Should i put security clearance on resume

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. What is a Security Clearance Resume? Who Looks for a Secret Clearance? Leave a Reply Cancel reply Your email address will not be published. Privacy Policy. In these sectors, clearances are required not only for high-level officials but also for staff such as custodians and caterers, who work in proximity to people and places with classified data.

Clearances are also common for civilian contractors who must access resources within databases that contain classified information as well as for private organizations that require clearances for access to valuable data, such as trade secrets. Not all security clearances are equal. For example, in government agencies, there are three levels of clearance, each being granted based on the needs of your position.

These levels are:. An individual who requires security clearance for their job undergoes a vetting process that investigates their background.

During this process, authorities collect information directly from the individual and then compare it against various sources and points of information, such as employment history, education history, residential history, affiliations and acquaintances. Inconsistencies between claims and confirmations can result in denial of clearance. Given certain restrictions, it's acceptable to list your security clearances on resumes you submit for job applications.

Often, doing so can improve your candidacy for the job you want. You might consider including your current and past security clearances for any of the following reasons:. If you have an active security clearance in a government or military role and wish to transfer to another agency, you can attract the attention of hiring officials by noting your clearance on your resume.

Normally, federal agencies will grant a security clearance because you already have one, and your potential employer may appreciate not having to conduct an additional background investigation for their new hire. There are some limitations to this transferability. Your most recent background investigation has to have been completed within five to 10 years, depending on your level of clearance, with no interruption in your employment greater than two years during this time.

There are numerous private-sector jobs that commonly require security clearances, such as cybersecurity, business analysis and aerospace engineering. Such employers are often seeking skilled candidates who have active security clearances. Security clearances don't transfer in the private sector, but showing you've obtained past clearance can assure employers you're not a risk to their classified data. The pool of individuals who have active clearance is relatively small, so listing your clearance on your resume can greatly improve your candidacy and allow you to earn a higher salary.

An active or past clearance can also be helpful when you're applying to a position that requires no clearance at all. However, a problem arose when he decided to post his resume on job sites such as Monster.

Related: Does your resume pass the 6-second test? Get a FREE assessment. It makes sense, right? You want to find a job and know that your security clearance can help you. Why would this be a problem? The issue comes from the fact that you are letting the world know that you have a Top Secret security clearance, because anyone can find your resume on those job sites. Having access to national security information -- especially at a level where unauthorized disclosure could cause grave damage to national security, as is the case with a Top Secret clearance -- means nefarious individuals might be on the lookout for ways to take advantage of you.

It might be access to a SCIF, information on classification codes or security procedures, and much more. It depends on the organization. It is not required that you list it. Given the importance many companies place on background checks these days, acknowledging you are having a security clearance in the past could help you appear less of a risk when it comes to hiring.

When you go into an interview, just be mindful of the fact that a background check completed by an employer may uncover a loss of security clearance, which is possibly something that will come up in an interview. Should you ever lose your security clearance, seek legal guidance on how and whether or not that information should be revealed.

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