How would you like to qualify for a bonus of $5--10,000 at your very first job? Just as importantly, how would you like to qualify for a promotion? In fact, how would you like to qualify for a job in the first place? It all may depend on having a security clearance.
To understand just how important security clearances are to hiring organizations, we talked with the head of one of America's leading information technology companies, General Johnnie Wilson, U.S. Army (Ret). General Wilson is president and chief operating officer of Dimensions International Inc. (DI), which provides complex management, marketing, and operations solutions for both military and civilian government agencies.
As both a high-ranking Army general and top consultant to defense agencies, General Wilson understands firsthand the access to people and information that a security clearance makes possible.
We asked him if DI gives preference to new hires with a security clearance. "Absolutely," he told us.
"Of 1,200 plus employees, over 600 have some level of security clearance. If you're going to be competitive with the federal government, you have to have security clearances. Also, if you hire people with security clearances, that is a good indicator of their character, their potential, and their background."
Clear Advantage
The individual with a security clearance has a clear competitive advantage, he believes. "The person with a security clearance will get a promotion before the person without one, said Wilson. "It opens doors."
He continued, "Jobs in the information technology and science technology fields in the federal government often require security clearance. If you are going to work for a secret agency, such as the DIA or CIA, you can't do it without a security clearance."
"Jobs in science and technology are exploding and will continue to do so, but they will require security clearances."
"Since 9/11, our world has changed. More databases are being kept by agencies we don't know. Always check your credit rating, for example, because mistakes there reflect on you."
Advice to Students
General Wilson pointed out several factors that were most likely to prevent students today from getting security clearances later in their careers.
"Some of the challenges faced by young people, especially minorities, include poor credit ratings and problems with the law. Young people don't consider the long-lasting impact of their actions."
He also noted that, "investigators talk with neighbors, so be careful of the associations you keep."
And finally, he said, "When you travel overseas, be able to account for where you went, when you went, and what kind of trip it was."
Character and Honesty Count
Students can be left behind by mistakes they make early in life, and they are not helped by adults who don't tell them the truth about the important role that character and honesty play. "More than ever," Wilson emphasized, "adults need to reach out and talk to students and tell them that you can't afford to start being a good American at the age of 30. It starts early. Character and honesty are important to us."
