archive

Hacking Clearance

By Douglas Chick
imported archive

Job Clearance 

What do we tell the budding computer professionals that? Right now, I strongly advocate 'being a good boy (or girl)' as the biggest percentage of available 'decent paying' computer jobs in the US are government related in one way or another.

Abstain from drugs of any kind, pay your bills on time, and don't get into trouble with the law." That's because anyone who is employed by a government related computer job is subject to a security clearance (SECRET is minimum)... which is a painstaking experience to say the least.

First, one has to fill out a Security Clearance Application called an E.P.S.Q. which can be downloaded from here: http://www.dss.mil/epsq/ Even if you're not immediately considering applying for a government related job, it's a good idea to download the application and fill in the blanks... if you can, it took me two months. Bare in mind that this is just for 'SECRET' clearance, TS (Top Secret) clearance is much more intrusive. To obtain 'SECRET' clearance, the government goes back seven years on a nationwide scale hunt to dig up dirt on you. Don't forget to validate it... your SO (Security Officer) will not accept it unless its validated.

Door Stops (Guaranteed denial) include: Recent DUI, bankruptcy, drug use history, outstanding warrants, and excessive bad credit.

Required interview candidates include: Poor credit, past drug use, being, related to, or affiliated with a foreign country citizen, and past dependency issues.

If you do get interviewed... 'DO NOT LIE!' Their interviewers are trained to spot it. Have your facts ready, get a current copy of your credit report. Know your own history... remember your contacts, previous addresses, and former employers. Remember to go back at least seven years.

In the end getting a clearance can take up to two years if your past aint' perfect. Most quality companies however prefer your clearance come through within 30 days.

TS clearance is much more painstaking and intrusive... people have to be sent out to interview former friends, employers, and co-workers. And then there's the possibility of Polygraph. Forget the tack in the shoe technique... it won't work. Again, it's all about honesty.

To your semi-social pot-heads... urinalysis is out and hair testing is in. Shave your head bald? They can get hair from other places if you get my meaning. Shave all your hair, and they introduce you to fingernail/toenail clippings. In short, abstaining is just the best answer.

In short, there is a market... but it's tough to get into.