<p>For example, how difficult would it be for him to get one of those TS-SCI (or higher) clearances? I see job postings every so often that require that the applicant must already hold the clearance.</p>
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<p>It’s unclear to me, for example, how many unemployed civil and construction engineers the CS (or SE) field could absorb.</p>
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<p>One topic that comes up from time to time with regards to defense/intelligence/government work is that these jobs are not perceived to be “alternative-lifestyle” friendly (even if they are). The word on the street is that if you’re the type of person who, for example, dyes their hair blue or covers their body in tatoos that you won’t be welcome. It’s even worse if you’re LGBT. So that is a disincentive for people who might otherwise pursue careers in those areas to do so. OTOH, Silicon Valley tech companies could care less what you look like, what you wear, what your sexual orientation is, etc., as long as you have the skills they want. So even if those companies are stressful, there is less (perceived) stress than in the government sector.</p>