The desire to change jobs, whether for better pay or to realign one’s career path, can have added considerations when security clearance is an issue – especially if that said clearance is under review. In most cases it might be best to stay put instead in those circumstances, and allow the review to play out before any career move. Even if you think you don’t want or need the clearance, you may find yourself changing your mind.
Whether a government employee or contract worker, if you leave a position while your security clearance is pending, you’re granted ‘loss of jurisdiction‘ – which could put you in limbo. Other employers could be hesitant to hire you because you’re not already cleared, and it’s not as easy as simply reapplying for a new clearance, since you will still need to find some resolution with your pending case.
“The last thing you should do if you are under a security review is to change jobs,” said La Tonya Camera Walker, director of recruiting for Adecco Government. “You want to stay put where you are, at least until you have the review. If you are trying to change jobs while in review it could seriously delay the process.”
Should you stay or should you go?
In most cases, an employee is able to remain on the job pending a review or security clearance hearing. If given that opportunity, it’s always best to stick it out, even if the process extends into months.
“If for example you are working for the Air Force and your security clearance is questioned you can continue to work at your job while any hearing is pending,” said Gregory F. Greiner, senior counsel at the Tully Rinckey lawfirm specializing in cases involving security clearance.
However, it becomes a problem when you are facing an Incident Report and leave that position.
“In essence at this point you don’t have a sponsor for security clearance any longer, and your security clearance under review can’t be evaluated,” said Greiner. “As a result there is no way to adjudicate your clearance, and you will lose your sponsor for clearance.”
Without that sponsor, getting that next job could become very difficult, and it will impossible to do the job until the clearance is resolved.
“You could find yourself very much stuck in limbo that is hard to get out of,” warned Greiner. “It is very hard to find a government contractor that will wait for the adjudication to go through. Most contractors will instead want someone who can walk in the door and start working. It isn’t worth the headache for that employer, because they can’t know how the review might turn out.”
What You Should Do if You’ve Already Left
If you’ve already left a cleared position and find yourself in this kind of limbo, with an unresolved incident report or loss of jurisdiction on your record, the first step is to determine what the issue is, if you don’t know already. If you weren’t aware an incident report was filed or don’t know what’s on your record, you can find out through requesting a copy of your JPAS record. At that point, you can begin taking the steps to mitigate any issue.
You’ll still need any agency to sponsor you in order to resolve the incident report, but it will be much easier to do if you have your paperwork in order. You can approach your former or potential employer with the information necessary to mitigate or resolve your case. In many cases, an employer will be willing to offer a conditional offer of employment contingent upon your receiving a favorable determination within a set period of time.
