Security Checks Question

planning303

I was looking at a job which says it requires the following

Successful applicants will need to satisfy UK Ministry of Defence security requirements

Does anyone know what this actually means? I mean how perfect just your history have to be?

scheming_gypsy

Ministry of Defence checks are the highest level. Security Clearance makes sure you've not been bankrupt / CCJ's / criminal record etc; but the VC checks cover family and friends. They're to make sure there's nothing to say that you can be compromised and bribed.

paddyrg

The main thing with vetting (and there are many levels of it) is to make sure you cannot be blackmailed into giving up secrets. Be *completely* honest with every answer they give you. If you have been a member of socialist workers they will already know by the time they interview you, so be upfront and don't try to hide anything. Taste for the boys and girls? Be honest. Like the beer? Be upfront.

A friend was vetted many years back (still a teenager) and they knew the details of all his previous girlfriends, which of those he'd had 'liaisons' with, where he drank, how much he drank, all his friends, everything about him before they even spoke to him. Then all through the interview they put in 'trip-up' questions where anyone who was just pretending to be him would possibly falter but only the real him would know. And this was at age 18 for a lowish-level clearence.

Edit - something to bear in mind, it can make applying for civil roles afterwards a bit tough (depending on your clearence level) as you can't go into details about the work you did or technologies you used etc in future interviews!

Slinky

I worked with somebody once who had a high security clearance in a previous role. It had involved 2 friends who had known him for at least 10 years being interviewed in depth about him. One of his friends said afterwards it was the most stressful thing he had ever done in his life.

I applied to the MoD, went through their system and was told I would be offered a clerical role when one became available. Then I was invited to have the level of clearance which my colleague had had, in order to do clerical work involving nuclear submarines. Given I knew what I'd have to put friends and family through, I declined, seeing it was a role paying about £14K. I've had SC clearance for another role later, (not working for the MoD) and think it is pretty straightforward though I think if you have a good credit history and don't have loads of skeletons in your cupboards (and your immediate family don't either).

wantsajob

paddyrg wrote: »

A friend was vetted many years back (still a teenager) and they knew the details of all his previous girlfriends, which of those he'd had 'liaisons' with, where he drank, how much he drank, all his friends, everything about him before they even spoke to him. Then all through the interview they put in 'trip-up' questions where anyone who was just pretending to be him would possibly falter but only the real him would know. And this was at age 18 for a lowish-level clearence.

I once applied for a job for which such checks would have been required, although was unsuccessful. I could not believe anyone investigating my background, even with extensive resources, would find out very much about my personal life. Obviously the things that are documented like hospital records yes, but where my ding dong has been, no. Only way I can imagine they would do it is if on the form I put details of people and they asked them.

Uncertain

I was once a reference for somebody who applied for a job with the security services.

Nothing is secret.............

Astonishing!

planning303

Yeah i might leave this one alone.. I'[m quite happy wth the skeletons staying in my closet! :eek:

MAny thanks for the responses