How is this still going on?

[Monster Munch]

Just saw two roles advertised on Jobswerve. Two different EBs. the same client I guess.

Quote from EB1:
"This role requires candidates to have current SC Clearance"

Quote from EB2:
"CURRENTLY SECURITY CLEARED TO SC LEVEL ONLY!"

I thought this was against the rules.

[gingerjedi]

Ring the agent and you'll get this standard response: "Due to the time frame blah blah blah"

I've got SC but I can't apply for DV roles for the same reason despite being on site and knowing the team involved, I get the same response as above but they say they can't find anyone... they know the answer but no-one wants to spend the money to clear me.

Clearance is more important than skills in this climate.

[HeadOfTesting]

Ring the agent and you'll get this standard response: "Due to the time frame blah blah blah"

I've got SC but I can't apply for DV roles for the same reason despite being on site and knowing the team involved, I get the same response as above but they say they can't find anyone... they know the answer but no-one wants to spend the money to clear me.

Clearance is more important than skills in this climate.

I would happily pay to obtain and maintain clearance in order to break the catch 22 and there must be thounsands of equally willing people - the government really is missing a trick here.

I know someone who does a lot of recruitment within Steria and he says that positions remain vacant for months - sometimes years.

[Belle]

I would happily pay to obtain and maintain clearance in order to break the ctach 22

Me too. We should all sign up here then http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/BC-CTC-SC/. Reckon it'll change anything though?

[SuperZ]

In my view the requirement for SC clearance is not all that different to requirements along the lines of "must have previous banking experience","must have insurance mortgage experience", "must have trading experienece" and such like so there are lots of little areas other people find it hard to penetrate even if they might add great value if employed. For some they must sit on the bench for a few months while the clearance is processed (not earning) so maybe they deserve to have a door open that others don`t have. I hear even moving from one cleared job to another is not straight forward because often another check has to be done before the person can start a new job and this itself can take another four weeks - so it can prove more hassle that it`s worth.

Most SC jobs have an urgent requirement hence why agents are allowed to advertise "Must be SC cleared" in adverts. I think the rule is if the person is required to start in the next two weeks they can list clearance as a requirement. Also why should clients pay more money to clear new people who might fail the process when they have already invested in putting others through the process. We talk about governments wasting money but paying £8,000 or so to clear new candidates would be a great waste also.

Personally I am surprised by the number of cleared people about so it is possible to get. I was once told only two companies will clear people but that`s not true.

If anything should definately change it is that some orgs don`t really require SC clearance to work there and the governemtn should look at that. The weather forecasting place for example, 99% of people working there have no access to any sensitive infortmation but it is just because they are owned by the MOD - that`s the only reason everyone has to be cleared - what a waste of money to clear people. They should clear only certain people and manage infromation access and risks etc.

Even if the rule was changed, the adverts would probably state "must have prior experience of working in SC cleared roles", or experience working with governemtn.

[malvolio]

Re the No 10 petition...

Not a chance. That's the wrong answer anyway, the Cabinet Office are dead against granting clearance other than for an existing riole, for obvious reasons.

I've been fighting this battle for a few years now through the PCG. We did get the rules changed and they are now perfectly sensible. Snag is, nobody is taking any notice of them, mostly because the agents haven't read them (opprobably too many long words...) and the prime contractors would rather not spend the tiny amount of money needed to manage uncleared workers pending their clearance being granted.

It is a myth that you have to be cleared to be allowed to work on a secure programme. You don't, and there are long-standing processes in place to allow it to happen. That fight is still ongoing.

[SuperZ]

It is a myth that you have to be cleared to be allowed to work on a secure programme. You don't, and there are long-standing processes in place to allow it to happen. That fight is still ongoing.

It never was a myth but stating that makes people think a certain way. I see every reason why people need to be cleared for certain positions personally or workign with certain clients.

I doubt there will be a day where people can pay to clear themselves.

[Monster Munch]

I know its a pile of pant, I've worked on several 'secure' sites whilst waiting for clearance, without being escorted everywhere. I have, by the way, been cleared previously.

Its just so frustrating that these numpties insist on SC. I bet half of them would get clearance themselves

[Monster Munch]

I know its a pile of pant, I've worked on several 'secure' sites whilst waiting for clearance, without being escorted everywhere. I have, by the way, been cleared previously.

Its just so frustrating that these numpties insist on SC. I bet half of them would get clearance themselves

I meant WOULDN'T get clearance themselves

[malvolio]

It never was a myth but stating that makes people think a certain way. I see every reason why people need to be cleared for certain positions personally or workign with certain clients.

That is covered in the guidelines. There are some (actually very few) roles where pre-clearance is a requirement, and those are the techie ones where you can't provide proper supervision - DBAs, sysadmins, network gurus, those kinds of people. Also where the duration of the role is less than the SLA for the relevant clearance l;evel - 30 days for SC, for example. Otherwise, anyone can apply and lack of clearance is no hindrance

I doubt there will be a day where people can pay to clear themselves.

Agreed. Simply won't happen.