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Interview with a Recruiter, Lauren Arky, URS
Lauren, tell us about yourself and URS
I’ve worked for URS since 2010 as a corporate recruiter working on funded positions, proposals and contingent offers. I recruit for a wide variety of areas in the company including Navy and Air Force contracts at the DC Navy Yard, Groton, CT, Middletown, RI and Dayton, OH. I primarily recruit cleared personnel.
URS is a growing company. Four years ago we had 40k employees and today we have 56k. We’ve diversified into oil and gas and there are a lot of opportunities for growth within the company.
Tell us about the URS hiring process
We typically start with a phone screen. Depending on the location of the position we’ll do a phone, video or in-person interview with the hiring manager. For senior positions we may have a second interview. We often use situational questions in interviews, asking job seekers how they handled themselves in a challenge that they encountered on the job.
We check with two previous supervisors when checking references. A drug screen is done after an offer has been accepted, and we do verify education for cleared positions.
Do you target veterans for hiring
Absolutely. URS has a strong focus on attracting, retaining and hiring transitioning military and veterans as well as military spouses. Within URS we value the diversity and skills vets bring to the company. Over 40% of our Federal Services employees are vets. For the fifth consecutive year URS has been recognized by G.I. Jobs as one of the top military-friendly employers, finishing first among defense contractors and fifth among all employers.
What types of cleared positions do you fill
Many different types of cleared positions including information assurance, engineering, acquisition and logistics.
View all URS positions on ClearedJobs.Net
What are the toughest security cleared positions for you to fill
It depends on what the requirements are. The ones that are most challenging require high level clearances and a variety of specific certifications. With a company of our size we have so many opportunities across the country and internationally so I encourage people to come to our website and do a search to see if we may have the right job for you. We have a few positions that need a PE (Professional Engineer) in Virginia combined with a TS/SCI clearance (Lead Mechancial Engineer, Lead Electrical Engineer) so I would love to talk to anyone with that combination!
What’s the most inappropriate thing a job seeker has ever said to you, or that you’ve seen on a resume
Some cleared job seekers share way too many personal details when talking to me about their job search. There is a professional line you shouldn’t cross. It’s always best to stick to your work experience. I am happy to see interesting hobbies listed but keep in mind the audience when you are writing a resume.
We also still regularly see things on resumes such as dates of birth, social security numbers, marital status and children, and I would recommend keeping those details private. Especially the social security number. That is not safe for anyone to share publicly.
What do job seekers need to know about your job as a recruiter
Recruiters want to be helpful and have the best intentions. Our workload is so busy that we have to prioritize and time is our biggest challenge.
If you contact a recruiter be as specific as possible about the opportunity that interests you. Let us know which position you are interested in and ideally include the requisition number so we can look it up in our career center. It’s harder for me to keep an eye out for all the outstanding candidates that I meet, but I would love to hear from you if you see an opportunity, have applied for the job, and meet all the job requirements.
Lauren Arky is a 2013 and 2014 Best Recruiter, as voted by the job seekers attending Cleared Job Fairs.
APS5 contract in kuwait are you hireing yet
Dear Lauren:
I am going to get laid off from my job on Aug 31. This would be my 3rd lay off in this past four years. My background is Quality Assurance and I have been looking for a job for more than a year. Do you review resume and give advice about their resme?
Best Regards
Khan Monawer
Hi Khan,
Go to our career site http://www.bestworkofyourlife.com and see if you find anything to apply to that matches your background and experience. We have over 100,000 employees now.
Lauren
Lauren,
I’ve been a systems administrator for 6.5 years, and am a disabled veteran. Im currently unemployed, living in Kansas City,MO am open to relocation, and am available immediately.
Please contact me via email for any positions.
Thanks,
Jabriel King
Mobile:816-379-5573
Email: [email protected]
how do I reach you?
Please contact with , I have TS Vs poly with some network security experience and plenty of customer service experience.
443-340-4486
Lauren Arky,
I have 33 years of telecommunication experience and I would like to know if you might have a position. Right now I work for Verizon but they have been offering buyouts on our pensions and I am looking to stay in the field and work for 10+ years. If you would like I have a resume and a cover letter that could send you. I do have my security clearances and I would be glad to talk with you.
I look forward to the opportunity to interview with Lauren Arky, URS. Please contact me as soon as possible at 727-688-9676, to arrange for an interview.
Good Day Ms. Lauren Arky,
My name is Tamra Sproap, I have read your article about clear jobs and the information that was given was very helpful. I would like to speak with you on a one to one some day. Congratulations in reorganization for Best Recruiter (2013-2014).
Respectfully Submitted,
Tamra Sproaps
(314) 761-6308
Respectfully Submitted,
Tamra Sproaps
I am interested in joining your team. Can UI forward my resume to you? If so, I will wait on your reply to send.
Michael R. Jackson
548 Windrift Dr
Belleville IL 62221
618-593-7674
[email protected]
Thank you
Please respond to my emwil address so that I can send you my resume and cover letter. thank you Thomas Pruet, MBA
URS was mentioned as a possible successor contractor by the incumbents’ CEO at a Town Hall Meeting, for the NGA- West, Base Operations Contract. That made me happy, but is it true?
http://www.linkedin.com/in/robertlalexander/
Wanted to reply to say this is a marvelous contact and recruitment approach technique. I am very impressed. We share prior experiences at the WNY and Dayton, OH. I look forward to the chance to chat when it is convenient. The CONSULTANT position looks like a smooth alignment for my skills and experience. My TS/SSBI 5 year update should have been completed as I was departing my last employer with a WARN layoff May 28, 2013. So I should be within the two year limit to be reinstated. JPAS should be able to confirm that fact.
My calendar is open this week if you wish to propose a 20-30 minute window with a date/time for me to call you. I’m in Puget Sound (PDT).
Cordially yours,
-aj-
From Lauren: “Thank you all for your comments and your interest in URS. As mentioned in the article, I encourage you to review our positions on ClearedJobs.Net and on the URS career site and apply to jobs for which you meet all the requirements. Once you have applied to a specific job, you can reach out to me on LinkedIn and in your connection request please let me know which req you applied to. If you have a general inquiry you can reach out to me on LinkedIn, but please understand that it may be a wait for a response due to the number of inquiries we receive.”
Dear Lauren,
I’m a veteran CBRN Operations Specialist. I have various skill sets and managed on various levels. I worked multiple positions in various fields within the military. I’m looking for a position within your organization. My question is “What approach should I look at to gain employment within the organization?” Advice is more that welcomed. Thank you and congrats!
I am a civilian looking for a cleared job.
I am looking to get back into DOD Contracting arena. I have 27 combined experience between local and federal law enforcement and 6 years in DOD I/T working environment. I am available for a phone interview on Friday, anytime at 443-340-4486
Hi Lauren,
I was contacted by a internal recruiter a week ago to schedule interview with URS, I completed the 5 page application (on line) including the pre-employment back ground check that was attached to his email. To date I have not heard anything about my interview date. What is the normal time to schedule a interview with URS? It’s only been a week, would you suggest I follow up with my recruiter?
Thanks!
Rodrigo, yes it’s certainly appropriate to follow-up with the recruiter who contacted you after a week to check your status. Good luck!
I am a Senior Telecommunication Specialist with Verizon. Right now I am a on dedicated telecom tech for the Corps of Engineers in Alexandria Virginia. I am looking for another job because Verizon is always offering buyout retirement packages and I have enough years to retire from them but I would like to work for another 10 years.
I have a resume and would like to send so you could look at it. I do have my clearances.
I am available for a telephone interview or a on site interview just let me know. Thank you for any help you can give.
yes i am available for a telephone interview thank you very