At ClearanceJobs Connect West, MetroStar’s Stephanie Holman and Defense Unicorns’ Michaela Flatau joined a panel discussion on one of the most pressing challenges in national security hiring—how do you hire for the roles that seem impossible to fill? Moderated by ClearanceJobs’ Katie Helbling, the conversation revealed practical tactics for overcoming hiring hurdles in government contracting.
From hard-to-fill roles like Kubernetes engineers to navigating DoD culture mismatches, both speakers emphasized transparency as a cornerstone of successful recruiting. Holman described setting expectations early, especially for roles based on military installations. Flatau stressed that selling candidates on the mission—working in support of the warfighter—must be balanced with honesty about startup culture and the realities of government work.
The panel also spotlighted how recruiters can leverage AI as a strategic partner. Flatau uses AI to review candidate GitHub profiles and tailor outreach. Holman shared how AI tools help her prep for technical intakes and organize follow-ups. Still, both agreed that recruiters should remain the human in the loop—especially when it comes to reviewing resumes and building candidate trust.
Retention was another key theme. Defense Unicorns encourages connection with weekly “Unicorn Stew” chats and randomized one-on-one “donuts” to prevent team silos. Holman maintains relationships with hires post-offer, building loyalty and improving referral pipelines.
The big takeaway? Success in technical recruiting isn’t just about technology or pipelines—it’s about knowing your people, educating your hiring managers, and using AI to scale the human touch.
