Monthly Archives: April 2012
Summer INTERNSHIPS ~ Find your summer (California) dream job at DreamWorks … THE DreamWorks
Summer INTERNSHIPS – Find your summer (California) dream job at DreamWorks … THE DreamWorks
As our films continue to set new standards of excellence in animated movies, we are committed to seeding the next generation of animation professionals to help keep us at the top of our game.
Every department at our company depends on a wide range of skills and ideas to fuel our creative work, so we particularly encourage students from diverse backgrounds with varied experiences to apply for our internship programs.
You’ll get hands-on experience, gain knowledge of the industry and develop a network for future career opportunities.
LEARN MORE about DreamWorks Internships
http://careers.dreamworksanimation.com/internships.php
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Visit http://www.USAJobZoo.com or http://USADefenseIndustryJobs.com for all of your job search needs. Both are IntelligenceCareers.com websites.
Q&A – Would like to become a Language Analyst.
Q&A with Bill Golden
CEO, IntelligenceCareers.com
Question:
I am looking for a language analyst’s position.
I was a professional language consultant and instructor in France for over 20 years. However, that experience was over 10 years ago.
Since then I have worked as an instructional designer on DOD contracts with no foreign language requirements. Should I organize my resume in reverse chronological order? Do you have any suggestions?
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Answer:
On your resume, your most recent experience should appear first. You will find my guidelines for developing your resume in the video below.
If you wish to get back into teaching languages then that is a different challenge.
As a language analyst you will usually be required to have taken a DLPT (Defense Language Proficiency Test). This is usually acquired only through service in the military or with a government agency.
Have you taken a DLPT?
There are some companies that you should check out that can provide you a backdoor into linguistic jobs of many kinds. One company that I strongly recommend is Language Line Services, online at http://www.languageline.com/page/careers/ — Language Line offers opportunities in both commercial industry and within contracted service to government activities.
BTW – Here is a master listing of positions that we have which involve knowledge of the French language: Master List.
A very good website to learn more about linguist jobs is http://linguistlist.org/
Best regards,
Bill Golden
CEO, IntelligenceCareers.com
USADefenseIndustryJobs.com
USAJobZoo.com
U.S. Aerospace and Defense Industry Financial Performance Sluggish in 2011 per Deloitte Report
U.S. Aerospace and Defense Industry Financial Performance Sluggish in 2011: Deloitte Report
WASHINGTON, DC /PRNewswire/ ~ Financial performance among the top 20 U.S. aerospace and defense (A&D) firms remained sluggish in 2011 as they posted a nominal 2 percent increase in revenues and a 3.2 percent increase in operating profit over 2010, according to a new Deloitte report. Operating margins were flat at 10.9 percent on a base of $339.2 billion in sales revenues, and market capitalization fell 3.9 percent.
Deloitte’s “2011 Top 20 U.S. Aerospace and Defense Company Financial Performance Analysis” report notes ongoing uncertainty over budget cuts by the Department of Defense (DoD) and other cost cutting and efficiency initiatives as key factors to the industry’s continued sluggish performance. However, the industry continued to benefit from the ramp up in commercial aircraft production. The study is based on sales revenue available from company public filings and press reports of fiscal year-end unaudited financial performance.
“Over the past year we’ve started to see the effects of anticipated cuts in defense spending as outlined in the Budget Control Act, as well as uncertainty over the potential for defense industry funding due to the planned budget sequestration,” said Tom Captain, vice chairman, Deloitte LLP and U.S. aerospace and defense leader.
Despite defense sector uncertainty, commercial aerospace is a bright spot for the industry, the Deloitte report finds. In 2011, the sub-sector’s growth continued to build upon record production of commercial jets, as well as sales orders of more than 2,200 globally.
“Commercial aviation has been a consistent high point for the A&D industry due to increased demand from emerging markets in the Asia-Pacific region, and a push by airline operators to retire older, less fuel efficient airplanes,” said Captain. “As oil prices continue to rise, it’s likely the industry will see an increased need for fuel-efficient aircraft using next generation engine technologies.”
In spite of this growth, the report suggests that companies remain cautious as the DoD enacts $487 billion in budget cuts over the next decade. Additionally, recent industry announcements call for a shift in strategic focus for the sector, bringing new challenges and increased competition to defense contractors, while expanding markets and M&A transactions offer new opportunities for firms.
To view “2011 Top 20 U.S. Aerospace and Defense Company Financial Performance Analysis,” please visit www.deloitte.com/us/aerospacedefense/2011globalwrapup.
About Deloitte’s Aerospace & Defense Group Deloitte’s A&D sector focuses on the top issues facing the industry. Deloitte A&D practitioners have deep industry experience and are actively involved in various segments of the industry, including: M&A, advanced technology programs, airplane program launches, and acquisition reform and economic assistance packages. For more information about Deloitte’s Aerospace & Defense group, please visit: www.deloitte.com/us/a&d.
As used in this document, “Deloitte” means Deloitte LLP and its subsidiaries. Please see http://www.deloitte.com/us about for a detailed description of the legal structure of Deloitte LLP and its subsidiaries. Certain services may not be available to attest clients under the rules and regulations of public accounting.
SOURCE Deloitte
Web Site: http://www.deloitte.com/us
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Visit http://www.USAJobZoo.com or http://USADefenseIndustryJobs.com for all of your job search needs. Both are IntelligenceCareers.com websites.
Hot Jobs and Where the Jobs Are for 2012 and 2013 – Bill Golden’s View
by Bill Golden
CEO, IntelligenceCareers.com
The world of 2012 as I see it is one in which the job market, commercial or defense related, will be one of stability. Stability means virtually no growth, but neither does it mean there will be jobs losses.
Government employee at federal, state and local level will continue to decline and efforts made to renegotiate or to chip away at pay and benefits.
2013 will be a very different year, perhaps a very dark year across all industries in the USA.
2013 will not be a stable year. It will be economically rocky as hell.
The arrival of 2013 is when we must pay for political indecision and lack of will to either balance budgets and/or to cut programs — it doesn’t matter whether we are talking social programs, government size or defense budgets. No real hard decisions have been made by either of the major political parties during 2011 or 2012, only posturing. And if the truth be told: the average tax payer doesn’t want hard decisions made either unless it involves cutting some program that does not impact them directly.
Below are where I see the HOT JOBS and what the HOT JOBS will be.
Intelligence
Think surveillance society and any skillset that supports a 24/7 environment where we can track almost anyone doing anything anywhere in the world — to include here at home in the USA. Think Big Data and data capture.
Intelligence analysts, counterintelligence professionals, geospatial information specialists, link analysts and cyber professionals will thrive. Linguists are generally seen as commodities — make the money when you can but find a new career field as quickly as possible.
Logistics and Enterprise Systems
This is the future. The future is already here. We once proudly talked about internet time — the ability to change business practices every 90 days. That is too slow.
Smart logistics connected to enterprise systems that connect buyers and users to producers and service suppliers 24/7 will continue to allow us to do MUCH MORE with MUCH LESS. That also includes jobs consolidation.
Technology
- Cyber Anything
- Geospatial Anything
- SQL (Structured Query Language)
- Oracle Java / J2EE
- Linux, UNIX, Solaris
- CRM (Customer Relationship Management)
- Microsoft SQL Server (MS SQL)
- HTML 5
- Apple iOS and Google’s Android
- Mobile Apps
- Hadoop
- jQuery
- Biometrics
- Localization enablers / surveillance society
- Microsoft Office: the whole thing! Not just Word and PowerPoint but Microsoft Excel & more.
Where The Jobs Are
Whereever these skills are needed. Everywhere.
Be able to create your own job. That’s the future.
Q&A – Am 26 in a major international consulting firm. How do I take it to the next level?
Q&A with Bill Golden
CEO, IntelligenceCareers.com
Question:
I´ve recently read your Front Door piece.
I was turned onto your website by a friend. I am interested in finding my way into Intelligence, but I am uncertain what my odds are.
My Father worked in the State Department and I have lived overseas half of my life. I currently live overseas and am a fluent Spanish speaker and have my undergraduate in Political Science. I work in a major consulting firm which I find challenging but am looking for the next level. I don’t have a security clearance and am 26, so I won´t be entering the military at this point.
I would greatly appreciate any advice you could share.
Answer:
In some ways you are on the right track, but an alternate track: working in a consulting services firm.
Not serving in the military probably decreases your chances by about 70%; we find that most folks that go on to later serve within the intelligence industry — if it requires a security clearance — get their first security clearance via military service.
At age 26 you are hardly too old. There are plenty enough folks entering the military at that age.
About your alternate track: I encourage you to take a competitive intelligence outlook on all that you do. You should also consider joining an organization such as Strategic and Competitive Intelligence Professionals.
Consulting services firms such as Booz Allen Hamilton, Deloitte, and many others often find themselves involved in unique situations where their services portfolio trends towards competitive intelligence, economic analysis at the regional level, and/or national security.
I’ve attached a presentation from the University of Indiana that gives a very good overview of competitive intelligence as a career field.
Also, you may want to consider going for your master degree and going to the RIGHT school — that would be a school that participates in the National Intelligence (ODNI) IC Centers of Academic Excellence (CAE) program … there are more than 50 universities that participate. There are many doors through these programs // not front doors but doors do exist as the faculty have a relationship with the many agencies that cosponsor their programs.
Best regards,
Bill Golden
CEO, IntelligenceCareers.com
USADefenseIndustryJobs.com
USAJobZoo.com
Q&A – Seeking basic info about getting into Intelligence
Q&A with Bill Golden
CEO, IntelligenceCareers.com
Question:
I have a few questions.
1. How does one get a jump start in the intelligence arena with no prior experience, but with an educational background?
2. What academic degrees are useful for finding a way into the intelligence career path?
3. What are the best schools that give individuals the degree they need to be accepted in the intelligence community?
4. How does one apply for a security clearance?
Answer:
Here are some answers to your questions.
1. Everyone starts at the beginning. You either find a way to join an intelligence agency for an interim position by applying directly to an agency, or you join the military and go through a minimum four year term within the field of intelligence, or some related field such as communications or logistics. For open doors within the federal government you should start at http://USAJobs.gov (search for ‘intelligence’) or http://intelligence.gov/
2. There are really no preferred degrees even though a number of schools provide degrees in intelligence. These are of value mainly once you are already active in the world of intelligence — they boost your knowledge of the world and can help you focus as you reach for higher levels. I recommend getting a practical degree: basic IT, math, linguistics, logistics, accounting … something that serves a realworld purpose. Intelligence is about examining the world as we know it and finding some useful answers. Diverse degrees make for a more flexible intelligence organization.
3. As long as you go to an accredited college or university then that degree is good enough. There are however some universities with unique ties to the intelligence community. These are known as the National Intelligence Centers of Academic Excellence (CAE). Learn more about CAE schools at http://www.dni.gov/cae/institutions.htm
4. You get a security clearance once someone decides to hire you — whether it is the government, the military or a private company. This is called sponsorship. There is no way to get a security clearance on your own.
Best regards,
Bill Golden
CEO, IntelligenceCareers.com
USADefenseIndustryJobs.com
USAJobZoo.com
Q&A – I’m 54 … Still time to get into intelligence?
Q&A with Bill Golden
CEO, IntelligenceCareers.com
Question:
I’m 54, prior military but no Veteran’s preference, have had a successful career in commercial IT management, and once held a TS/SCI clearance several years ago.
I’m looking to transition into an intel career – possibly with Fed law enforcement – either as a Fed or non-Fed employee.
I have no current clearance – are there agencies/companies that have programs or are more friendly toward qualified candidates who have lapsed security clearances, willing to get someone re-cleared?
Answer:
Dear 54, this will be challenging but not impossible.
You need to think differently about what the word intelligence means. Most government agencies are looking for someone that A) can step into a position already fully cleared and trained with experience, or B) someone that will still be with them after doing mundane stuff for 6-8 years before they finally reach a level of expertise that lets them work without supervision. The tradecraft in all of the various INTs (forms of intelligence) takes a while before you develop that all important gut feeling about what is happening, or not.
The realm of intelligence is far more comprehensive than working for a federal agency. Industry is full of various kinds of intelligence activities — which may or may not require a security clearance. At the mid and senior level, these private industry intelligence professionals often work with federal agencies in a wide variety of ways.
There are many kinds of intelligence: competitive intelligence, business intelligence, process reengineering, regional analysis, linguistic and cultural analysis, financial assurance and forensics … and much more. Where do you see yourself playing in this world?
Your core skillset is IT. Since you have had a successful career in commercial IT then you should consider seeking a company does IT in the defense world. You need to find something in common with your current skillset that the defense industry needs now. Finding an open door at this level will be challenging enough, but it is possible. I recommend starting your search for relevant defense IT companies by using Google to identify companies that need secret network engineers Tampa.
By searching for secret network engineers Tampa then you would find companies that need IT specialists with a secret or higher background within the area of Tampa, Florida. So just substitute your geographic area instead of using Tampa and you should find relevant organizations that need those skills.
Finding companies that use Secret clearances is important: Even though getting a Secret clearance can take six months, actually getting an interim Secret clearance can take as little as two weeks. That is your open door to the industry.
As for finding an open door in a national agency, forget the Feds. You are too old — you could retire within 12 months from federal service (they can’t make you stay past 55), so you’ll have no luck there … although never say never. If you currently had a security clearance then there is a chance that you could secure a position in a federal agency — but it would probably be a short term contract that barred both pay raises and advancement in rank; they would be bringing you onboard essentially as a consultant or independent contractor for a fixed period of time and your time would be limited to the agreed amount on the contract.
If going back into IT is not what you want then are essentially starting over. You may want to try breaking back into the cleared world as a background investigator. At 54 you are still young (I’m 55) but you’ve got to find a position that gets you a clearance — being a background investigator can help do that. As for being a background investigator: they don’t pay great money but they do get you a TS/SCI.
As for companies, your prior clearance shows that you did it once and could possibly do it again. But it doesn’t move you to the front of any lines in getting a new clearance.
Once you focus and put together a pitch on your skillset then you need to find friendly companies: you need to find companies that have dual service sectors and commercial market services like csc.com, saic.com, caci.com, bah.com, dell.com, verizonbusiness.com — if these companies need your skills then they could hire you for those skills, get you a clearance and you could then work on other programs.
Best regards,
Bill Golden
CEO, IntelligenceCareers.com
USADefenseIndustryJobs.com
USAJobZoo.com
Q&A – What degree should I pursue to become a competitive Middle Eastern intelligence specialist?
Q&A with Bill Golden
CEO, IntelligenceCareers.com
Question:
I am an active duty military member who wants to work in intelligence.
I am rated a novice Persian Farsi linguist and have command and control (emergency actions) experience. I also have a TS SCI clearance. I am going to pursue a bachelors in intelligence studies through American Military University (AMU) but I don’t know what to specialize in. I want to be an intelligence analyst in regards to Iranian policy.
Also, I am not sure what agency to seek employment from. What kind of experience is needed for entry level positions? How many years of military service in intelligence is desired? What kind of degree should I specialize in from the AMU Intelligence Studies program? I just want to fight the good fight by serving in the best capacity that I can.
Answer:
Just 3-4 years of being a military intelligence analyst is sufficient to getting your next career successfully underway.
If Iranian policy analyst is your goal then reach for a master degree.
If studying at AMU then consider their BA in Middle Eastern Studies and/or their MA in International Relations and Conflict Resolution.
Iran will play a major role in American foreign policy for years to come … just as it has played a role in the politics of the Middle East for several thousand of years.
You will find a good future with your language skills, a good degree, a security clearance and some real world knowledge.
As to who would hire you: positions requiring knowledge of Iran and/or knowledge of Farsi.
Recommendation: avoid ever being a linguist as your primary non-military role. ALL EMPLOYERS, government or private sector, consider linguists to be easily disposed assets and avoid hiring for the longterm. Being a linguist however is a very valuable skillset which will put money in your pocket. It is far better professionally to be a ______ Specialist with knowledge of Language X than it is to be a Linguist with knowledge of Language X.
FYI – my background is both analytical and linguistic (5 languages) so have been there, done that.
Best regards,
Bill Golden
CEO, IntelligenceCareers.com
USADefenseIndustryJobs.com
USAJobZoo.com
Q&A – How do I get my first security clearance?
Q&A with Bill Golden
CEO, IntelligenceCareers.com
Question:
I have been trying to find full-time employment with the government for sometime now and have not been successful. It seems that every career fair requires a minimum of a security clearance which I don’t have. I’d like to know how one goes about getting a clearance.
Answer:
Government: find a job within government, almost any job. The government can then sponsor you for a clearance. You cannot get one on your own. Even if the job does not require a clearance then find an open door of some kind. The guru of government jobs is Kathryn Troutman at http://www.resume-place.com/
Industry: Focus on applying to jobs requiring a Secret clearance. If you have strong skills then an employer can often get you a clearance.
Military service: our surveys show that approximately 75% of people within industry got their first security clearance through military service. Getting your first clearance is the hardest one to get.
The career fairs that you are going to are probably defense industry career events. They are looking for folks already possessing a clearance. Finding already cleared workers is a major professional hurdle if you are an employer, or getting a clearance is an almost overwhelming challenge if you are seeking to become a cleared professional worker for the first time.
Best regards,
Bill Golden
CEO, IntelligenceCareers.com
USADefenseIndustryJobs.com
USAJobZoo.com
Q&A ~ Am seeking a Federal Automated Logistics position. How do I find them?
Q&A with Bill Golden CEO, IntelligenceCareers.com
Question:
I’m currently in the U.S Army. My job title is Automated Logistics Specialist, what kind of federal job can I get with this kind of background?
Answer:
Search for what you already are. Look for essentially the same kind of job: logistician, and specifically seek out ’automated logistician’ positions.
There are currently 49 federal ‘automated logistics’ jobs available in the federal government as of today. Just search USAJobs.gov for the terms: automated logistics.
Select the hyperlink to find other jobs in defense industry logistics.
Best regards,
Bill Golden
CEO, IntelligenceCareers.com
USADefenseIndustryJobs.com
USAJobZoo.com
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Visit http://www.USAJobZoo.com or http://USADefenseIndustryJobs.com for all of your job search needs. Both are IntelligenceCareers.com websites.
