In category: career
Intelligence Analyst vs. Data Scientist: Choose the Product You Want to Build
The useful intelligence analyst vs. data scientist distinction is the product you want to deliver. Intelligence analysis develops judgments from evidence for a decision-maker; data science develops and tests methods for extracting insights from data. Both require explanation and … more
SF-86 vs. SF-85P: Choose the Form by Position, Not Personal History
In an SF-86 vs. SF-85P comparison, the deciding factor is the position's designation. The requesting office assigns the questionnaire based on the job's risk and national-security sensitivity. Your personal history determines your answers; it does not let you select the form with… more
Interviewed for Someone Else’s Clearance: What a Reference Should Expect
A security clearance interview for someone else helps an investigator check that person's history, character, and conduct. You are a source of information about the applicant. Before discussing personal details, verify the investigator through the agency's official process, then … more
SF-86 Lookback Periods: How Far Each Section Reaches
How far back does the SF-86 go? Residence and employment history generally reach 10 years, many conduct questions reach 7 years, and some ask whether something has ever happened. The reporting period belongs to the individual question. Neither the clearance level nor a remembered… more
Using the Official SF-86 Instructions Without Missing Section-Specific Rules
The SF-86 instructions require you to follow both the form and clarifying directions from the office that supplied it. Read the opening instructions, then the scope and follow-up prompts for each question. A familiar section title is not enough: the next sentence may change the r… more