Can't get a Government contract role because you don't have security clearance?

[Mordac]

As far as I'm concerned, the less failed Govt IT project on my CV, the better...

Just my 2p worth. (And that's about all it's worth)

[malvolio]

Actually I'm already chasing this from another angle - slowly, but we are talking about senior (actually, very senior) Civil Servants here...

Also, be a little selective in your random sample. It is justified to ask for clearance up front where the job is such that expert supervision cannot be given to ensure you do not see material you aren't supposed to - sysadmin, DBA, networking guru, that kind of thing. All the development roles, and almost all the management ones, do not fit that category.

Also note that HMG departments have proven and robust processes in place to manage uncleared staff on secure projects or they'd never recruit anyone. Where unnecessary clearance requirements are made, it is almost invariably from some other prime contractor, not HMG.

[errorista]

From a national security point of view isn't it a bit late to start asking who is advertising security cleared jobs?

It would appear to me that whole lists of SC personnel are already on databases which are outside the control of the MOD.

2p

[malvolio]

Not the point. They merely want to know if you are who you say you are at the lower levels, and how susceptible you are to being blackmailed or coerced at the higher ones (one reason why they don't care about a criminal record too much, as long as you tell them about it). Who else knows is largely irrelevant.

But one of the reasons the debate I'm involved in is taking place is perhaps because they've twigged they're only seeing a part of the market - and given the generally useless performance they've been getting by recycling the same old faces, they may think it's time to be a bit radical and change the rules a bit.

[ratewhore]

But one of the reasons the debate I'm involved in is taking place is perhaps because they've twigged they're only seeing a part of the market - and given the generally useless performance they've been getting by recycling the same old faces, they may think it's time to be a bit radical and change the rules a bit.

Oy - I'm one of those faces...

[malvolio]

So was I until fairly recently. All goes to show there are always exceptions that prove the rule....

[Eddie]

Security Clearance Issue

It's good to see someone trying to do something about this issue instead of simply moaning on about it.

It is very clear what is happening with any role which specifies security clearance or willing to submit yourself for clearance. The Agent merely filters out any candidates who do not have EXISTING security clearance. Why would you put someone forward who doesn't have it when there are lots of other candidates (possibly less suitable) but do have the clearance and hence have a better chance of being successful.

Forget complaining to Agents about this. The Cabinet Office route is worth a try because they have some influence over other Govt departnments and how they go about issuing contract roles to the market.

[Sockpuppet]

Best thing I ever got was my security clearance. I even got to the heady heights of being deep vetted (DV).

Although the questions were a stretch. I'd just left Uni. You want to know who I slept with and there names......can I phone a friend?

Now if I can just find someone is need of a warehouse that requires DV I will be sorted.

Cheers
Richard