security clearance, how hard to get? (credit issues, look for a job, high school)

[renee_cal]

Does anyone know the process to get a security clearance? also is it hard to get and how long? thanks

[zotmeister]

Originally Posted by renee_cal

Does anyone know the process to get a security clearance? also is it hard to get and how long? thanks

It all depends on the type of clearance you need to get. ..Confidential, top secret, etc. If its a federal job, it takes a good three weeks to go through the whole background check and security clearance.

[macroy]

Disclaimer - I haven't been in the federal sector for 3 years now.... so things may have changed. But it depends on your history (the more residencies, jobs, etc. you have, the longer), type of clearance and their backlog. I've seen it take as short as 4 months for a TS, and as long as two years. But in either case, your investigator should be keeping you up to date .. until the paperwork is forwarded to the adjudicator.

[cool rob]

Another thing is: The number 1 thing that many fail for is credit history. Depending on the level of clearance, and judgements, repos, late payments, etc. can be the determining factor.

[PenguinSix]

First thing to realize is that you can't get it unless you need it. You are not just going to get a clearance and then look for a job. It's not like a 'certificate' that you can then use to shop around.

So, assuming you have a job and they are requiring you to go through a background check to get a clearance, you need to be prepared for basically every detail, good and bad, to come out. They aren't necessarily going to 'bounce' you for this or that, but they will bounce you, pretty much immediately, if you lie on the application.

The best way to think of it is a scorecard. Somethings are a negative, some are a positive. In the end there is a bit of a score and they make an assessment on your reliability. For example, using drugs once in your life might be a -1, whereas heavy usage in college would be a -5. Credit problems could be a -2. Lots of friends from foreign countries, -2. Military service, +1. Not a US Citizen -20. NOTE: These are hypothetical numbers.

They are going to talk to all of your friends and colleagues and unlike that basic 'job recommendation' talk in which your former employer lies and says pleasant things, they often dig up stuff about you that you would rather forget. Again, be up front and honest with anything 'bad' in your past.

So, how hard? It's more time consuming than it is hard. Depending on the clearance level it can take months or longer to get through the process. How embarrassing it is kind of depends on you.

Good luck.

[Gabrielle]

Penguin Six is absolutely right! The worst thing you can do is lie on your application about anything embarrassing. Whatever you did WILL come out somehow and if they find out about it and you didn't tell them you are in deep s***. For an expedited TS clearance, it took about 4 months for me.

[North Beach Person]

Originally Posted by cool rob

Another thing is: The number 1 thing that many fail for is credit history. Depending on the level of clearance, and judgements, repos, late payments, etc. can be the determining factor.

I have a friend that does backgrounds on contract for the FBI and he says the same thing about credit issues. A later post mentions the military, that is a plus as long as you have an honorable discharge. What they do during the background is talk to your neighbors, your current employer and co-workers, possibly some of your teachers (I get 2 or 3 of those a year). I don't know about now, but back in the 70's my brother's reauthorization was held up because of a term paper I did in high school and my sending away for information to use in it. That same term paper held my clearance up in 1981.

[Gil3]

Originally Posted by renee_cal

Does anyone know the process to get a security clearance? also is it hard to get and how long? thanks

As eloquently provided by Penguin and others, it just depends. Some background investigations are done by federal (OPM) only and others are conducted by private firms/contractors. Each have their own timelines and/or deadines for completion. The best thing is to be patient, because if you are applying for a federal position, patience is something you will need a lot of.

My suggestion to you in the meantime is to compile all of your info such as old employers, addresses, associates, etc. Having all of this info available when you fill out the questions will definitely help speed things up a bit.

Some agencies will go ahead and bring you on while the investigation is still in progress, but your access to certain databases and other duties will be limited, if not restricted.

The biggest thing is not to BS the investigators. They are good at what they do and whatever you attempt to conceal will eventually come out anyway. Just be honest. If you don't get the job because of honesty, that's ok. It's better possibly being barred from federal employment or any other position requiring a clearance, possibly for life due to dishonesty. Believe me..they talk to everyone. I had people I haven't spoken to in years and relatives across the country tell me someone came around asking questions about me, lol.

[renee_cal]

wow thats nuts! thanks all for the info

[taconis]

No, it's not nuts. You will potentially be dealing with sensitive information that the general population does not need to know. Your employer needs to know that you are the type of person they can trust with that information. It's as simple as that. My clearance took three months and I lived overseas for two and 1/2 years. They also wanted to know a lot of details about my divorce that I didn't think were necessary but I needed my clearance.