How to Prepare for a Security Clearance Background Investigation

Follow security clearance directions carefully to avoid delays in your investigation.

When you apply for a position in law enforcement, or for a public trust position with a government agency, you will probably need to pass a security clearance background investigation as a condition of employment. Background investigations can cover a period of seven, 10 or more years, depending on the level of clearance required for the job. To fill out clearance paperwork, you need to gather information about places where you lived and worked during the period covered in the investigation. Refresh your memory about the investigation period so that you can answer investigation questions accurately and honestly.

Instructions

1. Gather names, street addresses of all former employers you worked fo, and a phone number of a contact reference at each place of employment who can verify your employment for the period covered in the investigation. Ask a professional associate or a school administrator to be your contact reference if you were self-employed or a full-time student.

2. Tell neighbors, coworkers and friends that they may be contacted for an interview about your personal conduct. Ask reliable friends or professional associates to be personal references if your background investigation requires them. When investigators have trouble reaching personal associates for interviews, it can delay clearance processing. Give people who know you the heads-up to help your background investigation go smoothly.

3. Perform a background check on yourself using a reputable online screening service. Read the information on your background check to make sure it is accurate. Include the information about your criminal record check as directed in your security clearance paperwork. Consult with an attorney if your criminal background check contains inaccurate information.

4. Check your consumer credit reports to verify that the information is correct. Follow directions on credit reporting agency websites to dispute incorrect information. Contact creditors about outstanding balances that you owe, and ask creditors to send a letter confirming a settlement agreement or payoff amount. Keep the letter and copies of canceled checks to show investigators. Don't pay off balances over the phone because you won't have the documentation you need for a clearance. Consult with a recruiter or human resources representative for your prospective employer if you aren't sure whether a credit problem will disqualify you from employment.

5. Make a list of all prescription medications that you take. Some employers may be concerned about how prescription medications impact your ability to do your job. Be prepared to answer investigator questions about drug use.

References

• Ohio State University; Career Services; Could you Pass a Background Investigation?; Rosemary Hill; March 2010
• "Washington Post"; Poor Personal Conduct Could Quickly Sink your Federal Career; Derrick T. Dortch
• U.S. Office of Personnel Management: General Questions and Answers About OPM Background Investigations
• "MSN Money"; How Bad Credit Can Cost you a Job; Liz Pulliam Weston
• Harvard Law School: Security Clearances