SC Security Check - How did you get yours?

[willendure]

I see a lot of contract positions advertised with the requirement to already hold SC clearance. It does not seem like there is ever room to apply for this as part of onboarding to the contract.

Am I right in thinking that the way into this is to have been a permie in a security sensitive role, obtain SC clearance, and then quit the permie role to become a contractor? Are there other ways in?

Previously held a BPSS and obtaining that was part of the contract onboarding. But that is a lower level than SC.

[malvolio]

I see a lot of contract positions advertised with the requirement to already hold SC clearance. It does not seem like there is ever room to apply for this as part of onboarding to the contract.

Am I right in thinking that the way into this is to have been a permie in a security sensitive role, obtain SC clearance, and then quit the permie role to become a contractor? Are there other ways in?

Previously held a BPSS and obtaining that was part of the contract onboarding. But that is a lower level than SC.

No. The clearance goes with the role, not the person. By convention you may be able to carry it forward for a year, but that is by no means certain. You can't apply for it, you have to be sponsored by an accredited source. Have a read of this article for the details.

[SussexSeagull]

This is going back to 2016 but I started a role that required a lower level of clearance then they decided I needed SC and put me through it. I remember thinking at the time I was set for life but I had a long stint out of work following it (no doubt partially because the contract was mundane and I hoovered up the quite good money for a couple of years, lessoned learnt) and it did me no good in the long run.

[willendure]

No. The clearance goes with the role, not the person. By convention you may be able to carry it forward for a year, but that is by no means certain. You can't apply for it, you have to be sponsored by an accredited source. Have a read of this article for the details.

Thanks for the link:

"Since the checks usually take several weeks, those IT contractors already in possession of unexpired clearance will have an advantage, particularly for urgent requirements, although the DVA are clear on their position that contractors without clearance shouldn’t otherwise be expected to hold existing security clearance in order to apply for roles."

So all these contracts that state you must already have SC are just wrong? You can apply without SC and try to obtain it as part of onboarding for the role?

Or is it that they want contractors coming from roles where they already have SC, because then they very likely to pass it for the new role?

Without SC, is it worth applying for these roles or will my CV just go straight in the bin?

[willendure]

https://www.contractoruk.com/securit..._guidance.html

Interesting. Seems like its worth trying and pointing out to recruiters what the rules are.

[northernladuk]

Thanks for the link:

"Since the checks usually take several weeks, those IT contractors already in possession of unexpired clearance will have an advantage, particularly for urgent requirements, although the DVA are clear on their position that contractors without clearance shouldn’t otherwise be expected to hold existing security clearance in order to apply for roles."

Weeks? That's out of date. Takes months at the moment. Well I say at the moment, it's been that long as long as I can remember. There are odd stories of weeks but it's in no way the norm.

So all these contracts that state you must already have SC are just wrong? You can apply without SC and try to obtain it as part of onboarding for the role?

Or is it that they want contractors coming from roles where they already have SC, because then they very likely to pass it for the new role?

Without SC, is it worth applying for these roles or will my CV just go straight in the bin?

Technically they can't discriminate but all the client/agent does is say it's an urgent requirement and need someone in asap so the only option is someone with existing clearance. It does happen that a client will wait but it also means you can't start so will be sitting there with your thumb up your bum for a few months.

They don't need to pass for the new role. If SC is current and has been used in the last year then it's usually a matter of just transferring it. It isn't always the case but most of the time it is.

[northernladuk]

Best way to get it, unfortuantely, is to be working on a gig that's near SC work and try and blag yourself in to that area, once you are in point out you need SC and they will put you through. I've only been in a position to do this once, possibly twice if I'd tried harder in 10 years.

So yeah, if it says SC clearance is required then you can have a pop at it if you want but fully expect a no thanks. Unless I'm desperate for work I don't bother applying if SC is required and I don't have it.

EDIT : There is then the pain in the arse that you get clearance, move to another gig that doesn't need it and a year later you are back to square one. From what I've seen SC clearance gigs are always inside and usually not very well paid as well so wouldn't be your first option when looking for new gigs. New world with next to zero gigs out there might be different but in the old days they were not good gigs.

[malvolio]

I spent around five years working with the Cabinet Office and IPSE (PCG as was), the result of that work being the clear, officially endorsed guidelines that are in place now.

Sadly, recruiters and agencies cannot be effectively punished for ignoring what are guidelines. Nobody is going to put clearance process into law (it has to be immediately changeable for one thing), sanctions against recruiters are possible but largely ineffective and sanctions against hiring managers are not feasible (are you going to stop MOD recruiting?).

So we're stuck with it. Even more annoyingly, you don't need clearance to apply for a role, and for 95% of roles you can start without clearance provided a degree of supervision and limitations on access to sensitive data (i.e. mostly system engineers and DBAs, but not program code for instance...) is maintained.

[avonleigh]

I have had SC several times. All via a contract. If you don't have it then they will allow you to work on non-sensitive stuff whilst they obtain it. Getting DV is much more difficult and would need you to be a permie in most cases.

[malvolio]

I have had SC several times. All via a contract. If you don't have it then they will allow you to work on non-sensitive stuff whilst they obtain it. Getting DV is much more difficult and would need you to be a permie in most cases.

One of my key arguments to the CO was that HMG are not seeing the best candidates but are merely recycling people with clearance, which is some way to explaining why so many projects ( let's be polite) under-deliver...

Don't matter how good you are if you're not allowed to be put forward by people more interested in simplifying their pile of CVs.

Incidentally I also gained SC six times in a 26 year contracting career.