INSIDE THE

Interview with a Recruiter, Leslie Taylor, ICF International

Leslie, tell us about yourself and ICF International

I joined ICF International in 2011 and am the Lead Recruiter for the Enterprise Cyber Security Division with more than 15 years of experience in IT, cleared and cybersecurity recruiting. My passion is recruiting top talent to meet the needs of the business. I’m a member of Leadership Fairfax and leverage participation in a variety of IT/cyber, university/college, association and military career fairs and networking events. I primarily recruit for opportunities on a national scale.

ICF’s success is a result of our ability to skillfully pair the right tools with the right experts to help our clients address critical societal issues and unprecedented challenges. We combine technical expertise, including deep program and industry knowledge, with world-class analytics and leading-edge innovation. We support our clients through entire program and project lifecycles, from research and analysis through execution. And we perpetuate improvements to achieve lasting results.

For years, our team of top cybersecurity specialists has helped intelligence and military clients successfully defend the most aggressively attacked infrastructure on the planet. But the benefits of our work extend far beyond this complex challenge. Our vision is to be the premier cybersecurity advisory and research firm serving government and industry with programs that:

1. Design cybersecurity programs for our nation’s critical infrastructure
2. Create cybersecurity architectures that reflect each industry’s unique needs
3. Build a unified approach to cybersecurity, national, and homeland security standard, programs, and best practices
4. Create the world’s best cybersecurity R&D programs   

What’s your hiring process

We have a well-defined process ensuring a great experience for our candidates and hiring managers. The process normally takes about 4 – 6 weeks for candidates with active clearances. Our Recruiting team typically conducts the initial interview by phone, followed by a phone interview with the hiring manager and concludes with an in-person interview with the client. ICF conducts a due diligence background check prior to start which normally takes 3-5 days.

Do you target transitioning military

Yes, military recruiting is a part of ICF’s framework and culture. Our first president was C. D. Lester, a former Tuskegee Airman, who was joined in the enterprise by three U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) analysts. We actively participate with NVTC Vets council and national veterans outreach, organizations, transition centers, events and forums to attract and retain veteran hires.

As part of our commitment to fostering relationships with small business, ICF International partners with Log-In Systems, Inc. (LIS) under the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Mentor Protégé Program. LIS is a small service-disabled veteran-owned business that specializes in providing professional, operational, and management services. In 2013, ICF was named Outstanding Large Employer of the year by Disabled American Veterans (DAV) for its dedication to veterans..

What types of cleared positions do you fill

We recruit for a wide range of skills and talent to include Software Developers, Network Analysts, Programmers, Cyber Specialists, Homeland Security, Emergency Management and Program Managers that provide the following services to our clients.

• Computer + Network Defense
• Cyber Research + Future Solutions
• Full Merger Between Logical + Physical Controls
• Identity, Credentialing + Access Management (ICAM)
• Improved Auditing + Monitoring
• Information Assurance, Privacy + Compliance
• Organizational Policies + Governance
• Homeland Security and Resilience Strategies
• Emergency Management

View ICF International positions on ClearedJobs.Net

What are the toughest security cleared positions for you to fill and why

Software/Web Developers as these skills are in heavy demand in the market.

What’s the craziest thing a job seeker has ever said to you

During the interview the candidate thanked the team for the interview and indicated that they were looking forward to working with X company. Unfortunately they mistakenly said the wrong company name!

What’s the most inappropriate thing you see on cleared resumes

Misspelled words or typos, and personal information such as SSN or height and weight.

What do job seekers need to know about your job as a recruiter at ICF International

ICF has a straightforward corporate philosophy—hire the best people; reward creativity and entrepreneurship; maintain the highest standards of integrity, ethics, and quality; and always focus on clients’ needs.