In category: Foreign Policy
Foreign Contacts Made Through Social Media: When Online Becomes Reportable
For SF-86 foreign contacts, social media is a method of contact, not an exemption from disclosure. The questionnaire expressly includes electronic communication. Whether an online relationship belongs on the form depends on the foreign-contact question's scope and relationship cr… more
What Clearance Investigators May Ask Your Friends and Neighbors
Security clearance reference questions can cover how someone knows you, what they have observed about your reliability and honesty, and whether your personal history is accurate. A friend, neighbor, or former coworker may know different parts of that history. Expect the questions… more
Tier 3 Investigation: The Standard Path to Secret Eligibility
A Tier 3 investigation is a background investigation used for noncritical-sensitive national-security positions, commonly supporting a Secret eligibility decision. It is not itself a clearance or permission to read classified information. The investigation gathers information; th… more
Canceling an Interview the Day Of: A Professional Message Template
Yes, it can be appropriate to cancel an interview the day of when an emergency prevents attendance or you have decided to withdraw. Notify the contact immediately, identify the appointment, and say whether you want another date. The employer decides whether to offer a replacement… more
Two Inconclusive Polygraphs: Possible Next Steps for an Applicant
Two inconclusive polygraphs describe unresolved examination outcomes, not an automatic government-wide hiring decision. Your sponsoring agency must determine what those results mean for its process. The next step could involve review, more testing, an interview, or discontinued p… more