Employer wants me to have a National Security Check

prowla

dktreesea wrote: »

Definitely worth having, and if you can get it on your employer's dime/time rather than your own, all the better.

You can't do it on your own time; you have to be sponsored by an approved employer.

uknick

I was DV cleared a few years ago. I didn't find it invasive.

One of my neighbours was interviewed along with a friend and some work colleagues. I never heard anything from them about what questions were asked and what they said. Mind you, I never spoke to them about it, other than to ask permission to put their names forward and then to see if they had been interviewed. They never raised the issue with me.

My interview was pretty straight forward. In fact my interviewer seemed more interested in how he could avoid care home fees if his mother went into a home!! Not sure if it was clever questioning on his behalf to see if I would suggest something dodgy, or he just wasn't interested in my affairs.

I did have two worries. First, they like to talk to a number of friends outside work, but I didn't have any at the time. However, they weren't too bothered about this.

I also remembered just after the process started many, many years before as a student I was nicked for fare dodging.

None of this seemed to matter as I passed the clearance process in a few weeks.

purplebanna

Thanks for all of the response.

Firstly I have clarified with the client and actually a security check (SC), not the developed vetting.

A google shows that the first 3 points in my original post stand true, and an interview is only held if they feel necessary.

Nobody has yet to answer whether or not failing to get checked is gross misconduct however that is fair enough. Though just to clarify there is nothing in my job description / advert that states this may be necessary, I’ve been with the company 3 years and in that time it’s never been brought up.

Still it’s the principle of the matter, I’m not happy with divulging my life to any corporation never mind the government.

Anyway, is being security cleared really that useful for job hunting? Maybe it is but I’m not sure what I could use it for or even if I want to go down that road (I am a junior project manager for a software vendor).

badskindollheart

I don't think it opens any doors to govt contracts/vacancies - if someone's got clearance; great, if not we just arrange clearance for them - no big deal. As we only clear up to SC, it is done within 3weeks.

Of course we wouldn't employ someone who refused to be cleared, as it is a requirement of the job that we inform candidates of from the outset.

I can't see how it could be gross misconduct, if it wasn't a requirement when you applied for the job and other people aren't having it. I would imagine you could go to ET for unfair dismissal if they sacked you over this.

PS - SC doesn't involve "numerous questionnaires" about your personal life - just your personal details and those of your immediate family. It doesn't involve CTC as those are a separate type of clearance and I think there are very few people that MI5 hold records on:rotfl: However, if you think MI5 are onto you, maybe security clearance is not for you.

I think you're making it out to be a bit of a bigger deal than it is, but it's your data and your decision.

Kynthia

You seem to think that SC clearance is more invasive and detailed then it actually is. All I remember is one booklet to fill in, and they do a criminal check and credit reference check of which neither is particularly invasive. https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4883212

However I don't think you can be made to apply if it wasn't part of your role and I very much doubt it's gross misconduct as again it wasn't a requirement of your role.

prowla

purplebanna wrote: »

Thanks for all of the response.

Firstly I have clarified with the client and actually a security check (SC), not the developed vetting.

A google shows that the first 3 points in my original post stand true, and an interview is only held if they feel necessary.

Nobody has yet to answer whether or not failing to get checked is gross misconduct however that is fair enough. Though just to clarify there is nothing in my job description / advert that states this may be necessary, I’ve been with the company 3 years and in that time it’s never been brought up.

Still it’s the principle of the matter, I’m not happy with divulging my life to any corporation never mind the government.

Anyway, is being security cleared really that useful for job hunting? Maybe it is but I’m not sure what I could use it for or even if I want to go down that road (I am a junior project manager for a software vendor).

SC is really quite straightforward; I've had it for two or three jobs, and they don't go so deep into your background.

As I recall, the most difficult bit was getting the birth dates of my parents.

I would urge you to take it, unless you really consider it to be an intrusion.