Ep. 248 Federal Efficiency Starts with Talent: What HR Experts Know

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If you are a regular listener, you know that I interview tech companies to have them elucidate the ways they can help federal agencies reach goals.

Today, I will pull back the curtain and sit down with an HR professional from a successful company to understand his business and how he is hiring technical staff.

First, Kentro has been in business for over twenty years and has a formidable reputation for ethical and responsible assistance in federal projects.

Jun Choi is the Senior Vice President of Human Capital Services at Kentro. His company focuses on digital modernization, cybersecurity, and data and AI services.

During the interview, Jun Choi highlights the importance of a growth mindset, adaptability, and practical experience over formal education. The focus is on growth because nobody has a crystal ball to divine what will happen in the next five years.  If the past is prologue, Kentro will expand, but where?

Procurement methods are rapidly changing along with technology itself. Many of the skills needed today were not taught in universities in the past. As a result, Jun Choi likes to discover whether a candidate has been in situations where a flexible mindset has been the key to success.

He has seen college graduates with simply basic skills. Unfortunately, today’s AI can do all the basics easily. Humans need critical thinking when they understand the implications of a large language model.

Choi remains optimistic about the future, predicting stabilization and innovation driven by AI.