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How to Maximize Your ClearedJobs.Net Experience
ClearedJobs.Net is a valuable tool in your cleared job search. In addition to applying for jobs and being found by employers, it’s a powerful resource for researching the security-cleared job market and refining your job search strategy.
1. Use ClearedJobs.Net as a research tool to mine data from tens of thousands of jobs and hundreds of cleared facilities employers. Determine which skills are in demand, see what kind of jobs match your experience, and identify hiring trends.
2. Upload your resume and fully complete your profile so cleared employers can find you easily. Paint a complete picture of your skills, talents, and abilities to capture attention effectively.
3. Understand how employer search results work. They first see your profile information, not your cleared resume. That’s why it’s so important to fully complete your profile, detailing your Key Skills and Ideal Work Locations.
4. Automate your search with Job Agents once you’ve refined your keyword searches to produce results that interest you. These Job Agents notify you via email when new positions match your criteria.
5. Refresh your account regularly. When you create a profile, a date is associated with your account. Each time you log in that date is updated. That’s important because employers’ searches present what’s fresh at the top of their results. So be sure to log in to your ClearedJobs.Net account weekly or monthly to update the date associated with your account.
6. Block select employers from viewing your ClearedJobs.Net profile as needed. If you want to be sure your current employer can’t see your profile, flip that switch and you’re in the clear.
7. Control your profile visibility to select whether cleared employers can see your profile or not. When you’re in the market for a new position you’ll want your profile to be Active. After accepting a role, you can change your profile status to Private. You can also be an Anonymous job seeker, where your skills are visible to employers, but your name is not.
Advanced Search Tips
Leverage basic Boolean search terms. When you search for jobs using a basic term like project manager, your search results will return every job with the word project or manager anywhere in the description. Typing “project manager” in quotation marks displays job descriptions that have those exact words in that order. Open a job posting and you’ll see that the key phrase “project manager” is highlighted in yellow everywhere it appears. This is the same way keywords appear on your resume when a recruiter searches the resume database.
Use your industry knowledge to craft efficient search strings. Often organizations will substitute the term “program manager” for “project manager”. In this case, you can use the search string: “Project Manager” OR “Program Manager” to cast an even wider net. The string “Project Manager” OR “Program Manager” OR “Program Analyst” OR “Project Analyst” is even better.
Select the clearance levels that you’re eligible to work in, not just your current clearance level. If you have a Top Secret, but would also work in a job that only requires a Secret clearance, select both choices to find more results.
Use a Zip Code and mileage radius for your geography. Unless you’re looking in an entire state or other country, it’s best to use a Zip Code vs a city name when selecting your geography. For instance, you don’t know if the person writing the job description chose St. Louis, Saint Louis, or Scott AFB as the job location. Zip Codes avoid that issue.
Search broadly, then get narrow. Job descriptions are written by people, so they may not always offer the clearest picture of the actual job. Start with broad keyword search strings. Use lots of “OR” connections and not so many “AND” connections at first. If your search returns jobs in the thousands, then begin adding other filters.
Don’t forget to check our Cleared Job Fair schedule to take advantage of upcoming in-person and virtual networking opportunities with cleared facilities employers here.
If you need assistance developing search strings or a search strategy for your skills, please contact our team at [email protected]. We’re happy to help!
