Posts By Kathleen Smith

Big Changes: Government or Military Transitioning to Civilian Work

A post from Patra Frame, U.S. Air Force veteran and ClearedJobs.Net’s HR Specialist. If you have spent a long career in the military or government, the change to the civilian world is often even larger than you expect. Week after week I see people who were accomplished pilots, program managers, XO’s, SMEs, — and whoRead… Read more »

9 Interviewing Mistakes Security Cleared Job Seekers Should Avoid

You’ve been called in for an interview. As you know, first impressions are critical. The people you interview with will unknowingly make judgments about you within the first 30 seconds of meeting you. Those impressions may be based on how you shake hands or how you’re dressed, among other things. Bad impressions are very difficultRead… Read more »

What Would You Give Up in order to Telecommute?

A recent study done by TeamViewer, shared that “5% of Americans would divorce their spouse if they could telecommute instead”. Others were willing to give up showers, chocolate, pay raises and vacation days. What would you be willing to give up if you could telecommute?

Top 10 Reasons DISCO and OPM Reject Security Clearance Requests

Check out this just released list of top 10 reasons that security clearance requests are rejected. You may have thought drug use or credit issues were to blame, but it’s not nearly as juicy as that. It’s mundane, simple mistakes such as missing information, lack of fingerprint cards or not providing information for relatives whoRead… Read more »

Ramp Up Your Job Search Research

A post by Patra Frame, ClearedJobs.Net’s HR Specialist. Feeling stuck? Job search slowing? Not finding jobs that are really right for you? Go to the library! Runyon’s Corollary: Spending a few hours on the Internet often saves a few minutes in the library. Everything is NOT on the web. But your public library has aRead… Read more »

6 Recommendations for Improving Security Clearance Management

Tim Clark, Government Executive, Charlie Allen, INSA, John Fitzpatrick, National Archives On the whole we’ve slain the dragon of taking months, if not years, to process clearances on the front end. Anecdotally there are still horror stories, but there’s no denying great strides have been made. From an average of 446 days to process initialRead… Read more »

Is a Search Firm Right for Your Job Search

A post by Patra Frame, ClearedJobs.Net’s HR Specialist. First, understand a search firm’s role is to satisfy the employer who pays them by finding a hire who meets the employer’s specs. Their role is NOT to get YOU a job. There are two main types of search firms (aka “headhunters”) you could work with: contingencyRead… Read more »

2 Most Common Mistakes When Applying for a Security Clearance

At the recent National Classification Management Society Annual Chapter Seminar Laura Hickman, DISCO Director, shared the two most common mistakes applicants make when applying for a security clearance. Most of these rejections come from employees of small cleared facilities employers. And despite the fact that just over 18% of interim clearances are denied, ultimately theRead… Read more »