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Navigating the Minefield of National Security Job Hunting
Job hunting in the federal government and defense contracting spaces can spike frustration and stress to levels you did not think possible. Having experienced it firsthand, I am here to tell you: it’s not just you. There are the usual stressors common to any job hunt (e.g., the distorted perceptions induced by the visible volume of opportunities, the invisible volume of competition for the opportunities, and the disappointingly low rates of responses, interviews, and job offers); and then there is a whole other set of factors and dynamics layered on top of that. I will discuss the latter below and how to navigate them, but first a couple of general tips and tricks.
1.1. Expect Repetition When You Apply for Jobs
1.1.a. Required Documents
There is a core set of documents and data common to most job applications. Your resume (obviously), your DD214 (copy 4) if you are a veteran, writing samples, and proof of authorization to work in the U.S. are the big ones.
1.1.b. Uploading Your Resume
Many contractors use the same or similar HRMS (Human Resources Management System) for job applications, so you can predict how AI is going to upload (or incorrectly upload) your resume and pre-fill the necessary fields. The tools are made to make processes faster, but they are not perfect. Be patient and fill out your application carefully. My recommendation to you is to have a separate document where you have the pieces and parts for each of your jobs, education, and skills ready to be copied and pasted. This will make the editing process much more efficient.
1.2. Make a Spreadsheet to Track Applications
Filling out applications is a drag, and it will feel like you have done over 100 applications when you have actually done about 20. Keeping track will help you stay grounded and let you keep a quick eye on timelines. It might also help you stay motivated as the interviews start to roll in. I have a lot of tabs in my workbook because I am obsessive compulsive, but I recommend two.
1.2.a. Applications I Have Submitted
I track the business entity (agency, corporation, whatever), the job title and the associated job requisition number, the date I submitted the application, whether a cover letter was required, whether I submitted a cover letter, whether I submitted a writing/code sample, the type of writing/code sample requested, the date I heard back, and the response I received (if any).
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I use a color scheme for quick visualization. In this context, “Inactive” means either I have been explicitly notified I will not be considered for the job, or I have heard nothing for over 60 days, so this opportunity should not receive any more time or effort from me. “First round” indicates I have been invited to interview. “Active lead” is a broad category indicating I should keep my eye on the application and/or my email so I may respond promptly if I receive communications about this opportunity.
Note about cover letters: In my experience, cover letters are usually optional for these kinds of job postings/applications. That said, I have a friend who works in HR for one of the big defense contractors, and he tells me if the cover letter is optional, he does not even read it. So, will submitting an optional cover letter make your application stand out? Maybe. It depends on who will read it. If you are applying for the perfect job opportunity, then taking the extra time and effort might pay off. If you are trying to get as many applications as you can out the door, then tailoring individual optional cover letters for every application is probably a time-sink you don’t want to invest in.
1.2.b. Rejected Options
I keep track of corporations and agencies where I have looked but did not find opportunities suitable for me. This one is less formal or detailed, more so I can look back, “Why didn’t I apply to this place? Oh yeah, they do not have any opportunities in any of the areas I am willing to live/move,” or “They do not have opportunities in my field.”
1.3. What to Do While You Wait
1.3.a. Brace Yourself for Rejection
Job hunting is a slog. It sucks, it shouldn’t be this hard, but it is. How many millions of people have successfully navigated this process? You can, too. Remember that not being invited to interview, not even being responded to is not a reflection on you. Look at the screenshot above. Rejection happens. It does not mean you are a bad candidate, it just means you need to keep looking. While you are waiting to hear back from jobs you have applied for, keep putting yourself out there.
1.3.b. Network
I cringe saying it because it’s so cliché, and I am so introverted and shy, but it really does work. Sharpen up your resume, steam your suit, and go to job fairs. With only one exception, every job interview I have had has been the result of introducing myself to, talking with, and getting business cards from recruiters at job fairs. There are job fairs dedicated to certain fields of work, there are fairs for people with security clearances, fairs that various departments of the federal government put on, even fairs that offer professional photographers for headshots or resume reviews.
Opportunities are out there. Do not be afraid to take advantage of them. With all of that in mind, buckle in for the next layer.
2.1. The Federal Hiring Process
2.1.a. The Timeline
The federal hiring process can take a year or longer. The government HR departments are not necessarily being lazy. There are regulations and business rules in place, which means they need to adhere to certain timelines. These timelines may not be as fast as you want them to be.
You cannot change that, so just be patient. It is not uncommon to work another job while waiting for a federal job application to process. As with any subjective assessment, results may vary, but I have heard more than one resume reviewer/recruiter say they do not view a short stint at a company before working for the federal government as a red flag.
2.1.b. Security Clearances
This one is a doozy. If you do not have a security clearance, then as an applicant/candidate for a federal job, you will either enjoy the lengthy process of being investigated after filling out a really long form; or if you are trying to work in the private sector, you may need to convince an entity to sponsor your application.
If you already have a clearance, congratulations! It might help you, or it might not. It depends on who “adjudicated” your clearance (which agency conducted/reviewed the investigation). If you have a Department of Defense (DOD) clearance, then you can anticipate a measure of transferability amongst the many subsidiaries of DOD, including individual service branches, the Department itself, and the various support agencies, with the understanding that some entities will have tighter security than others by the nature of their work. There will be additional time overhead for places like the National Security Agency (NSA) or Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA). Yes, you have your DOD clearance, but they are going to want to review it for themselves. It’s not you, it’s a normal part of the process.
Then, there are some government entities like CIA who are going to conduct the security clearance investigation process from the top, regardless of your current clearance status, so your only advantage is “you already know how to fill out the form” (direct quote from a recruiter at a job fair).
The clearance process is another exercise in patience and perspective: The security clearance process is designed to safeguard classified information, i.e., information whose value would be lost if adversaries knew we knew. The classification system is one of the ways the government maintains strategic advantage, and the clearance process examines a multitude of factors. The best advice is to be honest. Do not lie, do not tell half-truths. If investigators think you are concealing something, they may not take the time to figure out what it is or figure out if their perception is accurate. They may just note you appear to be concealing something and move on, as they have a lot of investigations to perform (it goes without saying, such a remark will stop an investigation in its tracks).
2.1.c. Polygraphs
A polygraph is not required for most job postings, but it is required for some. You should be aware not all polygraphs are the same — there are different levels. Unfortunately, a lot of contractor job postings do not specify which type of polygraph you need. Sometimes, the postings and/or applications may be vague or even contradictory about which level of polygraph is required. (One time a job posting said “type a” but my application was auto rejected because apparently “type b” was required.)
I cannot say much about the polygraph except it sucks and everyone hates it, but we do it anyway. Yes, it is pseudoscience, but it is one of several factors used to make an aggregate determination regarding a security clearance, and it should be taken seriously. Patience and perspective. A few key pieces of advice for navigating clearances and polygraphs: First, if you do not have security clearances already, it is unlikely a private sector entity will hire you for cleared positions. You can still apply to those entities for uncleared positions. Second, “bloom where you are planted.” Perform well in the uncleared position/the position for which you are hired, work hard, be a good teammate, achieve results.
Give it maybe 18 months before you start actively looking to pivot to your next opportunity. For this method, I strongly recommend looking within the company, as contractors tend to encourage promotion/movement from within. You might even convince your corporate employer to sponsor your application for a clearance (if you can convince them it would be a good investment for them, i.e., you are going to keep working for them).
2.2. Finding the Right Job
2.2.a. Looking for Clues
Another common dynamic in contractor and federal job postings is how general they are, i.e., it will probably not be apparent what agency, project, and/or mission you will be working with/on. For federal job postings, you will know the agency, of course, but it will most likely not specify the potential portfolio. If you are passionate about a particular mission set (e.g., ballistic missile defense or counterproliferation) or a particular geographic region (e.g., the Middle East), this can be incredibly frustrating, but it is a reality.
In the case of contractor job postings, sometimes you can narrow down/guess which agency you will be supporting based on geography. For example, the Pentagon is in Arlington, VA. This is no secret. So, a job posting listing its location as Arlington, Virginia might be talking about the Pentagon or something Pentagon-adjacent. A job posting for Annapolis Junction, Maryland is probably not going to be supporting Main Justice in downtown Washington, D.C. Not being specific about the supported agency is yet another security measure, so go with it, submit the application, take the interview. You will have a chance to find out and consider the agency before you have to make your decision to accept a job offer.
The second stage of interviewing is typically when you might learn more about where you will be working/what kind of project you might be supporting. It could also be that there are multiple openings, and the hiring manager wants to get an idea of your personality so they can fit you to a group where you would match the dynamic. There is no way of knowing or controlling this, so be patient and wait for the right opportunity to ask.
I will say it again: bloom where you are planted. It is easier to navigate opportunities in the national security sector from within than it is to hunt blindly as an outsider. Insiders have more networking opportunities; they have access to resources and mentors who can help guide their professional journey. Take the job you can get, do well at it for a couple of years, and then try to advance into the position you really want. (I have done this, it really does work.)
2.2.b. Being Hired for a Job That Does Not Exist Yet
Sometimes contractors will “hire” people for a contract they have not yet won. This makes sense from a business perspective: The business wants to be ready to hit the ground running with the people necessary to perform its contractual obligations if the company is awarded the contract. From a job hunter’s perspective, this is a double-edged sword. Yes, it is a job offer, but if the contract is awarded to some other corporation, poof! The job offer is gone, and the company you applied to is under no obligation to place you in another position. This happened to a former coworker of mine: He accepted an offer for a future contract, the contract was awarded to another company, and his prospective employer left him out to dry, so he had to ask for his old job at our company back. Even if they try to place you within their existing workforce, they still might not be able to. The point is you are not guaranteed a job.
This situation is best navigated by working the interview process. Ask the questions: “Is this contract already awarded or is the job pending the contract being awarded?” “Do we know the timeline for when the contract will be awarded?”
If you are offered a job for a pending contract, congratulations! Be proud of the job offer you earned! Maintain contact with the company, check in from time to time, something easy like, “I’m just checking in to make sure you have everything you need from me,” or “If I recall correctly, we said the contract decision would be released around this time. Have we heard back yet?” At the same time, continue the job hunt. To quote BoJack Horseman, “It aint a done deal till the deals are all done,” and a conditional promise of a job will not keep the lights on.
2.3. You've Got This
Getting a job is hard. Getting a job in the national security sphere can be a nightmare, but it is achievable. Manage your expectations, be patient, and be persistent. You are your own best advocate, so do the research, go to job fairs, ask the questions, and be forthright. Your altruism and your desire to serve the American people can find an outlet.
Author
Ryan Dallas
MSDS Residential Student Ambassador
Learn more about the full-time, in-person Residential MSDS at the University of Virginia. Request more information, connect with Admissions, or start your application today.
