subject: Security Clearance How To [print this page] Are you currently considering a position in the Federal field or, perhaps, thinking about a career in the military? If so, you will have to familiarize yourself with how security clearances work. Without a security clearance, you might not be allowed to perform certain jobs and you could be declined for a specific job. As such, a clear understanding of what security clearances entail is worth the time.
What exactly does a security clearance entail? Basically, this is a provision given to individuals who work in government or are contracted to work with a government agency. Specifically, this provision will state that certain classified information will be given to the person with an appropriate level of clearance. Also, limitations in terms of the specific government facilities the person might visit will be removed. Basically, the person with the correct clearance will be allowed to operate in an unconstrained manner when handling certain tasks in the performance of his/her job.
How does one achieve a particular level of security clearance? A background check will be executed which will explore different facets of the individual's personal, professional, financial, and even political life. This way, safety levels can be kept and those that might pose a security risk will be kept from achieving a security rank they would otherwise be best not getting.
You might wonder why security clearance is required. This will depend upon the tasks at hand. In some cases, the items that the person comes in contact with could contain sensitive data of a personal nature about fellow citizens. By getting a security clearance, such private data will be efficiently protected.
Then, there will also be issues of a national security related situation. In certain Federal and military duties, highly classified security information must be protected from being released to those that would leak or compromise the information. By requiring a security clearance, such information does not fall into the wrong hands.
There are also different levels of security clearance available. Terms like "Top Secret" are not just used in films. They have their origins in the world of government and military operations. They also have a purpose. Again, privacy issues need to be properly weighed when looking at the various factors that need to be taken into consideration when working in such fields.
