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Security Clearances Uncovered
Bob Weinstein is a journalist who covers technology, project management, the workplace and career development.
There are thousands of jobs out there that require a government security clearance--you must have seen the countless job ads requiring it. And you’ve probably wondered what exactly they are, and how to get them. I’m going to tell you everything you need to know about government security clearances--but were afraid to ask.
Broadly speaking, a security clearance is a government authorization that allows a person access to highly sensitive or classified information that could compromise the safety of U.S. citizens. To be granted a clearance, you must meet certain requirements. And the higher the level of the security clearance, the more stringent the requirements are.
Since 9/11, the demand for security has increased dramatically, and there is a great deal of pressure on the federal government to shorten the lengthy process. Four years ago, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, which conducts background investigations for most civilian agencies, was overwhelmed with investigation requests. Its top executives complained that the demand for recent background checks far exceeded the capacity of private-sector companies that provided those services.
Fast-forward to 2008. Today, the backlog of unprocessed security clearances likely has doubled, or even tripled, from what it was in 2004. Overtaxed investigative staffs have yet to grapple…
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