Cleared - but no job

puertorico1985

So just a little background:

I applied for and was selected for a contracting position with the DOD back in October 2012. The job required a clearance before beginning employment. So I went through the process, and found out last week that the clearance went through, after taking over a year. So I now know that I am cleared, but they advised that there is currently no job since the process took an extremely long time, and that I would be contacted when something came up.

I currently have a stable job, but I am ready to begin a new job in a different field, and want to work for the company that paid for my clearance.

I do not know what my question is, but I just wanted to get some insight/responses on this unique scenario. What should be my course of action? Should I begin applying at other companies? Sit and wait to be contacted for a position by the company? I am not really sure how long it will take, but after waiting over a year for the clearance, I do not see why i can't wait a little more. However, how long is too long before applying with a different company in the same category? Again, just want to see what you intelligent and insightful men and women have to say. Thanks!

jvrlopez

Are you getting paid while they look for something else for you?

If the clearance is good to go, I'd look for employment elsewhere just incase your company can't come through with what they've promised.

They might be upset since they sponsored you for a clearance and might delay in releasing it to another company but that's just the nature of the situation.

roch_greg

You can plug "Clearance Jobs" into your favorite Internet search engine and come up with lots of opportunities. Heck even TekSystems.com has a section just for people who have a security clearance. And yes it does take a long time for the background investigation to be completed.

Do you actually have a security clearance or did they just tell you that you were cleared. There's a difference between "clearable" and having a "Active Security Clearance"

I would get on the horn with the company and ask them if you were in fact issued a security clearance and if so can you have a copy of the documentation. Then you can take it where ever you want to go.

They sponsored it with their money, no doubt. But the if you were given one then it belongs to you and not that company. Only the gov't can revoke it.

LarryDaMan

To add to what others have said, there is a good change your clearance is now "inactive". A clearance can become inactive when it is not being held by a company/organization or when you no longer have a need to access classified information. It is fairly easy for the clearance to be switched into "active" status, but there are personnel security people who might not have come across an inactive clearance before. Just something to remember if anyone says that there is a problem with your clearance.

LeifAlire

Odd you didn't get an interim clearance. Whet did you get Secret/TS/SCI? Yes for sure clearancejobs.com / gdit.com / excelsior.com / telecomsys.com. As far as expiring a company can quickly tell if it is expired I believe the secret will last 10 years.

roch_greg

Too many companies were getting burned on the interim clearance thing I guess. I have a source that tells me many companies won't do it anymore.

puertorico1985

I am not getting paid while they look. I am currently working for a private company. The level of clearance is a TS/SCI, and I do not believe an interim is applicable for my scenario. I will have to call to verify, but I believe that I have an active clearance. I was advised that I am able to begin working, and just need for them to find a position.

The contracting company is a good one, and that is part of my hesitation with applying elsewhere. However, I do not want to keep waiting for something that may never come. How long would you say is too long?

LeifAlire

I believe for a TS/SCI if not in active use expires within 2 years.

jvrlopez

That is correct, a TS will go inactive if not used within the past 2 years.

Id look around for a TS/SCI position via the job boards. Go to indeed.com, type in TS/SCI in the "what" field and your zip code in the "where"

Take advantage of it while its active because there's no telling when someone would sponsor you for a clearance if that level again should it lapse.

puertorico1985

Thanks for the advice. I have given myself a "waiting period." I have decided that after a certain date I will begin to apply for other positions. I have waited this long, and definitely would hate to have that clearance go to waste.

roch_greg

So would I. If I were you I'd look at some of the job boards mentioned and see what someone w/a Top Secret Clearance can pull down. No wonder it took so long. Most only get a Secret clearance or less.

Of course as with anything else there are caveats and in this case you actually need to be qualified to do the work the position calls for.