resume details come up in the course of your clearance investigation. Some security clearance applicants think twice when they realize the clearance verification process may dig up some employment details those don't exactly match. Hosted on Acast. S…

Kate Gunderson's childhood was filled with dreams of contributing to humanity's exploration of space, with her eyes always fixed on the sky. Immediately after college, she landed her dream job at NASA's Johnson Space Center. In the Aircraft Operations Division, she offered engineering assistance for Johnson Space Center's extensive fleet of more th…

Part 2 of our podcast with Dr. Gerald Auger who is an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Cyber and Computer Sciences at The Citadel in Charleston and a content creator and founder simplycyber.io. He really he brings Information security related content to help IT or Information Security professionals take their career further, faster. So, being…

National security headlines help us to remember recent events and shape what the DoD / IC landscape look like moving forward in the months to come. For this episode of the Security Clearance Careers Podcast, the content team runs through some of the top breaking news over the last month. Tech Layoffs Could Be the New Normal and the Hot, New Job in …

Supply chain security is a term that is often discussed but rarely understood. Many definitions of supply chain are still centered on a logistics and physical infrastructure focused definition. Theresa Campobasso, Senior Vice President of Strategic Accounts, Exiger Government Solutions, joins Security Clearance Insecurity to talk about the 21st cen…

Part 1 of our podcast with Dr. Gerald Auger who is an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Cyber and Computer Sciences at The Citadel in Charleston and a content creator and founder simplycyber.io. He really he brings Information security related content to help IT or Information Security professionals take their career further, faster. So, being…

Disinformation continues to threaten the spread of accurate information about issues at home and abroad. For women in national security, in particular, there are risks for being a public facing voice. Nina Jankowicz, disinformation expert and author of the book ‘How to Be a Woman Online’ joins the show to discuss why online harassment continues to …

In honor of Women’s History Month, the ClearanceJobs Content Team tests our knowledge on women in national security. This the second installment of our Game Show and is all about the glass-breaking ladies of national security. Listen in as host Katie Helbling tests Phoebe Wells' knowledge on this important topic. Spoiler alert: she fails miserably!…

Selling and delivering solutions to the federal government takes a different approach than the typical sales cycle. Commercial sector companies sometimes find success in bringing a product or solution to the federal government, but then struggle to grow their businesses and get that critical next contract. Kristin Sargent founded Sargent Initiative…

In mentorship programs, 25% of mentored employees experienced salary grade changes, compared to just 5% among non-participants. Furthermore, DEI mentorship programs are credited by 80% of employees for fostering inclusivity, skill development, and sponsorship. Career development expert Janice Omadeke, who was one of the first 100 Black women in the…

Bartholomew Perez got his start in mechanical engineering after leaving home for university, later earned his Masters in Architecture-based Enterprise Systems Engineering, then got a Professional Certificate in Electronic Warfare Technology. He worked for one of the top defense contractors in this space and is now a program lead amongst other thing…

The security clearance is by nature intrusive – and dredges up a number of details that would never see the light of day in a traditional employment process. How can the government work to ensure greater equity and inclusion in light of the potential for bias inherent in personnel vetting? A recent report released by RAND looks into the potential f…

Vice Admiral (Ret.) Mike LeFever of the US Navy is the former Director of Strategic Operational Planning at the National Counterterrorism Center. Mike heads up Concentric, one of the world's most influential privately held security firms and are co-authors of the best selling book End Game First: A Leadership Strategy for Navigating Crisis and Busi…

If you work in national security and with classified information, you may come across the highly nuanced issue of dealing with how to address classified information that may seemingly need to be listed on the SF-86 - be it work locations, sources or foreign contacts, or other issues - how do you address that? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy …

The military transition, though difficult in a number of ways for each person, proves to be an obstacle for service members shifting from one phase of their life to another. Eric Ryan, a US Air Force veteran, is the Sr. Director of Military Operations at the University of Phoenix – here he manages all functions of the Office of Military and Veteran…

Security clearance reciprocity and transfer of trust remain key topics in the security clearance reform process. The security clearance process has been on and off the Government Accountability Office (GAO) high risk list for several years. The GAO high risk list flags programs ‘vulnerable to waste, fraud, abuse, or mismanagement, or in need of tra…

Micromanagement, while often well-intentioned, can have several negative consequences in the workplace. One major issue is decreased morale and motivation among employees. When workers feel like they are constantly being scrutinized and their every move is being controlled, it can lead to feelings of frustration, disempowerment, and lack of trust i…

Taxes are complicated. Whether it's intentional or unintentional, a number of cleared professionals and applicants find themselves falling into tax issues. Unfortunately, taxes can cause big problems, and may require a tax attorney, accountant, or some kind of professional financial assistance to help you ensure you're doing things correctly. Commo…

Symone B, who joined the podcast last year for Unlocking Success in GovTech: Insider Tips to Make Over $200,000 and Navigate the Cleared Job Search, discussed their story and how they were able to climb up the ladder in this industry from a really young age. For this episode, we dive in a little bit more into the national security tech industry and…

The path to a security clearance isn't always straightforward - and sometimes it winds its way through a graveyard or two. Lindy Kyzer and Sean Bigley discuss some of the more unexpected security clearance defenses that have been used over the years. Including the time an applicant argued he was so in love with this country - he'd already bought hi…

ClearanceJobs is the largest cleared career marketplace or networking platform for job seekers with an active security clearance and recruiters looking to hire cleared talent. In this episode of the Security Clearance Careers Podcast, the content team drills down on the top ten preferred fields or niches within the national security sector. Intelli…

Punk and innovation – a match made in the mosh pit? Dan Ward, a retired US Air Force Lieutenant Colonel and author of the recently released Punk: Prompts and Provocations for Authentic Innovations discusses the book and why a little bit of punk may be just the unexpected angle your problem needs. In Ward’s extensive career as a program manager and …

Imagine you get a notification that $800 was transferred out of your account from an “authorized user” when you’re the only one with access. Phishing attacks, online scams, and cyber criminals in general, are becoming more commonplace but also are finessing their sophistication in the ways they attack. BuddoBot is a veteran and minority-owned busin…

Operating under Continuing Resolutions is no longer the exception – it’s the norm. But what happens to innovation in the defense industry when the budget process becomes an annual race to the fiscal cliff? Jane Lee, Chief Government Relations Officer at Rebellion Defense discusses how the current government budget process affects defense contractin…

What's it like playing with the big dogs of the Department of Defense (DoD) / Intelligence Community (IC) as a small business? Tasha Jones, president and owner of Twenty39 joins the podcast to discuss all things national security, from her time serving in the military to the transition, getting a federal job as a govvie, working as a contractor and…

Leslie Weinstein interviews Wistar “Star” Hardison, Defense Cyber Workforce Governance Program Manager/Workforce Innovation Directorate about the critical topic of workforce development across the DIB and particularly the cybersecurity workforce. How is DoD looking to address current employment gaps and what do we need to do to ensure the proper cy…

Does Classified Information Enter the Recruiting Funnel? Recruiters are the firsthand professionals in staffing for the national security industry. Many of these conversations surround security clearance topics and missions, but it is rare that classified information enters the recruiting funnel in phone screens and interviews. That being said, a v…

The federal government hiring process comes with unique challenges. What are simple steps that could be taken today to improve the process? ClearanceJobs chats with Michaela Flatau, chief unicorn collector (i.e. ‘putting the human back in human resources’) for Defense Unicorns. Defense Unicorns is an innovative software development/delivery company…

CISA's Chief Integration Officer Bridget Bean spoke in depth with us on the latest episode of ClearedCast to discuss the vital role of its ten regional offices. Learn more about CISA! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

AI is taking over every industry - but what about security. How could artificial intelligence be used in the security clearance process? Sean Bigley and Lindy Kyzer of ClearanceJobs discuss the use of AI in the job search and application process, and how AI is already being discussed as a force multiplier to improve personnel vetting. Hosted on Aca…

Much about the clearance process resembles the Pirate’s Code: “more what you’d call guidelines than actual rules.” For this reason, we maintain ClearanceJobsBlog.com – a forum where clearance seekers can ask the cleared community for advice on their specific security concerns. Ask CJ is a weekly series we write that explores questions posed on the …

While it’s easier to see women at work across national security, the overall numbers still point toward a community that struggles to both attract and advance women in critical national security roles. #NatSecGirlSquad is a professional development community dedicated to supporting women in the national security space. #NatSecGirlSquad and Unicorn …

With competition for the best talent, the government has to look at all aspects of the hiring process and how it can make improvements to both attract and onboard the best. The security clearance process is one aspect of that. A recent report by RAND and commissioned by the Performance Accountability Council studies the security clearance process a…

The cleared job market will remain challenging into 2024. ClearanceJobs Founder and President Evan Lesser shares more about the state of the security clearance hiring market, and what recruiters and employers can do to get ahead in their hiring efforts. Community and connection will be key, along with a shift on recruiting metrics. Making a hire ca…

Today we’re joined by Steve Winterfeld who is the advisory CISO at Akamai Technologies, a cloud computing company. Steve helps Akamai CISO’s solve their most pressing issues and provide insights on security capability roadmaps. In addition to providing thought leadership as the cybersecurity industry transitions to DevOps and combats online attacks…

Today we’re continuing the four-part series highlighting the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. This episode focuses on the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Careers and Studies, commonly referred to as NICCS. Antonio Scurlock is the Deputy Chief Learning Officer and oversees the online platform. Visit NICCS: https://niccs.cisa.g…

A common fear for security clearance applicants is what to do if a reference paints a bad picture during a background investigation interview. Many applicants fear the ex, the neighbor, or the old coworker who may have an ax to grind and seek to take down the security clearance applicant in the process. The reality is background investigators are p…

Many employees are experiencing burnout, especially with the denormalization of the 9 to 5 workday. Thanks to cell phones and computer access, employees now take work home with them too. Trevor Bogan, Regional Director at Top Employers Institute joins the Security Clearance Careers Podcast and provides valuable insights regarding burnout and how em…

CISA's Veterans Program Manager Keith Cassant spoke with ClearanceJobs about his military transition and how CISA helped him reinvent himself. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Legislation gets pushed almost every year advocating for a change in federal drug policies. In addition, many congressional members have also pushed to open up career opportunities in federal government for marijuana users. Clearance holders should read the fine print and know that even if some of the policies change around federal employment, that…

The Military Officer Association of America (MOAA) is the nation's largest and most influential association of military officers. It is an independent, nonprofit, politically nonpartisan organization. They are a great partner of ClearanceJobs in acting as a resource for our military community. MOAA's Senior Director, Career Transition and Member Se…

Ana Montes spied on behalf of communist Cuba for 17 years. A new book by former FBI agent Peter Lapp discusses how Montes was able to carry out as a dangerous insider for nearly two decades, and his own career journey with the FBI. In our interview, we discuss how the book outlines loyalties “from both sides of the equation,” and what took one pers…

For this episode of the Security Clearance Careers Podcast, we discuss a pretty common topic amongst government work: continuing resolutions. Operations for federal agencies are funded annually, but when appropriation bills are not passed by the start of the October 1 FY start, Congress uses a continuing resolution to temporarily fund the governmen…

Middle-aged adults are binge-drinking and using weed at record levels according to the New York Times, in a recent study. What is the catalyst here? Are people just burned out and over it? If people are hitting the bottle and turning to marijuana as a means to escape life, or if being stuck at home during COVID led people to start exploring other r…

The newest jobs report reveals veteran unemployment rate was 2.9% last month, down from 3.6% in September. November is Military Families Month, so for this episode of the Security Clearance Careers Podcast we discuss recruiting, hiring, and workplace issues for veterans – everything from upskilling and reskilling, to how some interviewers overlook …

Are you in tune with the 13 adjudicative guidelines? Your national security job and your eligibility for maintaining a security clearance depends on them. Lindy Kyzer and Sean Bigley discuss the education and guidance that is critical for providing information to applicants and maintaining the cleared workforce. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/priva…

In the inaugural episode of a four-part podcast series with the Cybersecurity Infrastructure and Security Agency, ClearanceJobs speaks with Sandy Radesky. The Associate Director of Vulnerability Management at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) delves into the world of cybersecurity and the vital role CISA plays in safeguard…

It’s Military Families Month so for this episode of the Security Clearance Careers podcast we discuss a portion of our audience within the defense community: reservists. The term “military” refers to the military community, defined as the individuals serving as active duty, reserve, guard, veterans, or military spouses. Military friendly employers …

Lindy Kyzer and Sean Bigley discuss ageism in the security clearance process. This is a real issue for people, particularly for drug cases in the Defense Office of Hearings and Appeals (DOHA), in that they should have known better. Is there gray hair discrimination in the Pentagon? Tune in to this episode to learn more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.c…

Today we are joined by Teresa Shea, who has served more than 35 years in intelligence and defense within the public and private sectors. She served as executive vice president of technology and director of cyber reboot at In-Q-Tel, and prior to that had a distinguished 32 career with the National Security Agency ending as the director of signals in…