Don’t have a security clearance? Willing to wait the months it may take to obtain one? Good news – there are companies out there willing to sponsor you – but how do you demonstrate you’re ‘clearable’ to a potential employer?
Many sites have specific language that covers positions where a clearance is required, but the employer is able to sponsor or upgrade the clearance. Drill down into the advanced settings of the job search functions to find out which positions may be available to applicants without a current clearance.
Many veterans left the service with an active clearance, but let that clearance expire. It’s still worth indicating your prior clearance including the sponsoring agency and date. That’s one way to show you’re ‘clearable’ to a potential employer. Not sure if your current clearance is active? You can find out through your former security officer or by making a privacy act request. The bad news – if your investigation is more than five years old, or if you’ve been away from your cleared position for more than two years, your clearance is expired – you’ll need to undergo a new investigation to get back into cleared work.
The final way to show your clearable to potential employers? Tell them! Honesty is the best policy when applying for a cleared job. Given the current delays in background investigations, things like recent drug use and bad credit may make it take months to get a final clearance determination. In contrast, with a clean background your interim clearance may be approved in a matter of weeks or months. You don’t have to spill your dirty secrets to a recruiter, but if you don’t have any, it may be worth spilling that.
Employers today need new young professionals to accept the call to serve their country through cleared work. If you’re ready to join their ranks, all you have to do is be honest, be patient, and apply.
