Talent Manifesto

Dear Talent,

True North Defense is an independent talent advisory firm, not a resume mill. We see how hard the people in this industry work, especially our veterans and former service members who have transitioned their dedication and turned in the uniform for a pair of khakis.

Let’s call it what it is: too many brilliant professionals in this defense corridor are currently overworked, overbilled, and underpaid. You are executing critical national security work, yet in many cases are being treated like a data credit in a recruiter's mass-email machine. We don't play that game here. Your career is far more than just a simplified line of details on a spreadsheet or a quick 15-minute rushed phone screen that doesn't even scratch the surface of what you have to offer and what you have sacrified. 

Some of you are tired and have spent years in the industry. We would know, we talk to you every day. Others are just starting out and are full of great ideas and fresh perspectives, hoping for a company to take a chance. Both scenarios hold a special place here at True North Defense, and both are equally as valuable.

A career change, whether 25 years in or just starting out, is a major life event. The jobs that we do every day affect the core aspects of our lives – how comfortable we can afford to be, where we can afford to live, how long we have to commute, and how much time we can spend with our loved ones or doing the things that really bring us passion. In some cases, you are even asked to move, to relocate your entire lives and families cross-country for the perfect job. It can be quite intimidating.

Government Contracting can often be a very rigid place for you, with the constant worry over contract stability or the disappointing prospect of working with a highly talented, yet poorly managed team. This is why True North Defense is incredibly selective when it comes to the clients that we work with. We strive to partner only with Primes that share these same core values and actually want to work with you, versus just billing you. We offer 20 years of experience in this industry and have supported a vast number of government contractors of all shapes and sizes so trust us, we know how to pick the good ones.

Our Code of Honor

We Fight for Your Value: We know you can get burned out or frustrated. Our job is to align you with clients who respect your expertise and compensate you accurately for it.

​The Real Details Up Front: We don't play the "guess the salary" or “you go first” game. We tell you the specs, the corporate culture, and the real compensation parameters. We also provide the good, the bad and the ugly. Not every client or contract is 100% perfect, so we provide all of the critical details upfront and let you decide. We know you don’t like surprises and we don’t like them either.

No Blind Submissions: Your resume will never be flung into a corporate portal without your explicit, enthusiastic permission. Your privacy is fiercely protected.

​We Respect the Hustle: We meet you exactly where you are and appreciate you for exactly who you are. There are no corporate black holes here–just direct access. Email your resume (or whatever draft you are working with, no judgment here, we can help with that too...) straight to our Founder (mreed@TNDTalentAdvisory.com). We review every resume thoroughly before scheduling your consultation, ensuring our initial introductory call is a highly targeted strategy session, focused entirely on the specific portfolios, programs, services, and opportunities that align with your unique background. 

We Respect You: To our heroic veterans and dedicated active duty members, we explicitly thank you for your service. To our energetic college grads, we see you and are here to help you navigate the market! To our busy Technical Program Managers with children at home, trying to beat the traffic and make it out by 5:00, we stand with you, because we are you.

So, whether you are looking to make a transition soon or would simply like to network for the future, we openly invite you to reach out. Allow us the opportunity to further showcase our vast client portfolio and the ways in which a Talent Advisory can work not just for the Primes, but for the Talent as well.  Afterall, you are the ones holding the real keys to contract success. 

Faithfully Here to Serve,

True North

​From the Seas to the Stars…..