Task Force Talent

🚨 You have less competition than you think you do, episode 2: ��� Of the 100+ applications we received over the last ~48 hours, 80% were disqualified immediately because it was obvious that they did not read the job description. We suspect many of these were using bots--and not very good ones--to mass apply to jobs. Example: Question: Foreign languages (Optional) Answer: 11 Question: What is the best work experience you’ve had, and why? (Optional) Answer: 11 Question: What is the worst work experience you’ve had, and why? (Optional) Answer: 11 👉 Everyone knows the correct answer is 42! 👈

Please don't do this.

Ever wonder how much competition you have for a job?  If you read the job description, it’s way less than you think, at least with us. Here’s an example with a Federal SaaS sales role that we recently filled.  We had several strong candidates that we already knew, and then we ran a search for a few months (including outreach, advertising, referrals, etc.)  Overall, we considered 25-50 applicants. The required criteria for this role, clearly stated* in the job post, were:  1.)     Prior Federal sales experience, 2.)     Prior SaaS sales experience, and  3.)     Location in (or willingness to relocate to) the DC metro area (hybrid.)  72% of the people who applied DID NOT meet these criteria!  If you did, you had a better than 50/50 shot at getting an interview with us, and about a one in three chance of interviewing with the client company.  The candidate who accepted the role was very strong, with 20+ years of Federal sales experience and 4+ years of selling similar SaaS products to the target agencies.  We knew immediately that this person was a good match for the client. Lesson learned:  Read the job description and don’t overestimate your competition, even if you a see a large number of applications. *Note:  Yes, there is a school of thought that says, “Apply anyway, you have nothing to lose,” which can be true in some cases (subject of a future post.)  In this instance we are talking about the situation where there are a few, clearly stated, must have requirements.  

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🚀 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗔𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗹 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰, 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗮𝗹𝗲𝘀, 𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀. You can apply via ads on LinkedIn (which we rotate) or via our website at https://lnkd.in/gKMx4-Z4 👉 𝗔𝘁 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝘄𝗼, 𝘂𝘀𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 – 𝗡𝗼 𝗔𝗜, 𝗡𝗼 𝗸𝗲𝘆𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝗳𝗶𝗹𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀. 🚨 𝗖𝘆𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗦𝗮𝗹𝗲𝘀 (𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗲):  We have a Series A cybersecurity training company seeking an experienced sales executive for the west coast. This company has a cool, unique product and is looking to expand rapidly. Prior SaaS sales and cybersecurity experience is strictly required. Candidates must be able to confidently and clearly explain key cybersecurity issues (no fluff, no spin) as the people running this company are experts in this area.  👉 We also frequently have 𝗙𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁 𝗘𝘅𝗲𝗰𝘂𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀/𝗙𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗮𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗥𝗼𝗹𝗲𝘀, especially for people with experience selling software to DHS/DoD and related entities. 💡 𝗦𝗼𝗳𝘁𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗿𝘀 (𝗙𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗰𝗸, 𝗔𝗜/𝗠𝗟, 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀) (𝗩𝗔, 𝗨𝗧):  We have several really cool, well funded commercial companies in Northern Virginia looking for mid to senior software engineers (at least 5, ideally 8+ years of experience.) All of these companies have technical interviews which require some background in theoretical computer science and experience building actual products. Based on our experience, a computer science degree is required to be competitive. 👉 We sometimes have remote roles, but these are rare. 🔐 𝗖𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗲𝘀: We have a lot of roles available in VA/DC/MD for cleared technical personnel across many different companies.  Right now all of our roles require TS/SCI FSP and we cannot upgrade clearances.  ✅ 𝗪𝗲 𝘂𝘀𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲: 𝗖𝘆𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝗦𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲, 𝗜𝗧, 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗢𝗽𝘀, 𝗖𝗹𝗼𝘂𝗱 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗖𝘆𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗰𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗶𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀. 🤞 𝗪𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲: Analysis and similar roles 🛑 𝗪𝗲 𝗿𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲: Program Management, Translation, Physical Security, Help Desk, or Support functions. ⚡ 𝗥𝗙 𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗿: We are looking for an RF engineer with experience building actual HF hardware (designing and building circuits, NOT link analysis) for a very cool startup in northern Virginia. Other: 👉 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗼��𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗲𝘅𝗵𝗮𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲! We usually have several specific roles requiring unique knowledge or skill sets. 👉 𝗨.𝗦. 𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗻𝘀/𝗟𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 (𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗱) 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲. No visa sponsorship. 👉 No internships.

🚀 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗔𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗹 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰, 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗮𝗹𝗲𝘀, 𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀. You can apply via ads on LinkedIn (which we rotate) or via our website at https://lnkd.in/gKMx4-Z4 👉 𝗔𝘁 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝘄𝗼, 𝘂𝘀𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 – 𝗡𝗼 𝗔𝗜, 𝗡𝗼 𝗸𝗲𝘆𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝗳𝗶𝗹𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀. 🚨 𝗖𝘆𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗦𝗮𝗹𝗲𝘀 (𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗲):  We have a Series A cybersecurity training company seeking an experienced sales executive for the west coast. This company has a cool, unique product and is looking to expand rapidly. Prior SaaS sales and cybersecurity experience is strictly required. Candidates must be able to confidently and clearly explain key cybersecurity issues (no fluff, no spin) as the people running this company are experts in this area.  👉 We also frequently have 𝗙𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁 𝗘𝘅𝗲𝗰𝘂𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀/𝗙𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗮𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗥𝗼𝗹𝗲𝘀, especially for people with experience selling software to DHS/DoD and related entities. 💡 𝗦𝗼𝗳𝘁𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗿𝘀 (𝗙𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗰𝗸, 𝗔𝗜/𝗠𝗟, 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀) (𝗩𝗔, 𝗨𝗧):  We have several really cool, well funded commercial companies in Northern Virginia looking for mid to senior software engineers (at least 5, ideally 8+ years of experience.) All of these companies have technical interviews which require some background in theoretical computer science and experience building actual products. Based on our experience, a computer science degree is required to be competitive. 👉 We sometimes have remote roles, but these are rare. 🔐 𝗖𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗲𝘀: We have a lot of roles available in VA/DC/MD for cleared technical personnel across many different companies.  Right now all of our roles require TS/SCI FSP and we cannot upgrade clearances.  ✅ 𝗪𝗲 𝘂𝘀𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲: 𝗖𝘆𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝗦𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲, 𝗜𝗧, 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗢𝗽𝘀, 𝗖𝗹𝗼𝘂𝗱 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗖𝘆𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗰𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗶𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀. 🤞 𝗪𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲: Analysis and similar roles 🛑 𝗪𝗲 𝗿𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲: Program Management, Translation, Physical Security, Help Desk, or Support functions. ⚡ 𝗥𝗙 𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗿: We are looking for an RF engineer with experience building actual HF hardware (designing and building circuits, NOT link analysis) for a very cool startup in northern Virginia. Other: 👉 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗲𝘅𝗵𝗮𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲! We usually have several specific roles requiring unique knowledge or skill sets. 👉 𝗨.𝗦. 𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗻𝘀/𝗟𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 (𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗱) 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲. No visa sponsorship. 👉 No internships.

We just posted ads for quite a few new jobs, ranging from sales to research to engineering (more details in a separate post soon.) Unfortunately, the implementation engineering job and general senior software engineering job were not linking properly to our website due to issues with LinkedIn. We've reposted those and they should be working now... If you are interested in these roles, but you are not redirected to our website via LinkedIn, please visit our careers page at https://lnkd.in/gkvgpNu3 and fill out the single application for all jobs. It's easy and allows us to consider you for everything. Good answers to the questions absolutely matter and make a big difference in our evaluation process. 100+ people (supposedly) applied to our engineering jobs on Sunday, March 10th. A large fraction appeared to be either bots or people who did not read the job description. We're going to review the resumes we can see -- LinkedIn simultaneously says both 60 people and 0 people applied for one job -- and follow up as we can. If in doubt, please apply again via the new ad and answer the questions on our website. Apologies for any inconvenience!

Tired of browsing job listings? One application will put you into consideration for hundreds of jobs across well over more than a dozen great companies! Task Force Talent is seeking technical experts for seed to Series B companies as well as government contractors. We have positions in the DC area, Salt Lake City, and (new) Boston and New York! We also keep a list of strong candidates to fill remote roles, which go so fast they are often not advertised. Salaries: $150k - $300k+. Highest priorities as of October 2023: -- Technical: Software engineers, Data Engineers, Dev Ops, Data Science (with strong software development skills), AI/ML experts (with strong software development skills) -- Non-technical: Contract capture expert (DC area, hybrid) Criteria: -- Top 5% (highly competitive) -- At least 3, ideally 5+ years of experience -- U.S. citizen (visa sponsorship is rare, though not impossible for top 1% candidates.) -- For cleared roles: existing high level clearance; we cannot sponsor or upgrade clearances. https://lnkd.in/gtpXPBBT