Have a Security Clearance? Don't Let it Expire.

Having security clearance means you have access to sensitive data, materials or projects. People who can go where others cannot provide valuable services for companies contracted by government agencies. Treat your clearance level as a commodity that others want when a company recruits you.

Your security clearance benefits you in many ways. A growing intelligence community, especially with regards to cybersecurity, needs thousands of qualified individuals to help protect computers, networks and software from intrusions. Defense spending continually rises as the U.S. Department of Defense moves forward with drone programs, high-tech weaponry and advanced systems that need computer hardware and software to operate.

An active security clearance gives you an advantage over other candidates who may lack the clearance. Many contractors prefer hiring former military personnel who still have clearance. Instead of spending money to gain clearance for a noncleared candidate, contractors can use the surplus money to increase the salary of someone with appropriate clearance. You could earn an extra 5 to 20 percent over a noncleared colleague. Your clearance prevents background investigations as you go through the hiring process.

The easiest way to maintain your security clearance is to keep working with companies that require such certifications. Your job within in the company must also require a certain clearance level. For "confidential" clearance, you must undergo an investigation every 15 years. "Secret" clearance requires an investigation every 10 years, and "top secret" clearance needs an investigative report once every five years.

Once you lose your clearance level, it could take anywhere from six months to two years to regain it, if at all. This time period may be too long for some contractors, and you could lose out on an employment opportunity. Some companies hire or promote from within since these firms already have access to an employee's background information. For many workers, this means a lost promotion due to a lapse in clearance.

Understand some facts about security clearance in order to know how to maintain yours. You cannot pre-qualify for clearance, and you must obtain clearance by working for a company that requires it. You lose your clearance when your job no longer requires that type of security measure.

Naturalized citizens can earn clearance. In some instances, non-U.S. citizens can earn a security level if no American can fulfill the same job for the government or a government contractor.

Those who have the clearance level of "top secret" have access to information on a need-to-know basis. This clearance level guarantees you can view every piece of sensitive information collected by the American government.

Security clearance is a valuable, intangible commodity or skill that many government agencies look for in a job candidate. Maintain your security level, and add that line to your resume. You just may land your dream job because of it.

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