security cleared ??

[TheFaQQer]

I have current SC clearance. What is other people's experience of having it renewed when it expires. If you're in an SC contract are the clients usually quite happy to do it for you? Is it much faster than the initial application?

Cheers....

Allow three months for them to process the renewal - it should be faster, but in all reality it probably isn't.

If you're in an SC contract, then they should be OK with renewing it for you - I've never had it renewed, though, as it expires a year after you leave a role that requires clearance.

[b0redom]

I have current SC clearance. What is other people's experience of having it renewed when it expires. If you're in an SC contract are the clients usually quite happy to do it for you? Is it much faster than the initial application?

Cheers....

[TheFaQQer]

Also, if you talk to the end-user departments, they are crying out for staff and can't find them: with 45% of all contracts limited to 5% of all contractors, it's not surprising.

It's a fairly cushy one, it has to be said.

Last contract was through the prime contractor, who put everyone through the clearance process. This one is direct to the client (albeit through an agancy) but they clear people in 3 days if they need it...

[malvolio]

Reality is, if you get a job employed directly by the department, they will most likely do the clearance as per the rules. However, 90% or more of roles are through prime contractors, and they won't unless you're going for a permie role. Given that the management overhead is exactly the same, and the cost is covered in their tender for the work as a discrete line item, this is more down to BigCo laziness than any desire for a more secure workforce. Let's face it, I've been SC'd four times in 11 years - just how stupid is that anyway - and I still can't get work on programmes I actually set up 5 years ago.

Also, if you talk to the end-user departments, they are crying out for staff and can't find them: with 45% of all contracts limited to 5% of all contractors, it's not surprising.

[Keldin]

I have seen some jobs requesting applicants for getting or undergoing security clearance. What does it really mean? Is it worth going for security clearance in order to get a job?

I apply for every job I am remotely qualified for that requires security clearance.
They have to put in the job ad that they will take cleared people or people willing to undergo clearance (not sure what there is to undergo unless there is a rubber glove section I know nothing about) otherwise they are discriminating.
However you will find that they are only sending CV'ds through for people that already have clearance.
Applying for every one though means I may get lucky and find someone who will do the clearance for me and them I'm in the clubhouse. What mostly happens though is agents call me back and go through the whole process before finding out I don't have clearance. This then pisses them off because they've wasted their time and I can profess innocence and point out the bit in the ad where it wasn't neccessary to have clearance. Ah good times.


K

[Ian]

I've currently got SC clearance. It was sorted out, and paid for, by the agent.

If you don't already have it, then you'll have to make sure the client wants you to make it worth the agents time.

Is it worth SC clearance? In my experience it won't get you a higher rate. If anything, it's worse. Compared to many adverts, defence pay is at the low end. But if your skills are in the areas that require it, or want to work on it, then it's obviously worth it.

For me, SC took about 1 month to come through.

[xoggoth]

People kept warning me I might have difficulty remaining in defence sector if I kept posting about stabbing/blowing up politicians and shagging baboons. Since this is the same dept. that appoints illegal migrants as security staff at airports I never felt it was a real risk.

[TheFaQQer]

I could tell you, but I'd have to have you killed.

[NotAllThere]

There's nothing wrong with stating that you have security clearance - but maybe avoid what level it's to unless explicitly asked.

It's all a bit of a farce anyway, since it's only a point in time check.

Obviously you've never been cleared for the really secret stuff. Otherwise you'd know tha............................................... .................................................. .................................................. ...................

[TheFaQQer]

There's nothing wrong with stating that you have security clearance - but maybe avoid what level it's to unless explicitly asked.

It's all a bit of a farce anyway, since it's only a point in time check.

[dang65]

My SC went to the clearance guys middle of July and it came through two weeks ago.

A client actually told me off in an interview once because I'd mentioned on my CV that I have SC.

So, not only do you have a situation where clients will only take on people that already have clearance and you can only get clearance by being taken on by a client, but you're not supposed to tell people that you've got it.

If you can get your head round that paradox then they bump you up an extra level, but don't tell anyone I said that.

[TheFaQQer]

Some agencies can do it for you, e.g. Parity.

Depending on the client, some will let you be escorted round all the time and have no problems with it; others will not.

My SC went to the clearance guys middle of July and it came through two weeks ago. The current SLA is 25 working days, though.

There are other levels that take more / less time - DV is painful to get; EB / EB(C) is much easier since it isn't really a security check.

[NotAllThere]

If you can get a contract that is security cleared, the client do the clearance. You may have to wait until you're cleared (which can take months) before you start work. Or you may have to be escorted around site until clearance comes through.

For this reason, although not allowed, most clients requiring security clearance will only take on people already cleared.

You cannot get clearance yourself - only your client can do that.

The upshot is, if you can get it, then it can be worth quite a bit.

[Sockpuppet]

Search. Done to death.

You more than likley wont get SC job without being SC cleared and will not get SC clearance without landing an SC job.

Basically SC means you can have supervised access to Top Secret material.

STRAP is an addition to SC and DV (Developed/Deep Vetting) means unrestricted access to TS material.

[lenbod]

I have seen some jobs requesting applicants for getting or undergoing security clearance. What does it really mean? Is it worth going for security clearance in order to get a job?