News + Career Advice
Stay current on security-cleared job search tips, trends, and news.
SF-86 vs. PVQ: What Changes in the New Vetting Questionnaire Workflow
The SF-86 and PVQ are personal-history questionnaires, but the PVQ is entering service through a phased rollout. Comparing the SF-86 vs. PVQ therefore requires separating the new form's design from the questionnaire your sponsor actually assigns. A deployed capability does not me… more
Tier 5 Investigation: Scope, Timeline, and Top Secret Purpose
A Tier 5 investigation is the legacy background-investigation category used for critical- and special-sensitive national security positions, including work associated with Top Secret or SCI eligibility. It gathers information for a government decision; completing it does not itse… more
Public Trust and Marijuana: Read the SF-85P Before Assuming State Law Controls
Public Trust review and marijuana use intersect in the SF-85P's federal-law questions: state permission alone does not answer them. The form asks about illegal drug use and activity under federal law, including conduct permitted by a state. Build an accurate history, then ask the… more
Expired Clearance Recovery: When Reactivation Becomes a New Investigation
If your security clearance has expired, renewing it starts with a sponsoring employer's review of your prior record, not a personal renewal application. The next step may be acceptance of existing eligibility, additional investigative checks or a new eligibility determination. �… more
Keeping a Clearance Current During a Job Search: What You Can and Cannot Do
You cannot keep security clearance access active merely by continuing your job search. Access must end when the need for it ends. What you can do is complete your departure correctly, preserve permitted contact and date information, and give a prospective employer an accurate acc… more