Re: [SAGE] Job market??

[Mario Obejas <obejas@phylum.esn.us.ray.com>]

Derek J. Balling <dredd@megacity.org> wrote:
>On Monday, March 3, 2003, at 02:23 PM, Doug Hughes wrote:
>> particularly if you have a military clearance,
>
>Is there any way to get such, short of "work for a job that requires 
>one"?
>
>I've often heard mention of such requirements (seen quite a few in my 
>browsing of ads of late), and always thought it'd be easier to get such 
>a job if I already had said clearance rather than if they had to wait 
>for confirmation, etc. etc.

Except that you are only supposed to have one when you have a present 
need for one. This isn't like getting pre-approved for a mortgage. The 
only way I know to get one is to be on a project that requires one. It 
will take months if you don't have one. Your employer needs to be 
willing to invest that time. It's completely supply and demand how many 
uncleared employees a project is willing to sponsor for a clearance 
process.

Having a clearance is no gurantee you will have one in perpetuity: 
1. Reassignments will cause many people to relinquish a clearance.
2. Periodic maintenance by security offices will sweep away many cleared 
individuals who have no current need for a clearance.
3. Occassional edicts  (e.g., an absolute x% reduction in clearances) 
reduce the clearance rolls further.

Think about it. It should be difficult to get/keep a clearance.

If you are uncomfortable relinquishing details about your private life, 
you have no business contemplating such a job. There is a price to pay 
in terms of privacy if you wish to have a clearance. Are you comfortable 
having a security officer ask your friends or ex-spouse(s) about your 
money management? sexual orientation? Drug or alcohol use? The questions 
can be quite intrusive. Are you comfortable putting the answers down in 
writing?

-Mario