USAJobsBlog.com » military service http://usajobsblog.com an IntelligenceCareers.com website Fri, 03 May 2013 13:26:40 +0000 en-US hourly 1 Q&A – Am 26 in a major international consulting firm. How do I take it to the next level? http://usajobsblog.com/2012/04/07/qa-am-26-in-a-major-consulting-firm-how-do-i-take-it-to-the-next-level/ http://usajobsblog.com/2012/04/07/qa-am-26-in-a-major-consulting-firm-how-do-i-take-it-to-the-next-level/#comments Sat, 07 Apr 2012 13:28:09 +0000 Staff Editor http://usajobsblog.com/?p=624 Q&A with Bill Golden
CEO, IntelligenceCareers.com

Question:

I´ve recently read your Front Door piece.

I was turned onto your website by a friend. I am interested in finding my way into Intelligence, but I am uncertain what my odds are.

My Father worked in the State Department and I have lived overseas half of my life. I currently live overseas and am a fluent Spanish speaker and have my undergraduate in Political Science. I work in a major consulting firm  which I find challenging but am looking for the next level. I don’t have a security clearance and am 26, so I won´t be entering the military at this point.

I would greatly appreciate any advice you could share.

Answer:

In some ways you are on the right track, but an alternate track: working in a consulting services firm.

Not serving in the military probably decreases your chances by about 70%; we find that most folks that go on to later serve within the intelligence industry — if it requires a security clearance — get their first security clearance via military service.

At age 26 you are hardly too old. There are plenty enough folks entering the military at that age.

About your alternate track: I encourage you to take a competitive intelligence outlook on all that you do. You should also consider joining an organization such as Strategic and Competitive Intelligence Professionals.

Consulting services firms such as Booz Allen Hamilton, Deloitte, and many others often find themselves involved in unique situations where their services portfolio trends towards competitive intelligence, economic analysis at the regional level, and/or national security.

I’ve attached a presentation from the University of Indiana that gives a very good overview of competitive intelligence as a career field.

Also, you may want to consider going for your master degree and going to the RIGHT school — that would be a school that participates in the National Intelligence (ODNI) IC Centers of Academic Excellence (CAE) program … there are more than 50 universities that participate. There are many doors through these programs // not front doors but doors do exist as the faculty have a relationship with the many agencies that cosponsor their programs.

Best regards,
Bill Golden
CEO, IntelligenceCareers.com
USADefenseIndustryJobs.com
USAJobZoo.com

]]> http://usajobsblog.com/2012/04/07/qa-am-26-in-a-major-consulting-firm-how-do-i-take-it-to-the-next-level/feed/ 0 Q&A – How do I get my first security clearance? http://usajobsblog.com/2012/04/06/qa-how-do-i-get-my-first-security-clearance/ http://usajobsblog.com/2012/04/06/qa-how-do-i-get-my-first-security-clearance/#comments Fri, 06 Apr 2012 10:26:19 +0000 Staff Editor http://usajobsblog.com/?p=616 Q&A with Bill Golden
CEO, IntelligenceCareers.com

Question:

I have been trying to find full-time employment with the government for sometime now and have not been successful. It seems that every career fair requires a minimum of a security clearance which I don’t have. I’d like to know how one goes about getting a clearance.

Answer:

Government: find a job within government, almost any job. The government can then sponsor you for a clearance. You cannot get one on your own. Even if the job does not require a clearance then find an open door of some kind. The guru of government jobs is Kathryn Troutman at http://www.resume-place.com/

Industry: Focus on applying to jobs requiring a Secret clearance. If you have strong skills then an employer can often get you a clearance.

Military service: our surveys show that approximately 75% of people within industry got their first security clearance through military service. Getting your first clearance is the hardest one to get.

The career fairs that you are going to are probably defense industry career events. They are looking for folks already possessing a clearance. Finding already cleared workers is a major professional hurdle if you are an employer, or getting a clearance is an almost overwhelming challenge if you are seeking to become a cleared professional worker for the first time.

Best regards,
Bill Golden
CEO, IntelligenceCareers.com
USADefenseIndustryJobs.com
USAJobZoo.com

]]> http://usajobsblog.com/2012/04/06/qa-how-do-i-get-my-first-security-clearance/feed/ 0 Q&A ~ Am a graduating U.S. student looking for opens doors in federal agencies http://usajobsblog.com/2011/11/29/qa-am-a-graduating-u-s-student-looking-for-opens-doors-in-federal-agencies-2/ http://usajobsblog.com/2011/11/29/qa-am-a-graduating-u-s-student-looking-for-opens-doors-in-federal-agencies-2/#comments Tue, 29 Nov 2011 15:38:02 +0000 Staff Editor http://usajobsblog.com/?p=454 Question: I am slated to graduate from college Spring 2012, and I would really like to enter into the field of Intel analysis. I’ve seen some of your posts about your company and read that one post about a young person inquiring about how to break into the field as well as the interview video of you describing your career.

First off I thought it was very interesting and informative: You and many others in my internet scouring have suggested joining the military. Unfortunately I have had a history of asthma and allergies (I’m currently taking a year’s worth of allergy shots), so military is not an option.

Looking through your sites job openings, most seem to demand some experience, and although I know government agencies within the IC hire fresh college students, I would like to know what are my odds of getting in despite not having a military background.

Answer: If a medical condition prohibits from military service it is going to be a challenge but an intelligence career is indeed doable.

Here should be your battle plan:

  • Apply to a wide range of federal agencies. Get in the door and you will get a hall pass: meaning that the feds almost always hire-from-within first. So even if you got a less than thrilling job doing what you want to do, once you are in keep your radar alert to unique, interesting opportunities. You have options such as intergovernmental agency transfers. Learn more about the wider world of intelligence.
  • Beyond ‘agencies’ there are also ‘organizations’ and ‘activities’. Check out http://intelligence.gov/careers-in-intelligence/ and do not focus on just the big name agencies.
  • Discover junior and entry level opportunities in intelligence or intelligence-related jobs via http://www.usajobs.gov/ ~~ there are also other jobs that you should seek out such as (junior) policy analyst, information research, and ‘customer service’ ~~ customer service is a very unique job that often is not at all what it sounds like, or not in the traditional sense. The many different agencies offer unique, important opportunities that are often overlooked: the Department of Agriculture is one such. Lots of intelligence stuff happens there even if it goes by other names.
  • In private industry, seek out firms specializing in consulting. Your future could be in a company such as Booz Allen Hamilton which has major contracts within defense and intelligence. There are also the big consultancies such as Accenture, Deloitte & Touche or KPMG, etc. These firms often have a program to bring in college graduates and use them as research and support personnel. If they last after 2-3 years then many more opportunities open up for them. Follow this link to find major consultancies, most of which the average person has never heard of.
  • Consider going back to school for a master degree BUT go to one of the special universities within the National Intelligence Centers of Academic Excellence – see www.dni.gov/cae

    • Best regards, Bill Golden CEO, IntelligenceCareers.com USADefenseIndustryJobs.com USAJobZoo.com

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