<p>Does anyone have any idea on the job prospects of someone who cannot get a Security Clearance? I am transferring to a top engineering school next fall and am really interested in Aerospace Engineering. I know a lot of these people go on to work for the government, and that a lot of the government jobs require a security clearance. </p>
<p>What if I was denied a security clearance? Would my entire degree be nearly worthless? Would it be impossible to find a job without the requirement of a security clearance? I really want to follow my dream of studying Aerospace Engineering, but I hate the idea of not being able to find a job in a field I spent so much time and money becoming educated in.</p>
<p>I would. Boeing employs more people in commercial aviation than in defense, and even in defense you don’t always have to have a clearance. Then there are the countless other aerospace firms that deal with non-military planes. Then you come to companies like SpaceX, who don’t require security clearances from everyone. The smaller companies just tend to get overlooked when people think about aerospace because everyone gets distracted by the Lockheeds of the world, and even Lockheed has plenty of positions that don’t require a clearance.</p>
<p>The ability to get a security clearance is certainly more helpful in aerospace than in most other fields, but not being able to get one is hardly a deal breaker.</p>
<p>I think answering this question is difficult, simply because many of the issues that impact a security clearance also impact non-defense hiring, so it really depends on WHY you feel you would not get a clearance. Don’t be embarrassed about posting on here - its anonymous but some of us HAVE clearances and can give you a rough idea of whether you are in as bad a spot as you think.</p>
<p>One note on defense contractors hiring without clearances - non-clearance jobs (when you NEED one) are harder to get, simply because they are fewer in number and because you are still competing with the security clearance-eligible guys for the job. Contractors would prefer to hire guys who CAN get a clearance if needed, even if the initial job doesn’t require it.</p>
<p>I’m not sure what your legitimate concern is. But I’ve been surprised by some things that they will overlook.My boyfriend needed a secret clearance and we didn’t think he would get it due to a criminal issue from when he was younger and previous credit issues. It took a little longer, and a lengthy interview but he ended up getting it. </p>
<p>But like the others have said, there are jobs out there.</p>
<p>Well it depends on your definition of vast majority. </p>
<p>Boeing employs 40% of 165k of its employees in defense positions. Lockheed employs 125,000 people, L-3 employs 60,000 people, Northrop Grumman employs 75,000 people, Raytheon employs 70,000 people, General Dynamics employs 90,000 people. Clearly not all of these positions are aerospace or require a clearance, but places like SpaceX and other new/start-up aerospace companies have less than 2000 people, and even those companies have employees with clearances. Even companies like Cessna only employ 15,000.</p>
<p>So again, I’d reiterate that the usage of the phrase “the vast majority don’t require clearances” is probably incorrect. Even the biggest commercial airplane manufacturer in the U.S. and possibly the world is 2/5 defense.</p>
<p>Depends on how old you are applying for the clearance and what type of clearance.</p>
<p>If you are 21 and applying for a Top Secret/SCI/Lifestyle Polygraph clearance through NSA/FBI/CIA, then that charge at age 16 may impact you. If you are applying for that NSA/FBI/CIA clearance at age 26, then less impact because the background goes back 10 years.</p>
<p>If you are applying for just a Secret clearance and your charge at age 16 has been purged or was settled, it may not harm you since a Secret clearance is basically a credit and criminal check.</p>
They care about patterns and time. A small one-time mistake several years ago (especially as a minor) is likely to be accepted, but if there is a history of severe infractions (felonies, hard drug use, etc.) or repeated minor infractions (marijuana, drinking problems, multiple misdemeanors, etc.) then you are probably out of luck until you put that decade behind you and show some real dependability and trustworthiness.</p>
<p>I think i know why you’re asking about it, like me you are an arab or even perhaps a muslim which would make a problem when working on military projects , that’s why i’m staying off that field : however some compatriotes are working in NASA and get to come home once in a while , so it is not always an issue!!</p>
<p>Won’t huge debt (school loans) also impact a clearance, no matter what level of clearance? Does debt play just as big of a role as criminal activity (drugs, etc) when trying to obtain a clearance? Everything I have read seems to indicate yes; however, I also think that each case is evaluated individually. Huge school loans might indeed hinder a clearance.</p>
<p>What the government is looking for is any type of instability in your actions, and not being able to manage your money is a big one. </p>
<p>The amount of student loans someone has will not affect their ability to get a clearance, but if you’ve defaulted or been negligent with paying your loans back, you can bet that it’ll come into play. And credit card debt hugely affects your ability to get a clearance. </p>
<p>And your right, each case is evaluated individually.</p>
<p>Finances do have a big impact, but the main impact of loans is in your ability to make the payments. A $10k credit card debt is probably more of a problem than a $40k student loan - between the higher interest rates and shorter repayment terms, the monthly payment is likely to be much higher, and that is the main issue. I know people with huge student loan balances who have clearances and had no problems getting them.</p>
<p>A young man wants to join aerospace engineering through AFROTC. He is waiting for green card in Germany. If he doesn’t get the card this year he is saying he will sign up for German military for two years while waiting and then come here for the degree. I told him not to do this because I thought he wouldn’t be able to get a clearance. Does anybody know about this? Will serving in German military prevent him from getting a security clearance for aerospace engineering jobs?</p>