I have a general question about employment. I know that there are many government agencies that use ColdFusion. I am applying with the Department of Homeland Security for a ColdFusion web developer. Can I ask what they will be looking for in the security clearance? Thank you in advance!

You might want to check all those Russian friends you have on Facebook that keep sending friend requests to your friends...

Ooh. Got a real-life episode of The Americans playing out here.

A security clearance is an extensive check into who you are. Besides making sure you file your taxes, and your criminal and financial backgrounds, they may interview your neighbors, relatives, and doctors. Unlike other "jobs", you may have access to information that bad people would pay well for, and unlike other jobs, there is literally an entire army of people set out to make sure that information does not get out. So in short, a security clearance is a whole view of who you are, your social contacts, your political background, your purchases, and a psychological profile. You may also be forced to take a polygraph, and give up any political groups or politically affiliated groups you may be a part of.

“They may interview your neighbors…”…. My neighbors would be like: “Scott who?”

They will find stuff on you that you either forgot about or did not even know about and it take 6 months to a year

so if you don't have one, and you want to apply for a job like this, do you have to wait that 6-12months before you can be employed?

It depends really. Usually, you can get a provisional TEMP job with a contractor as a non-SEC authed employee. Your life may be really boring, and you may literally spend the next six months to a year staving off boredom, and insanity and familiarizing yourself with the GSA manuals of style, all so you can properly file the correct formatted paperwork to actually move your real job application along.

Lol, well I am feeling blessed that I have never needed a job so bad that I was willing to go through all that.... I would probably switch careers before working for the government

The private sector is better on a lot of levels. Be a contractor, less stress.

There are pros and cons to government and government-like jobs and industry jobs. Nobody is ever going to give you a cash bonus because you've been working extra hard in a government job, but they're also unlikely to spontaneously fire you because they don't like you today. The list for both sides could get much longer than that.

LOL @ CASH BONUSES.. Been in IT for 30+ years, last actual bonus was in the 90s..

I got one in 2007 I think

I was going to say, the bonuses i received the in 90s didnt add up to much, it was more like, thanks.

Yes, I have had a couple times where the owner of the small company I worked for sold to to a big company, then gave all the workers a "thank you for helping to make me a millionaire" check... It's a nice gesture, but not typically life changing,

yeah.. part of smaller companies bought out by enterprise companies who for a few years gave out bonuses as it was "thanks for being the only IT person who understands DNS, Webservices and lives at the office"

It's good to give the donkey a bit of the carrot once a year to keep him chasing it for the next year and turning that mill

When I moved to the US, signing bonuses were a thing. I joined Macromedia in 2000 and got a $20k signing bonus. Folks who were joining Palm (I think), down the Peninsula, were getting BMW 3-series as "signing bonuses" -- their parking lot was jammed full of 3-series for a year or two. And everyone got Hermann-Miller chairs and wireless headphones and a bunch of other "perks".

Yes, the perks and benefits have changed with time and the companies I've worked for. When you've worked for an awful company, even getting a small financial gift as a thank you from your new company can be a wonderful thing.

thank you so very much for the detailed replies! I know better understand what the security clearance entails. A special thanks goes to @Evil Ware you really detailed what is involved in the clearance.

As usual, I was not helpful at all except to side track the discussion 🤣

@Scott Bennett you were helpful as well thanks so much for your comments.