I spoke to two agents yesterday. One of them actually called me about a CV I put in though Jobserve the day before. Amazing that he actually got it, given Jobserve’s reliability, let alone he’d read it. We may return to that one later.
However the other one was rather more typical. Interesting and fairly senior role within my scope and something that I could enjoy doing. In the City of London, which is a pain but nothing I can’t live with. However, it contained that immortal phrase “willing to undergo Security Clearance”.
In the last 12 years I’ve worked in the MOD three times, the Cabinet Office and the Ministry of Justice and have been cleared to SC on each occasion. So foolish me, I thought I’m willing to undergo clearance so I called the agency.
He answered the phone. That’s a good start. CV was a perfect match to the role. Rate was good, given the current market. “Have you got current clearance?”. “No, it lapsed last year”. “Ah well, the client has asked that we only submit people with active clearance. Sorry.”
Should have guessed that was coming really…
Thing is, the guidelines around clearance are very clear indeed that, with very few exceptions, you should not be barred from applying for work simply because you are not cleared. This has recently been re-emphasised to REC, APSCo and the larger agencies by the Cabinet Office, largely as a result of some sterling work by the PCG. Also there are clear guidelines about how people can work on secure projects while clearance is being obtained. With the best will in the world, I don’t honestly believe I represent a real risk to the nation, and I’ve signed the Official Secrets Act anyway, and that is still in force: break that and it’s Malvolio for the Tower…
One has to ask: given the failure rate of HMG programmes, around 40% of which fail totally and very few of which meet all the original cost, time and quality criteria, you don’t suppose recycling the same pool of workers who just happen to have active clearance has anything to do with it?
I didn’t know that (re not being barred for not having SC clearance). Iv’e worked for the HO and mine has lapsed, so I’ve ignored job adverts where SC clearance has been mandatory. As of this moment, I’ve just done so on the basis of what you’ve written here!
hussah!
I do agree but to be devils advocate here you can also seen the flipside of the coin here. You have to remember it is possible to fail SC clearance which at the moment runs at 4-8 weeks. So think about the situation. Your on a client site being escorted absolutely everywhere and can’t get stuck in to your work for 4-8 weeks and in week 7 you fail because you some minor glich in the system. Believe me it happens! If I was the clients faced with this situation then the way they recruit at the moment makes perfect sense (unfortuantely)