I got a job offer as a contractor from a company that does government contracts. A requirement of the job is to get a government secret security clearance. The offer itself in not contingent on that clearance. So I would first have to accept the offer and start working for them while the government conducts its background check for the clearance. This means I would have to quit my current permanent full time job.
The problem is I am nervous that I might get denied the security clearance. Here is why I am nervous.
Back in 1998 I got charged with a DUI along with 2 or 3 other misdemeanors. I went to court and my lawyer got a deal where I would not be formally convicted. Instead I got probation, suspended license for 45 days, alcohol education, and some other program in exchange for a ‘Continuance Without a Finding’ ruling. I fulfilled all these requirements, passed education programs. But a few days before the end of my license suspension I got arrested a 2nd time for driving with a suspended license. My lawyer successfully got that dismissed as well. Eventually in 2000 all charges from both arrests were dismissed and I was done with the courts.
I’ve been clean since then, meaning no more arrests or misdemeanors or anything else remotely criminal since.
As for other aspects of my life I’v held steady jobs my whole working life, about 18 years. My personal life has been ups and downs. I am singe never-married man. You might say I’ve had commitment phobia. So I’v seen a lot of shrinks in the past related to that, but not within the last 5 years. Is that also going to count against me? Lastly I dated a foreign national once, but last saw or spoke to her about 5 years ago. She’s now married (so not a potential influence on me).
If anyone has familiarity with security clearance background check process I would really welcome any comment/suggestion on my situation.
For a secret clearance, I think your brushes with the law won’t be a big deal if you fully disclose them. This is just my WAG, but I’d be more concerned that your explanation of your “ups and downs” is vague to the point that on first blush it seems like you’re trying to minimize or conceal something that may have had something to so with your visits to mental health professionals.
If you’re being vague because this is a public message board and you’ve never had any serious diagnosis, my guess is you’re fine. If you’re being evasive because you had a serious diagnosis, you’re in denial about it, you should be in treatment for a significant issue but you’ve simply lapsed on that, I would say you may have reason to be concerned. But, as a rule of thumb, trying to cover up issues in your past will probably cause your application much more damage than the problems themselves.
With that one big caveat of the question I posed (you don’t need to tell me the answer, I’m just pointing out the issue to you), so long as you’re forthright my bet is you’re fine to get a secret clearance.
I don’t understand what you’re saying. Are you saying that they will hire you and wait for you to get the clearance, but if you get denied the clearance you will be immediately fired? If that’s the case, you should really think through this job offer carefully.
Little brushes with the law does not automatically disqualify you from getting a clearance, it depends on what type of clearance you are being put in for and which agency it is for as well.
Having it though will qualify you for bigger and better jobs in the future.
I’m assuming that’s what’s going to happen, although I haven’t asked them. But if the position requires that I eventually get the security clearance then I imagine that they would have to let me go if I don’t get it.
Why, do you think I have serious issues with getting the clearance based on my description of my personal history?
kvadrat - there was another thread about six months ago with someone that asked essentially the same question as you, but in his case he had some minor drug use with the same types of concerns.
I answer, like most things, is “it depends”. If the “ups and downs” refers to mental health issues in addition to the alcohol/driving issues you mentioned, that could be a problem depending on how serious they are. I presume if you knew you would definitely get the security clearance, then you would otherwise plan on leaving your current job for this one, so your fear is that they will hire you, you’ll be unable to get the clearance, and then find yourself out of a job.
I guess the question is, what happens if you don’t get the clearance? My suggestion is that you have a very honest discussion with the Facility Security Officer (FSO) for the company and discuss your issues with them and do not sugar coat it. You didn’t say what level the clearance will be, but I assume it is SECRET, and not something higher. Clearance investigations are only interested in what’s happened in the past 7 year (or10 years if higher than a SECRET) with the expectation that some people may have done some drugs or had criminal issues (excluding a felony) when they were younger. Assuming you are being honest and these drunk driving incidents did not result in a felony conviction, and you aren’t currently suffering from some mental issues an investigator would find out about, you will be fine. 1998 was a long time ago. But again, if it’s more than you are letting on here, then consider that when you make your choice.
The foreign national former dating thing and the fact you have commitment issues is no big deal.
I agree with Ravenman that some minor infractions won’t make a difference if you are up front with them. I’ve had a Secret clearance since 1972, but I’ve never been in any real trouble. I do, however, know of people who had previous troubles or got into trouble after getting the clearance. Felonies can be a deal breaker.
For Top Secret the bar is set much higher. Still a DUI probably wouldn’t even stop that.
For both clearances they also look at financial history. Bankruptcies, bad credit rating, etc., are not good. Travel to certain countries can also be a problem. Your last vacation wasn’t to North Korea, Cuba, or Libya, was it? Just kidding! Could be a problem if your former flame was from one of a few countries, but places like England, France, Japan are usually just fine.
You’ll have to give names and contact information for family and friends. Some, like your mother and father, are required, but you can pick your friends. Do let your listed contacts know that they may get interviewed. In fact most of us ask a potential contact if they wouldn’t mind it before listing their names. Do that now.
You’ll also need to list your past jobs and residences for a number of years. That’s something else you can work on in advance. They will want past boss’ names and contact info.
From what you shared, I don’t think you’ll have any problems. Just be completely open.
17 years ago, when I joined the USAF, my job required a Top Secret clearance. I don’t know if they started the process before I actually went to basic training or not. I do know that if I hadn’t passed, my job would be downgraded or I could have been discharged as “unsuitable for military service”.
So, its possible that if you don’t pass, you will be fired. Good security checks take time.
I agree with the others that as long as you tell them everything upfront things will go better.
Again, my experience was 17 years ago, and it was a higher level…but I didn’t know to warn my friends that someone in a suit and flashing an FBI badge would show up at their door. I understand that was pretty alarming, so if you think that might happen, warn your friends first.
Interesting suggestion; to talk with the FSO of the hiring company.
So the way it works is:
There is the actual company that does the work for the government and then there the affiliated contracting agency which I’d be working for directly. Through the contracting agency I’d be working as a contractor for the company doing the government work.
So do i just approach the contracting agency and talk to the girl who extended me the offer and tell her what’s up? Or is she the wrong person? This contracting agency also has another employee, whom I’ve been dealing with, who coordinates the setting up of the security background checks. Maybe I should speak to her about all this?
And yes, I’d be going for a SECRET security clearance.
Just apply for the job and don’t worry about the security clearance. They may even run a quick background check on you for felonies, sex offender lists, and so on. Let them worry about it. Just be up front when and if they ask. From what you mentioned here, I don’t think it’s an issue at all.
Will you be doing something like computer programming? If so many people don’t even need a security clearance UNLESS they actually touch the government systems. The development network is usually not linked to the government network.
Well I know the job requires a Secret Security Clearance. Just not immediately. The idea is that I get an interim security clearance and then wait for the full investigation to complete to get my secret security clearance. But the contracting firm affiliated with the company I’d be working for has instructed me to fill out the SF86. So this isn’t hypotheticals I’m talking about.
Yes I’d be doing computer programming but not on systems that require Secret Security Clearance…eventually. Meaning they can wait a few months for me to get the clearance.
As for the the company background check, I know I am about to pass that; they are calling my references. Also my job offer is contingent on me passing that company background check. But not on the government background check.
When I was hired into a TS job out of grad school, they did a quick background check before the offer was made. This “Limited Interim Clearance” got me into the job, and then we had to wait out our full clearance in a training environment I was there for about six weeks before my full clearance came through.
I was given the offer by a private company and they do their own quick background check, but that isn’t even an Interim Clearance. The interim clearance, as I understand it , comes only after you submit a filled out SF86.
I really want this job. It is very cool. Plus I’d really like to obtain a secret security clearance to open the door to other jobs like it.
From everything I’v read in response to my original post my impression is I have a decent chance of getting the clearance, despite some issues.
The misdemeanors charges (DUI, driving uninsured, driving with suspended license) happened more than 14 years ago. I served out my probation, took all required counseling. Never got convicted for any of them. All court proceedings related to these misdemeanors ended in 2000. I’ve been clean since.
My numerous visits with shrinks were all just voluntary therapy to get me through rough emotional times (after breakups, 1 layoff). I haven’t seen any in 5 years, since 2008. In addition, I’m planning on contacting my last shrink to ask him to draft a letter stating that i am mentally competent to hold this job and don’t suffer from any mental illness and never have.
Assuming what I’m stating above is accurate and truthful, and I can get that letter from the psych, does anyone want to add anything in objection or support. For example, what are the repercussions of failing to get a secret security clearance. Will I then have to explain to other prospective employers that I failed a govt background check and that’s why I had to leave my last job?
Last call.
Thanks for all your responses. I really appreciate it.
I probably wouldn’t do that. People sign a medical release as part of the SF-86, so any decent investigator will follow up with questions for the shrink, which you are going to disclose that you visited on the SF-86. (Had you seen a psychologist for only marital counseling, grief counseling, or PTSD caused by combat, and only for those reaons, you would not have to acknowledge seeing a mental health professional.) IMHO, the counselor should answer questions from the investigator, not spend time writing letters for you to read and forward as you see fit.
Mostly, I can tell you that the BIG thing is you failing to make full disclosure.
If you are completely honest up front, and conceal nothing, then for a Secret clearance I think you’re fine.
If you do disclose everything and based upon those disclosures you don’t get the clearance, then all that happens is that you don’t get the clearance. Nothing else. You don;t have to say anything to any future employers, it’s like getting interviewed and not getting the job. In the case of the contract, you contract just ends.
It’s if you lie or conceal something, even if that would not normally disqualify you*, that there could be repercussions.
this is the thing that trips most people up. They lie, figuring that what they are lying about wouldn’t be a big deal anyway. Doesn’t matter.