If you are looking for tips on how to get public trust clearance, you are in the right place. I will be bringing your way ideas that would help to boost your chances of securing it. But first, keep in mind that you must have an active job or may likely be considered for a one before you can apply for a security clearance. Your proposed employers may also sponsor the clearance application.

So, here is how to get public trust clearance

First, I will like you to know that you can’t just walk into an office and request to get a public trust clearance. It doesn’t work that way. Having such authorization will grant you access to classified information that the government guides jealously. In the hands of a wrong person, the data can become a weapon of destruction. So, before you can apply for the public trust security clearance, you need to first and foremost, secure a job. The job could be with a private company (government contractor) or directly with the federal government. It’s not something you can acquire with money by yourself. However, most government jobs require that you have an active clearance before applying for an opening. So, I advise you to go about jobs like unarmed guards or security guard contractor. You will find plenty of such positions at job fairs. If you want to get an active clearance, you can take these routes. The pay might be lower than what you expected, but your aim is not the pay but the clearance.

So, that is it about securing a public trust security clearance. Continue reading for more information on this topic.

What Does Public Trust Clearance Imply?

If you want to secure a cleared job with the federal government, then I suggest you take every step necessary to obtain your public trust security clearance. You should also be aware that it is not something you can get with money. Being poor or super-rich does not count either.

Let’s define public trust security clearance. What does it imply, and why is it that necessary?

The public trust clearance is a thorough background investigation carried out by the federal government. The goal is to ascertain whether an individual can be trusted with confidential information or not.

What department handles the public trust security clearance process? Well, it’s the job of the United States Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to conduct the background check to determine a candidate’s eligibility for the security clearance.

What Public Trust Position Requires A Security Clearance?

Whether you are working directly with the federal government, government contractor, or a company working for a government contractor, you might be required to obtain the security clearance.

Having the right skills or qualifications for a job that requires a security clearance does not mean you will secure the job. You might have the exact requirement and still not get the job. When your proposed employers sponsor you, the Office of Personnel Management, which is responsible for screen candidates and conducting the background checks, will do a background check and issue the security clearance.

If you are qualified and deem fit to have access to classified information, you will get your clearance without stress. So, a public trust clearance is for those who not only possess the right skills for the job but are trustworthy.

In short, trust is the keyword. You have to be highly trustworthy and satisfy other requirements, which will determine if you will get the security clearance or not. Remember that once cleared, you will have the chance to access classified data from the U.S military and state secret secrets. You can gain access to restricted places, too.

Public trust positions for which one may need security clearance include the following;

Fiduciary management.

Law enforcement agents.

Public health and safety

Individuals who are responsible for making policies.

The list goes on and on. Any position that involves public welfare needs a security clearance. Remember, you will be dealing with vital information such as personal and financial records of diverse persons.

In the hands of the wrong individual, the information can be used to perpetrate evil of various degrees. So, the federal government agencies, particularly those who deal with the public, would undoubtedly want to hire candidates with high trustworthiness.

Individuals Who Can Obtain A Security Clearance

Everyone can get a public security clearance, provided they meet the requirements and are due for employment in a position that would require regular access to classified data.

So, to be eligible for a public security clearance, an individual must satisfy the following criteria;

You must be a citizen of the United States of America.

Apply and be considered for a cleared job that requires the handling of sensitive information.

You must be sponsored by a government agency or contractor working with the government.

You must meet other criteria, as stated by the agency conducting the background check and assessment.

Is It Possible To Keep A Security Clearance After Quitting A Cleared Job Or Military Service?

Not everyone who applied for a security clearance got theirs. So, I understand the feeling people have knowing that they may lose their clearances someday. Some also believe they can keep their security clearance even if they quit a cleared job or military service.

Well, now that you are here, I would like to inform you that the government does not joke about these things. They aim to protect the citizens, of which they know that giving the wrong person access to information about the citizen they are supposed to protect can turn out bad.

Now, here’s what happens when you quite a cleared job or military service; the government will grant you two years to keep your security clearance. It’s a policy thing, so you have no reason to question it.

However, if within those two years, you moved to another cleared job or military service, your public security clearance may likely be reinstated.

Tips On How To Pass A Public Trust Clearance

So many people have failed to secure their security clearance because little mistakes, which they could have easily avoided. It’s just a simple background check, and probably, you might be asked a few questions here and there.

The main ingredient to scaling through a background check for security clearance is honesty. When asked questions, do not lie to the officials. The government is merely looking for someone they can trust, not something that knows how to tell lies and make a lie look real.

Again, the government may want to know whether you are drug-free or not. Another aspect they would show a keen interest in is your finances. They will want to know if your finances are in good shape.

Furthermore, as humans, the information requested of you may not seem ideal. And as a consequence, you may feel tempted to want to withhold them. But when that time comes, remember it is a trust clearance, meaning the government officials in charge of the screening would want you to be completely sincere with them.

So, do not withhold any information, as doing so may have a not-so-good impact on your application process. There is a high possibility that the government officials would somehow figure out the right information, and that would lead to outright disqualification.

A background check will also reveal things like bankruptcy, civil lawsuit, criminal record convictions, job change, and drug use. So, keep in mind that the important things the government will focus on are your legal and credit history.

Things You Can Do If Your Security Clearance Is Not Approved

Your security clearance can take up to six months for approval. And as I said, whether your application is for a confidential, secret, or the top-secret public trust clearance, the government will analyze and interpret the circumstances of your life before awarding you a security clearance.

So, before we consider steps you can take to address an unapproved security clearance, here are other possible reasons the federal government denied your application.

Financial debt

Technology misuse

Gambling addiction

Drug involvement

Undue foreign influence

Reckless sexual behavior

The government can also decide to disqualify a candidate for other factors, considered a massive threat to the security of the nation.

However, if your application for security clearance is not approved, and you honestly think you were unjustly denied, you are free to appeal for the decision to be reversed. You may request to see the reasons for the denial and prove that you have been falsely accused.

The help of an attorney who has sound knowledge in security clearance can also make a world of difference in a failed security clearance application, too. So, if things become more complicated, you can approach an attorney for legal advice and help.

However, you should be ready to prove that you were unjustly accused and meet all the criteria set by the federal government in your quest to overturn the denial.

You must show that you haven’t frequently been engaging in an act that you were disqualified for; you haven’t displayed such behavior your entire life or have finished a counseling program regarding the factor for which you were disqualified.

Conclusion

So, if you are interested in how to get public trust clearance, the tips here will make things much easier for you. And mind you, security clearance application can take up to 6 months for approval. Therefore, most employers, which mainly involve federal government contractors, would want a candidate that has an active clearance. So, start the journey now. Go after the meager security jobs, no matter how small the pay is, to obtain your security clearance. With that, you can move on to seek high paying federal government jobs with your security clearance in hand. Visit security job fairs to search for security jobs, including other job boards that post such opportunities.