Ryan Carpenter and Nandita Balakrishnan of the Special Competitive Studies Project (SCSP), a nonpartisan nonprofit working to advance U.S. national competitiveness in the age of artificial intelligence, join us on this episode of ClearedCast. Ryan and Nandita share how SCSP is shaping the future through two powerful initiatives: the AI + Expo, a three-day event in Washington, D.C., bringing together government, industry, and academia to collaborate on AI's impact across sectors—and a brand-new, free Coursera course titled AI and National Security, built to educate and empower mid-career national security professionals. They discuss how national security now intersects with economic and technological domains, why adaptability is essential, and how SCSP creates accessible pathways for students, mid-career professionals, and policy leaders to reskill, upskill, and lead. Whether you’re a policymaker, student, or professional in a skiff wondering where to begin—this episode has something for you. 🧠 Learn more and register for the AI + Expo: <a href="https://expo.scsp.ai/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://expo.scsp.ai/</a> 🎓 Enroll in the free Coursera course: AI and National Security https://www.coursera.org/learn/ai-national-security

Why AI + Expo 2025 Matters for the Future of National Security

If you are like most people, your work life will not follow a straight line. The average person changes careers&nbsp;five to seven&nbsp;times during their working life. I’ve pivoted a few times myself. I went from marketing in college, to social work, to admin, to recruiter and now back to marketing. Each&nbsp;of these major shifts led me to a better place and resulted in a dynamic career I couldn’t possibly have envisioned or planned.So, today we cover all things pivoting and figure out if it’s actually a wise thing to do - Owen Pycha, Strategic Talent Acquisition MetroStar joins the podcast to talk about his career pivots. From Wegmans, to tech, to sales, to recruiting, Owen shares his insights on what made his career pivots as smooth as possible.&nbsp;

Wegmans Stocker to Cleared Recruiter: How to Master Career Pivots

On this episode of the Security Clearance Careers podcast Sean Bigley and Lindy Kyzer discuss the finer points of why security clearance holders should report security concerns. With updated security clearance reporting requirements mandating reporting on not just yourself, but questionable actions by coworkers, it's worth understanding what a security risk is - and what it isn't.

'You're Not a Bad Snitch - You're a Security Snitch'

In recent months, significant federal workforce reductions have been implemented through initiatives led by the Trump administration and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), headed by Elon Musk. These cutbacks have profoundly affected federal employment opportunities, particularly impacting veterans, minority groups, public health services, and have have broader economic implications​. That’s why clearancejobs created FedWork.net. Today's podcast discusses ClearanceJobs, clearances, &amp; FedWork.net – the newest resource for federal careers.<ul><li>Introduction to security clearances and why they matter</li><li>How ClearanceJobs and FedWork.net help professionals in cleared careers</li><li>Tips for navigating job opportunities in federal and defense sectors</li><li>Common clearance challenges and how to overcome them</li></ul>

The Newest Federal Workforce Tool for Cleared and Uncleared Careers

If you haven't been on the job search for awhile, you may be surprised to see folks comparing today's job search to the dating journey. Sean Bigley and Lindy Kyzer discuss why maybe it's not great to think about your next employer as the great love of your life, but it may be a good thing for employers to take notions of gamification and online content mapping to make the job search process a little more consumer-friendly.

Peak Cringe or Modern Reality - Online Job Searches Feel More Like Online Dating?

Aisha Bowe, a trailblazer in the field of aerospace engineering, is making headlines once again as she prepares to embark on an extraordinary journey to space. This monumental achievement is not only a testament to her personal dedication and expertise but also highlights the groundbreaking work of her company, STEMBoard.She joins the Security Clearance Careers Podcast to discuss.

STEM to the Stars: Breaking Barriers on Earth and Beyond

57% of Workers Believe AI in Hiring Would Reduce Bias <a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.gqh-2BaxUzlo7XKIuSly0rC6DO-2FanZbnaPsB5NNO1vCKclJ6MIa8ALhBXjnDD-2F69rwey8j_dQQJK-2Bh2VwYZPbMqkB87WGhlYH1O3B2Mx5zRZG01j8HSbkkbgj8cECWCD37U9OhtdNnhv1-2B-2BRBuarCu32cw9toIChlyM18AZsMRIb0Y1QM3xScfX0VWGecEOs-2BBKeY4bBxlDBXZg1pQZHBMI9P73Ktc6QoeAQWmsbuw5TkghuAQGeo1KRkmlpuJEnhpICeHEU7sqG62x7LSPRFwKVqNNGyGHEO-2F5pZvihByhfaqa5e1RqMt48677EUx8sZr3tzUW73vDfNQDsnMrYRquvRAFdps3a9JlRfbcgd83BPxsEKeiw0YxKieXCny7jCvghj7Xr9fiiCrDhcmGNUiMDD9RKylmcw6m1iH51fEPJZaZvuE-3D" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">HireVue</a>, a leader in AI-based hiring tools, is gearing up to release the results of a new survey of over 4,000 HR leaders and employees revealing how both sides think about and interact with AI at work. This isn’t another AI hype report. This is what’s actually happening in hiring—right now. The survey covers:· Increasing AI adoption, trust and productivity.· Concerns surrounding AI (replacing jobs, misinformation, security leaks, legal compliance, bias/fairness, lack transparency, etc.).· The shift from simple automation into a new era of intelligent workflows and adaptive problem-solving.

Do You Trust AI Hiring Decisions?

Employment trends expert discusses the importance of the Workday lawsuit and how it can impact companies who use AI hiring tools. Current estimates show that around 50% of companies now use AI tools for recruitment and hiring. However, the wild west of AI usage will soon come under legal wrangling. Earlier this month, an applicant in a groundbreaking AI bias lawsuit (Mobley v. Workday, Inc.) requested the court’s approval of a nationwide class of potential plaintiffs. “Derek Mobley’s case against Workday was already setting legal precedent, as it was the first of its kind to bring charges of bias related to a company’s use of AI hiring tools,” says Rob Wilson, President of Employco USA, an employment solutions firm. “His legal team now believes they have enough plaintiffs to expand to their lawsuit nationwide which means more states could be impacted by what happens with the decision in this case.” Wilson says that the EEOC is backing Mobley’s lawsuit. “In a brief filed in the&nbsp;Mobley v. Workday&nbsp;class-action case, the EEOC argued that if the claims in the case are true, the plaintiff has valid reasons to hold the AI vendor accountable for any discrimination caused by its technology,” says Wilson. In other words, Wilson says that the EEOC wants to hold companies legally responsible if their&nbsp;AI&nbsp;hiring&nbsp;software has any potential bias built in. &nbsp;

HR and Recruiting Software Lawsuit Contractors Should be Aware Of

As we continue to see major cutbacks across the federal government, both cleared and uncleared, many states and organizations are offering support and resources for those laid off workers.Leaders across industries are highlighting companies and recruiters hiring, hosting online workshops and offering legal seminars so workers know their rights.For workers living and who were working in the Virginia area, here are some resources to check out: <ol><li>Statewide resources for federal workers in Virginia: Gov. Glenn Youngkin's office notes that the state of Virginia has 250,000 open jobs, <a href="https://virginiahasjobs.com/northern-virginia/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">including 100,000 in Northern Virginia</a>.</li><li>Arlington officials also have highlighted online resource libraries like <a href="https://vawc.virginia.gov/vosnet/Default.aspx" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Virginia Workforce Connection</a>, <a href="https://virginiacareerworks.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Virginia Career Works</a>, and <a href="https://fairfaxcountyeda.org/are-you-looking-for-a-job-were-here-to-help/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Work in Northern Virginia: Resources and Webinars</a>.</li><li>Unemployment benefits: The <a href="https://www.vec.virginia.gov" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Virginia Employment Commission</a> is available to help bridge the gap for federal workers who have been let go. The weekly benefit is $387. (*note, you should apply for unemployment in Virginia, even if you live in D.C., Maryland or somewhere else, if: your last official duty station was in Virginia; or you're a Virginia resident whose last official duty station was outside of the United States; or you're a Virginia resident who was separated from federal employment and afterward worked in non-federal employment in Virginia). You can find <a href="https://beacon.labor.maryland.gov/beacon/claimant-page.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Maryland's unemployment site here</a> and <a href="https://unemployment.dc.gov/page/apply-benefits" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">D.C.'s here</a>.</li></ol> Not specific to geographic location, ClearanceJobs has the following resources for not just federal workers, but anyone in the job search:<ol><li>ClearanceJobs LIVE: These engaging videos via ClearanceJobs.com offer advice, Q&amp;A direct with recruiters at companies, and other key takeaways for candidates in the market, both passive and active. View and RSVP to LIVE events <a href="https://www.clearancejobs.com/streams" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a>.</li><li>ClearanceJobs career events: ClearanceJobs career events are designed to bring government contractors and federal government agencies, and highly qualified cleared talent together. They are 100% free for job seekers. Attending these career events is a great way to bolster your job seeking efforts, enabling you to meet recruiters and hiring managers from companies and organizations actively looking to fill immediate jobs requiring security clearance and possibly polygraph. View the schedule <a href="https://about.clearancejobs.com/candidates/career-events" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a>.</li><li>FedWork.Net: Missing <a href="https://discuss.clearancejobsblog.com/t/goodbye-federal-soup/15566" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Federal Soup</a> right about now? In addition to the ClearanceJobsBlog.com discussion thread (more for security clearance stories and questions), ClearanceJobs launched the new network, discussion board, and messaging platform for federal workers - FedWork.Net. Create an account <a href="https://www.fedwork.net" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a>.</li></ol>

Resume and Job Search Resources for Displaced Federal Workers

Welcome to ClearedCast, by ClearanceJobs. 

ClearanceJobs is the largest career networking site for individuals with active federal clearances. Get security clearance, intelligence community, espionage, national security and defense contracting updates in our exclusive interviews with IC and government leaders.

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