A recent report from House and Senate conferees on the annual Department of Defense (DoD) authorization bill highlights an ongoing struggle to fill mission-critical civilian roles within the department. Despite efforts such as direct hire authority and increased pay incentives, the DoD continues to face shortages in these key positions, which negatively impact national security, morale, and readiness. The report emphasizes that slow recruitment and retention processes, including delays in OPM approval for proposed incentives, exacerbate the issue. While the final version of the bill dropped some provisions, it now mandates a report on positions where civilian shortages have affected readiness, as well as a review of policies that could help improve recruitment and retention. The DoD’s difficulty in attracting and retaining top civilian talent remains a pressing issue as the department works to strengthen its workforce and ensure national defense capabilities.
Layoffs: Boeing
Boeing is continuing its workforce reduction efforts, laying off hundreds more employees in Washington and California as part of a broader plan to cut approximately 17,000 jobs. Nearly 400 workers in Washington and over 500 in California were let go, following earlier announcements of a 10% workforce reduction. These cuts come as the aerospace giant struggles to recover from financial setbacks and regulatory challenges, including a prolonged machinists’ strike. Employees affected by the layoffs will receive severance pay, career transition support, and up to three months of health benefits.
Hiring: Anduril
Anduril Industries is on a major hiring spree with over 564 open positions currently posted on ClearanceJobs.com that require a Public Trust. As a company that focuses on advanced systems for national security, Anduril offers roles spanning across software engineering, hardware design, data science, and operations. With a mission to build cutting-edge solutions that support defense and security, Anduril is clearly looking to expand its team of innovators who are passionate about technology and its impact on the future of national defense. Whether you’re an experienced professional or someone eager to dive into the defense tech world, these positions provide an opportunity to work on high-stakes projects that push the boundaries of technology.
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Opportunity to Watch
Relying too heavily on personality assessments, aptitude tests, and interview assignments during the hiring process may seem like a way to identify the best candidates, but these methods can often backfire. Industry leaders say that these tools can create more harm than good. Personality assessments, for instance, may lead hiring managers to prioritize traits that don’t actually predict job performance and can result in biased decisions that create legal risks. Similarly, aptitude tests offer only a snapshot of a candidate’s abilities, often overlooking soft skills and motivation. Then there’s the issue of interview assignments, which can feel like exploitative “free labor” to candidates, especially Gen-Z applicants, and even expose companies to legal trouble. Structured behavioral interview questions need to provide a clearer, fairer picture of a candidate’s qualifications without the risk of over reliance on tools that may not truly reflect workplace potential.
