Get Cleared for Hiring: Cracking the Code on Jobs with Security Clearances

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THE ECONOMY IS slumping. Companies in every sector are distributing pink slips. But there's one entity that's unlikely to go out of business: the federal government. In times like these, applying for a stable federal job sounds extra-appealing. With that security often come security clearances, though. Would you be eligible to nab one?

Even as the economy founders, the number of federal jobs requiring security clearances is growing.

"There's been kind of a continual increase in the number of jobs that require clearance that are out there," says Evan Lesser, director of ClearanceJobs.com. "We've been tracking this stuff since early 2002, and there's been a year-over-year increase. Really, the reason is No. 1 if you look at the budgets for the government in terms of homeland security and defense. They've ranged, at least in the past few years, in the $400 [billion] to $450 billion range. It's a huge, huge amount of money being spent."

Lesser attributes the rise to larger defense and homeland security budgets and retiring baby boomers, who take their clearances with them when they go. "At this point, we really don't see a whole lot of slowdown for the next couple years," he adds.

But before you rush to USAjobs.gov, realize you can't apply for a clearance on your own. A federal agency or contractor must sponsor you, Lesser says.

Fear rejection? "Keep your nose clean" and you'll be fine, says Kathy Dillaman, associate director of the Office of Personnel Management's Federal Investigative Services Division. Background investigators consider three things, she says: character, conduct and record. Her advice: Avoid legal run-ins, maintain good credit and employment records, and be truthful on your application.

"I'm often asked this: 'What can I do to make this process better and faster?' Well, it starts with you and honesty," Dillaman says. "You're asked to fill out a form about your background. Do your research. Fill it out fully and accurately, because if we start an investigation and you failed to provide information on your background, I can't tell if you're being dishonest or just sloppy."

The biggest reason someone is denied a clearance? "Dishonesty. Period."

If a job requires a clearance, the description will probably say so, but if it doesn't, consider how likely you'd be to deal with classified information in that position.

Dillaman defines "classified information" as information that, if it were widely known, could harm the government, its programs, its people or its infrastructure. If you're going to have access or need to be eligible to have access to classified info, you need a clearance, she says.

If you have a clearance already and you apply for a federal position, you're golden; the clearance follows you because all clearances are issued-based on the same national guidelines. If you don't, you can still be hired. After you've landed an offer, the hiring agency may consider issuing you an interim clearance based on preliminary results of your background check while the full investigation is conducted.

"The process is pretty simple," Dillaman says. Your employer determines which of three clearance levels — confidential, secret or top secret — you need. Then you have to fill out a standard electronic form, have a fingerprint check and sign a waiver stating you know you're being investigated, she says.

Nationally, 75 percent of investigations are for the confidential and secret levels, she says. Investigation time depends on how extensive the background is. "The higher level of clearance, the more extensive the background investigation," she says.
"Essentially, once the paperwork is submitted, it's a long waiting game and not a lot of information along the way," Lesser says.

Angela Bailey, OPM's deputy associate director of the Center for Talent and Capacity Policy, says that's about to change. The agency is overhauling the application process to better stay in contact with candidates. "It's all about managing their expectations," she says. "If things are going to take a little longer because you need a top-secret security clearance, I think people are willing to accept that if you at least stay in touch with them and let them know along the way where they are in the process."

Costs also fluctuate. Clearances at the confidential and secret levels can be as inexpensive as $220, while top-secret can be as much as $4,000, Dillaman says. The hiring agency covers the cost.

OPM does 90 percent of the government's investigations, including those for the Defense Department, the biggest employing agency for clearance jobs, she says.

The personnel security process has three parts, says Eric Butterbaugh, a Pentagon spokesman:
1. The request for investigation. The security office of each military unit, government agency or cleared contractor facility must request the appropriate investigation.
2. The personnel security investigation, including interviews with the candidate and reference.
3. The adjudication. The requesting agency's Central Adjudication Facility is responsible for making an adjudicative decision.

A few agencies, including the FBI and the Homeland Security, State and Treasury departments handle their own inquiries.

At State, all Foreign Service positions require top-secret clearances, and most Civil Service jobs require either secret or top secret. On average, less than 2 percent of applicants are denied, because the vetting process is so detailed before an offer is extended, a department official says.

Employees with clearances generally earn 22 percent more than someone doing the same job without a need for classified access, Lesser says.

"D.C. is definitely the highest-paying location in the United States for security clearance candidates. The most jobs are available in the metro D.C. area. The range of positions is exceptional," he says.

Written for Express by contributor Stephanie Kanowitz
Photos by Lawrence Luk for Express