Join America Back to Work, a weekly podcast, video, and blog series that covers timely and relevant topics affecting the labor market and workforce with industry experts. The series includes recruiting, hiring, retention, employee satisfaction, customer service, background screenings, and more.
America Back to Work: Carmen Amato
From CIA Covert Operations to Effective Employee Recruiting
Welcome to the latest episode of America Back to Work, where we delve into the world of hiring, company culture, and insider risk.
In this episode, our host, Arnette Heintze, is joined by a very special guest: Carmen Amato.
Carmen is an award-winning author and former CIA officer who brings a unique perspective to our conversation. From her 30-year career with the CIA to her acclaimed detective series, she shares insights on identifying deception, hiring practices, and how her experiences in the intelligence community influence her writing. Join us as we explore the intersection of insider risk management, HR, and the world of espionage.
In this episode, she shares her unparalleled insights into the mechanics of deception, the importance of cultural fit in hiring, and the parallels between intelligence work and HR practices. She offers a unique perspective on the challenges of recruitment and talent management in today’s competitive job market.
Key Episode Highlights
- The Mechanics of Deception: Carmen delves into her experiences with lying and deception across global assignments, drawing parallels to the challenges faced in the hiring process.
- Cultural Fit Over Qualifications: Learn why Carmen believes assessing a candidate’s fit within an organization’s culture is as crucial as evaluating their qualifications.
- Strategies for Managing Insider Risk: Carmen shares strategies from her CIA career that can be applied to managing insider risks in the corporate world, emphasizing the importance of a solid communication plan in the recruitment process.
- Red Flags and Behavioral Indicators: Insights into the red flags and behavioral indicators that can help HR professionals and recruiters identify potential deception in candidates.
- Interviewing Techniques from the Intelligence Field: Explore innovative interviewing techniques used in intelligence gathering that can enhance the recruitment process in the private sector.
- Adapting to the Changing Workforce: Carmen discusses the impact of societal changes and the gig economy on traditional employment paradigms, offering advice for attracting and retaining talent.
- Carmen’s Creative Projects: Get a sneak peek into Carmen’s current writing projects, including a new book series and a blog focused on lying and deception.
Guest Bio
Carmen Amato is a retired CIA intelligence officer with a distinguished career dedicated to national security. Post-retirement, Carmen has become an award-winning author, known for her Detective Emilia Cruz series set in Acapulco. Her works have been recognized by Crime Masters of America and optioned for television.
Resources Mentioned
Connect with Us
- Subscribe to “America Back to Work” on your favorite podcast platform.
- Follow S2Verify on LinkedIn for more insights into HR practices and talent management.
Closing Thoughts
This episode sheds light on the importance of digging deeper into candidates’ backgrounds, motivations, and cultural compatibility. Carmen Amato’s experiences offer valuable lessons for HR professionals looking to refine their hiring strategies in an ever-evolving landscape.
Join us next week as we continue to explore critical topics in HR, recruiting, and getting America back to work.
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About America Back to Work
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S2Verify is one of the leading, privately held, pre-employment background screening companies in the United States.
Arnette Heintze is co-founder and chief strategy officer at S2Verify. Before establishing S2Verify, Arnette spent more than three decades working at the highest levels of federal, state, and local law enforcement.
He served more than 20 years in the United States Secret Service as a special agent and senior executive where he planned, designed, and implemented security strategies to protect U.S. Presidents, world leaders, events of national significance, and our nation’s most sensitive assets, including financial infrastructure.
After retiring from the Secret Service, Arnette focused on building the growth and performance of innovative start-ups and SMBs. In 2004, he established Hillard Heintze, a globally recognized strategic security risk management and investigations firm.
In 2009, along with Bill Whitford and Jim Zimbardi, Arnette established S2 Verify with an approach and methodology that delivers fast, accurate, compliant, and affordable background screening insights crucial to better managing insider risks, threats, and vulnerabilities.