Re: So many jobs want CURRENT security clearances

["Bonnie Granat" <bgranat -at- editors-writers -dot- info>]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Andrew Plato" <gilliankitty -at- yahoo -dot- com>
To: "TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com>
Sent: August 13, 2003 01:55 PM
Subject: Re: So many jobs want CURRENT security clearances


>
> "Bonnie Granat" <bgranat -at- editors-writers -dot- info> wrote in message
> news:209114 -at- techwr-l -dot-  -dot-  -dot- 
>
> > The requirement that one already possess a security clearance is an unfair
> > requirement. That is precisely the point of my post. They should permit
> > otherwise qualified people to *get* clearances.
>
> Its not unfair. Its a legitimite requirement. In many cases, its the
government
> making the requirement, not the contractor.
>

It is unfair to expect people to have what they cannot get on their own. If
jobs are being advertised on the Internet, that tells me that the "normal*
ways that companies have of filling these jobs is not getting results and that
the companies are resorting to using the "outside." If they are going outside
the normal word-of-mouth, referral type scenario, they should open the jobs to
the general public and not a special class of people.

> Just because you don't meet the requirement, doesn't make it unfair. I don't
> have a PhD in Physics, that doesn't mean that a university's requirement
that
> physics professors have a PhD is physics is unfair. Its a requirement, I
don't
> meet it. If I want to be a physics professor, I need to go get a physics
PhD.

In "normal" times, the person gets the job and then gets the clearance. It is
unfair because it offers jobs to a special class of people and no one can
enter that class by his or her own abilities.

>
> Furthermore, you don't just *get* clearance. Its a complex and lengthy
process.
> As others have pointed out, it can take months to obtain.
>

Yes, yes, I know. So what? Jobs are now being offered to a special class of
people and no one can enter that class without first getting a job that
requires the thing that makes the class special. Nothing I can do can allow me
to enter that special class of people. No skills are involved. That is
precisely what makes it UNFAIR.

> > > If you think this is an important "skill" to possess, then look into
> obtaining
> > > such clearance. Surely there are government jobs available that do
> notrequire
> > > such clearance, but will give you the opportunity to obtain such
clearance.
> >
> > No. That's not how clearances are obtained. You only get them when you
NEED
> > them to do your job.
>
> Yes, you can obtain security clearance when you have a job that requires it.
> So, first you need to get a job that does NOT require it, but is close to
jobs
> that DO require it.

No.


Then, work your way up into a position that DOES require
> it. For example, apply for tech writing jobs at companies that do government
> contracting, but in a different division or group - one that does NOT
require
> security clearance. Then, work your butt off, demonstrate your value, and
> they'll promote you to a team where you CAN get clearance.
>

No.

> While I sympathize with your situation, Bonnie, you're not getting closer to
a
> solution by just stomping your feet and proclaiming its unfair.
>

I'm not stomping my feet, Andrew. I'm complaining, observing, call it what you
will, but please don't characterize it as stomping my feet. That is unfair,
too.

> Don't get discouraged, find a solution. Every problem has an answer. You
just
> might not LIKE that answer.
>

I am not discouraged. I had something to say and I said it. I'll say it again,
I get angry. If you don't like how I feel, that's really your problem.

Bonnie Granat
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