NASA has three qualities they look for when they hire a systems engineer, according to their “NASA Systems Engineering Behavioral Competency Model” shared with The San Diego Union-Tribune . They hire candidates with a thick skin, a long fuse, and an optimistic outlook. So, whether you’re sending people to the moon or you need to hire someone with a finance background to keep the numbers in line on a contract, these traits could be the key to success.
The world of national security needs candidates who believe in the mission and that failure is not an option. We need work environments that are not toxic. Hiring the right candidates is the difference between success and failure. From personality testing to providing prospective candidates test-case scenarios, employers can begin to weed out those who might have thin skin or a shorter fuse. And it can help find employees who will find solutions against all odds.
Layoffs
United States Postal Service
Although the USPS will continue to hire, they are focused on a reduction of force over the next few years, relying on natural attrition to help shed many positions.
“Right now, to get to break even, I think we may need to get 50,000 people out of the organization,” Postmaster General Louis DeJoy said. “But that’s OK, because over the next two years, 200,000 people [will] leave the organization for retirement.
Hiring
Booz Allen
As one of the largest employers in the D.C. region, Booz Allen has been on a hiring streak and shows no signs of slowing down. Booz Allen ended their most recent quarter with a backlog of $28.6 billion in contracted work. And where there’s contracts to fill, there’s employees to hire. Last quarter, Booz Allen’s head count grew by 2.6%, which is 733 higher than the prior year. They are the seventh-largest D.C region employer, with about 18,000 employees in the region. With investments and acquisitions, Booz Allen forecast for the upcoming fiscal year plans for at least 9% growth.
Boeing
Boeing hosted a meet-and-greet hiring event this past week in Olympia, WA. Boeing is looking for employees in engineering, manufacturing, quality, supply chain, and cybersecurity. Many positions offer sign-on bonuses and relocation expenses.
Cleared Employer at Work: Leidos
Growth is only possible when there have been successful leaders at the helm over the years, and Leidos continues to have leaders that put the organization on the trajectory of growth and success. Ready to join?
Opportunity to Watch
The DoD score an “A” for the eighth year in a row for its performance in achieving small business procurement goals. Released on July 26, the annual U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) scorecard puts into context the critical role small businesses play in fulfilling the department’s mission.
During a virtual press event announcing the scorecard’s release, Dr. William A. LaPlante, Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, highlighted the contributions of the American workforce and small businesses throughout Fiscal Year 2021 alongside agency heads from the Departments of Transportation and Homeland Security as well as the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
“Small businesses play a vital role in the American economy, and they are essential to the mission of the Department of Defense, enabling us to develop, deliver and sustain critical capabilities to our Warfighter,” LaPlante said. “DoD achieved our small business prime contracting goal for eight consecutive years. This shows our commitment to maximize opportunities for small businesses, which increases competition and strengthens our national and economic security.”
With more than $83 billion in obligations directly to small businesses, as well as another $50 billion subcontracted to small businesses from DoD’s large prime suppliers, the department continues its commitment to the defense small business industrial base.
Specifically, the department’s Mentor Protégé Program (MPP), which partners small business with larger companies – provides a robust platform for small businesses to grow as viable contributors to the defense industrial base. In the past five years, MPP has successfully helped hundreds of small businesses fill unique niches and become part of the military’s supply chain.
The department is also prioritizing the use of the Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (PTACs) to increase the number of small businesses across the industrial base. Administered by the department’s Office of Small Business Programs, in cooperation with state and local governments and nonprofit organizations, the PTAC program helps businesses pursue and perform under contracts with the DoD, other federal agencies, and with government prime contractors.
To see the department’s scorecard, visit https://www.sba.gov/agency-scorecards/scorecard.html.
