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US Gov't Security Clearance

C

cessna152

Golden Member
I'm going to be graduating college in 2005 and have been looking at potential places to get a job. It seems like a Security Clearance would be a good thing to have/get. Do you need to be sponsored by a company to obtain one? Can you apply for one as an individual? How hard is it to get one?

Thanks!
 
What level? You are looking at big money to get one, assuming the government would even let individuals not sponsered from a company apply.
 
Originally posted by: cessna152
I'm going to be graduating college in 2005 and have been looking at potential places to get a job. It seems like a Security Clearance would be a good thing to have/get. Do you need to be sponsored by a company to obtain one? Can you apply for one as an individual? How hard is it to get one?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

when you get hired for a job that requires it they will take care of all the paperwork for you.
 
Originally posted by: FFMCobalt
Originally posted by: Heisenberg
Usually the company you work for handles it I believe.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...

you have to be sponsored by a company that has a reason for you to get a clearance. they are very expensive. depending on the length of the investigation, they can cost up to $50k
 
Originally posted by: Ameesh
Originally posted by: cessna152
I'm going to be graduating college in 2005 and have been looking at potential places to get a job. It seems like a Security Clearance would be a good thing to have/get. Do you need to be sponsored by a company to obtain one? Can you apply for one as an individual? How hard is it to get one?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

when you get hired for a job that requires it they will take care of all the paperwork for you.
Click to expand...

Shucks. Hopefully one will hire me 😛
 
the general cost of a clearence at my site is 80k. Most companies will hire you on and put you on an unclassified job until your clearence goes through then they'll move you over.

I hope you like working in sealed chambers and not seeing the light of day. Because you will be workin in vaulted areas (classified) and you cant really discuss what you do. Its pretty intense had some Air Force guys sit you down and ask you all sorts of questions...kinda intimidating.

Anyway look at it this way you paid for your education for the job..now if your job requires you to have it...the company should pay for it. This isnt just for the S.C. but any work materials from cert's to equiptment laptops..computers...software...even down to pens 🙂
 
Originally posted by: Safeway
May I ask why you want to know?
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I actually would really like to work for the government. Give something back I guess... Does it help if you parents ever held security clearance? My mom used to write code for the Aegis Missile Cruiser but that was a loong time ago.
 
Secret seems fairly easy to get. Anything above that is where you're looking at interviews and polygraphs and suchlike. But yes, I'm not aware of anyone I know just going out and getting one. I don't think you'll be able to get one without specific reason.
 
Originally posted by: cessna152
Originally posted by: Safeway
May I ask why you want to know?
Click to expand...


I actually would really like to work for the government. Give something back I guess... Does it help if you parents ever held security clearance? My mom used to write code for the Aegis Missile Cruiser but that was a loong time ago.
Click to expand...

The hiring agency can get you the needed clearance, but the whole process is so backed up right now that they will usually hire someone that already has a clearance rather than trying to get you one.

The easiest surefire way to get a clearance is to join the military intelligence...

and if you go on public forums and tell people that your parents used to work on top secret projects, that's probably not a trait these people are looking for.
 
Originally posted by: cessna152
Originally posted by: Ameesh
Originally posted by: cessna152
I'm going to be graduating college in 2005 and have been looking at potential places to get a job. It seems like a Security Clearance would be a good thing to have/get. Do you need to be sponsored by a company to obtain one? Can you apply for one as an individual? How hard is it to get one?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

when you get hired for a job that requires it they will take care of all the paperwork for you.
Click to expand...

Shucks. Hopefully one will hire me 😛
Click to expand...

Yea, it's kind of a catch 22 ... you need the clearance to get the job, but you need the job to get the clearance.
I'd be suprised if you find a company that will take a chance on you straight out of college.
 
Originally posted by: cessna152
Originally posted by: Safeway
May I ask why you want to know?
Click to expand...


I actually would really like to work for the government. Give something back I guess... Does it help if you parents ever held security clearance? My mom used to write code for the Aegis Missile Cruiser but that was a loong time ago.
Click to expand...

One thing about a Security Clearance is that you do not tell people that you have it. It's not some kind of strict rule, but it is frowned upon to say that you have one out in public.

As far as obtaining one, like everyone else said - you need to be sponsored by a company or the government. You can't just go to the DSS and turn in your application and obtain one by yourself.

If you do get a job that sponsors you to get one, you'll have about 50 pages of info to fill out, and most of the time, they'll give you the paperwork, then you can use this little program to enter your info in.. Just be honest and thorough with it. If you smoked a little pot when you were 16, and you tell em you didn't, you are facing federal charges..Most likely that wouldn't happen, but you would be rejected and wouldn't have much of a chance of getting a clearance (including public trust - lol) anytime in your life.
 
Originally posted by: kaizersose
Originally posted by: FFMCobalt
Originally posted by: Heisenberg
Usually the company you work for handles it I believe.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...

you have to be sponsored by a company that has a reason for you to get a clearance. they are very expensive. depending on the length of the investigation, they can cost up to $50k
Click to expand...

Bingo. You can't just decide to get one on your own. A company with a need has to sonsor you. It takes about a year.

Dave
 
Originally posted by: Apathetic
Originally posted by: kaizersose
Originally posted by: FFMCobalt
Originally posted by: Heisenberg
Usually the company you work for handles it I believe.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...

you have to be sponsored by a company that has a reason for you to get a clearance. they are very expensive. depending on the length of the investigation, they can cost up to $50k
Click to expand...

Bingo. You can't just decide to get one on your own. A company with a need has to sonsor you. It takes about a year.

Dave
Click to expand...
There are alot of companies in the DC metro area working on govt. contracts that require clearance. Many of them will hire grads with good grades and keep em busy while they sponsor their clearance.
(I should know, im one of those grads...)
 
Originally posted by: HardcoreRobot
There are alot of companies in the DC metro area working on govt. contracts that require clearance. Many of them will hire grads with good grades and keep em busy while they sponsor their clearance.
(I should know, im one of those grads...)
Click to expand...

Yep. NSA is also an option if you live in/near MD/DC. They hire college grads and will grant top secret security clearances. Unfortunately, your employment does not begin until your clearance process is completed, so you usually need to find an interim job for about 6 - 9 months.
 
Why do you NEED a security clearence? For crying out loud, there are tons of opportunities outside the government sector. Have fun with the immense amount of bureaucratic paperwork. I can't imagine filling all that crap out and being grilled by the feds. *shivers*
 
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