Security Clearance (SC) Q&A Read first before asking questions

[youngguy]

Quick Analysis of current Clearance Jobs

** I am not about to tell you anything that will be new information **

Currently on the bench and it seems some agents have an old copy of my CV, when I was SC'd. I've had numerous calls with good fit jobs which unsurprisingly have dried up once I say my clearance has lapsed.

Anyway, for tulips and giggles I thought I would waste 20 mins by doing a very quick, unscientific analysis of cleared jobs.

Went to Jobserve, searched for jobs that mention clearance in them (parameters: searched just for jobs posted this morning, which is about 3.5hours into the working day and I included SC and DV).

23 Jobs


17 of those jobs stated that the applicant must be cleared. Words used were things such as: 'active clearance', 'MUST' (yes, even in caps), and listing clearance under 'essential skills' (go figure..). My personal favourite was "Please do not apply if you do not have clearance". From what I could tell, probably only one of those would be fair in saying clearance was required (CLAS Consultant).

5 stated that the applicant should already be cleared. Phrases such as 'should', 'if you have active...we encourage you to apply...' and 'it will help your application if you have...' came up. From personal experience I know one company that had 2 of these jobs definitely doesn't consider you if you don't have active clearance and I think it is fair to say the rest would most likely be the same.

On a minor positive note, 1 job actually advertised the ability for applicants to obtain clearance, although it didn't state what level.


As I said, nothing new here, but it does make you wonder, given this thread has been going several years and PCG/IPSE have been banging the drum, when anything will actually change (note, I'm not blaming IPSE, I'm just stating that it is a long known issue and the Gov still aren't acting).

I know a number of cleared areas which just keep advertising as they can't get what they need from the small pool of 'talent' with the golden tickets. As the saying goes, "If you always do what you've done you will always get what you've got".

[saanju9]

So yes, your sponsor may well find out you've been creative on your CV.

That is fine because someone in Testing field would understand it and as I said I have already made this clear in my interview
Besides, if one is not creative on their CV, they will be jobless endlessly. I didn't lie, but expressed the same thing in a more appealing way

[cojak]

Not quite sure why you needed to ask three times I'm quoting from here.



So yes, your sponsor may well find out you've been creative on your CV.

My fault with the multiple questions, I thought I'd deleted the extra 2 that he'd posted.

[DiscoStu]

Hi all
I landed on a Permie position in one of the Public Sector services and they want a SC done.
They asked for 5 years of residential addresses, 5 years of employment history and 10 years of financial circumstances.

There is one Glitch which is bothering me a lot and don't know what to answer.
3 years ago I have worked for a company in a customer facing role. I have also done some UAT testing at the same time(which is not usually a part of the job). Now I moved into Testing completely from the past 3 years.
When I applied for this new job the CV I sent said UAT tester instead of the actual role title (because the role title doesn't appeal to a testing position). This is the case with most of the UAT testers.
Now, when I give my employment history I will mention the exact position title. Do they cross check with CV and will it be a problem?.. I explained the interviewer who has a testing background and he understood and is OK with it.
And secondly, if they go to the HR of that company, they(HR) will not have any idea that I have done UAT testing while I am there. I can give my line managers reference and he can tell them what I have done.

My question is do they accept line manager's reference or will they go to the HR.

Appreciate your advise
Thanks a lot

Not quite sure why you needed to ask three times I'm quoting from here.

Your sponsor will have full access to everything you put on the forms to the vetting agency with the exception of the criminal records statement (which is why it's in a separate section) which is marked with a simple pass or fail. Otherwise, how else can they assess your suitability to be cleared for the role in question? It's a test of your honesty and ability to be blackmailed or coerced: everything will be cross-checked anyway and hiding things is utterly pointless.

So yes, your sponsor may well find out you've been creative on your CV.

[saanju9]

Hi all
I landed on a Permie position in one of the Public Sector services and they want a SC done.
They asked for 5 years of residential addresses, 5 years of employment history and 10 years of financial circumstances.

There is one Glitch which is bothering me a lot and don't know what to answer.
3 years ago I have worked for a company in a customer facing role. I have also done some UAT testing at the same time(which is not usually a part of the job). Now I moved into Testing completely from the past 3 years.
When I applied for this new job the CV I sent said UAT tester instead of the actual role title (because the role title doesn't appeal to a testing position). This is the case with most of the UAT testers.
Now, when I give my employment history I will mention the exact position title. Do they cross check with CV and will it be a problem?.. I explained the interviewer who has a testing background and he understood and is OK with it.
And secondly, if they go to the HR of that company, they(HR) will not have any idea that I have done UAT testing while I am there. I can give my line managers reference and he can tell them what I have done.

My question is do they accept line manager's reference or will they go to the HR.

Appreciate your advise
Thanks a lot

[saanju9]

Glitch

Hi all
I landed on a Permie position in one of the Public Sector services and they want a SC done.
They asked for 5 years of residential addresses, 5 years of employment history and 10 years of financial circumstances.

There is one Glitch which is bothering me a lot and don't know what to answer.
3 years ago I have worked for a company in a customer facing role. I have also done some UAT testing at the same time(which is not usually a part of the job). Now I moved into Testing completely from the past 3 years.
When I applied for this new job the CV I sent said UAT tester instead of the actual role title (because the role title doesn't appeal to a testing position). This is the case with most of the UAT testers.
Now, when I give my employment history I will mention the exact position title. Do they cross check with CV and will it be a problem?.. I explained the interviewer who has a testing background and he understood and is OK with it.
And secondly, if they go to the HR of that company, they(HR) will not have any idea that I have done UAT testing while I am there. I can give my line managers reference and he can tell them what I have done.

My question is do they accept line manager's reference or will they go to the HR.

Appreciate your advise
Thanks a lot

[saanju9]

SC Clearance

Hi all
I landed on a Permie position in one of the Public Sector services and they want a SC done.
They asked for 5 years of residential addresses, 5 years of employment history and 10 years of financial circumstances.

There is one Glitch which is bothering me a lot and don't know what to answer.
3 years ago I have worked for a company in a customer facing role. I have also done some UAT testing at the same time(which is not usually a part of the job). Now I moved into Testing completely from the past 3 years.
When I applied for this new job the CV I sent said UAT tester instead of the actual role title (because the role title doesn't appeal to a testing position). This is the case with most of the UAT testers.
Now, when I give my employment history I will mention the exact position title. Do they cross check with CV and will it be a problem?.. I explained the interviewer who has a testing background and he understood and is OK with it.
And secondly, if they go to the HR of that company, they(HR) will not have any idea that I have done UAT testing while I am there. I can give my line managers reference and he can tell them what I have done.

My question is do they accept line manager's reference or will they go to the HR.

Appreciate your advise
Thanks a lot

[psychocandy]

Always good to have your support...

How about if an agency gets flagged a few times they come off the government's PSL? Would that get their attention, do you suppose?

Also this is going to all hiring managers within HMG from Francis Maude. That might also make them pay attention.

And HMG have been persuaded that the current system is only delivering cleared candidates, not good, up-to-date candidates. That has rung a bell or two.

Yes, it's only a start, but it's a good start; it will evolve.

Don't get me wrong - great idea if it works. I hope it does.

I'm just not sure it will thats all. Fingers crossed though.

[MattZani]

Hello, I have landed a job (permie) with a public sector organization and they wanted a criminal record check. No problem with that, they paid for it.

But here comes the problem: I lived and worked in Canada for 6 months and now they are asking me to provide them with a criminal record check from a local police. They don't even know what I have to do (they just told me to "google it out"..); turns out I have to make and send fingerprints (£70) in paper version and mail this to the Canadian police along with $25 application fee. The process takes NO LESS than 22 weeks.

They said it won't delay my start date, just that it's something I have to do...

Anyone of you has had a similar experience of working in Canada and having to go through the same painful process?

Thanks guys

[malvolio]

All well and good but its the client to blame rather than the agencies I fear because:-

1) No client is that organised ever to plan vacancies in advance anyway. Just doesnt happen - especially if said vacancy is for contractor. If they could wait, they'd be able to wait for the permie recruitment process to run.

2) Every single client will think they are a special case (as per point 9) because they need someone urgently. How many contracts have you ever applied for where they say, nah dont worry start whenever, have a holiday, start in a few months?

3) They've ignored this before and will probably continue to do so. Because nothing gets done.

4) Its impossible to prove anyway. Even if agencies/client were forced somehow into offering it up to non-cleared candidates what will happen? Two piles of CVs, currently cleared and non-cleared - one pile goes in the bin. Guess which? Prove that one.

Like the mystery shopper idea. Being that person must be the easiest job in the UK. Log onto jobserve - I can guarantee there will be at least 100 contract roles stating that current clearance is essential.

Nothings going to change until client/agencies get into real grief for ignoring this. But I fear even if you smack a few on the wrist for the way they currently advertising, they're just going to resort to (4). Impossible to prove really.

Always good to have your support...

How about if an agency gets flagged a few times they come off the government's PSL? Would that get their attention, do you suppose?

Also this is going to all hiring managers within HMG from Francis Maude. That might also make them pay attention.

And HMG have been persuaded that the current system is only delivering cleared candidates, not good, up-to-date candidates. That has rung a bell or two.

Yes, it's only a start, but it's a good start; it will evolve.