Hi, I've got fired today by megacorp...Looking for help...

[38Chevy454]

All the ones we reactivated at my last job were pretty much a rubber stamp. My HR guy would just search EQIP and verify that the new hire had an inactive clearance and then they'd fill out an application and it would be reactivated within a couple of weeks. It could be that we never tried to hire anyone who'd had a past problem though. In any case, I don't think an employer could see that there had been a problem, it would just show as inactive and the reactivation would then be denied at a future time.

As for clearance holders being aware of how things work, nope. Most of the civilian software engineers I worked with are downright clueless about how their clearances are managed. Ex-military are much more aware.

This is what I understand about clearances. I had clearance for my old job, it immediately became inactive upon me retiring. I was told within 6 months it is pretty easy to get reinstated, assuming good history and long term clearance held. After 6 months it requires complete new reinvestigation. For OP, I would put on resume that you held XXX clearance but then state inactive. If potential employer asks about inactive just state when you resigned from past job, it became inactive.

Since OP did not have his clearance pulled by the granting agency, he should be able to get it reinstated. Getting a new job is a different problem that he needs to work on. It may require some contract work or agency type positions to get in good with an employer that may work into a new full-time position. Lot of employers use temp positions as a trail period.

I agree that OP's financial situation is pretty good shape, he can weather the time between now and new job. He ould take the vacation already planned. Just keep in touch during the vacation.

 

[explanade]

I churn cards for bonuses but don't go hog wild like others on FT.

I don't buy gift cards to meet the required spending for bonuses because I don't take too many new cards out at the same time.

Maybe the only dubious thing is to make up fake business and apply for business cards to get points for those.

 

[Blue Collar Guy]

. After 6 months it requires complete new reinvestigation. For OP, I would put on resume that you held XXX clearance but then state inactive. If potential employer asks about inactive just state when you resigned from past job, it became inactive.

.

I remember after 9/11 some guys retired and went to work for the feds. To get security clearances they actually sent investigators over to talk to us about the candidates(our former coworkers). I think most/some? had already started the jobs , and just were doing stuff that didnt require the clearances yet. One of my coworkers joked that the candidate was about to get arrested for shaking down drug dealers, The investigator got up and was leaving. We had to convince him that the guy was an idiot, and just joking. So... if someone decides to bring up your rule breaking would that mess up your clearance ? IDK.

 

[Texas Proud]

I know they are hard to get and easy to lose.....So in one day you got fired for a reason you don't know, lost your clearance, posted lots of details here and hit a job fair on your way home, decided you need to sell your house and leave town. You should probably go home and have a beer. Tomorrow will have to be better then today.

+1..... it is not the end of the world.... many people get fired... just have to take a deep breath and start to look... you are in a field of high demand... so do not take the first offer if it is not good...


Sure, you are stressed... losing a job is one of the high stressors... let it settle in and things will be OK...


BTW, someone I know lost their job over 9 months ago... was willing to leave his family to go someplace to find a job... but nothing came along (he is in the O&G field)... but his old firms business picked up and he got hired back... you will not have to wait that long to get a job...

 

[Jerry1]

I would see a lawyer. Not to work on a wrongful discharge case, but to have someone help you craft the best technically honest response to the question of why you were fired. I've worked with lawyers and the one's I've known were masters at weaving a story that was absolutely true but didn't say anything that would hurt you (or in my case wouldn't hurt the company I work for that was getting sued). I would also find someone to help me with m resume and get some feedback on whatever statement you're going to make on the question of why you left.

I mean look at it this way as a simplified example. You were faced with a very stressful work environment (you're being asked to resign). You had a lot of commitments coming up (family vacation). So you took some time off to regroup and get a fresh start. That may end up as "Took a sabbatical to recharge and spend some time with family." Your statement would be true, it just omits the reason you needed a sabbatical. Of course, you need to do better than I just did, but you get the idea. There are words and a story that will work.

Whatever you come up with, you have to own it and believe it.

 

[growing_older]

This story gets less believable as it unfolds, but here is my attempt at actual help:

1. Slow Down. Probably should write SLOW DOWN. You lost your job, and with it the attached clearance. This is normal when you lose a job that requires a clearance. This doesn't mean you have to sell your house and move out of state. Where did that come from?

2. If you were some kind of fairly high paid software engineer. There should be plenty of jobs for these skills that do not require a clearance. Even if you need to take a small step down in pay, you will still earn a good wage and should have plenty of potential employers.

3. You need a coherent and reasonable explanation for why you left this job. Vague and mysterious excuses will make future employers shun you. Plenty of people lose jobs and then find new ones. Be honest with yourself, but find an elevator pitch like explanation that you can stand behind for explaining to potential new employers.

4. Great to have a vacation in October, but it isn't all or nothing. You can start a search now. You hopefully have contacts with other former co-workers or people you know who moved to other new employers. Start up your network. Fix up your resume and linkedin. Get word out and even go to a job fair or two (especially if they are relevant to your line of work). Job searches can take months. Start now. Take time of for a vacation as scheduled, but you don't have to wait until that's over to take positive action.

5. Reconsider your expenses. Your estimates seem off. Consider economizing where practical while you get a better picture of real expenses.

I hope you aren't just trolling us.

 

[Lakewood90712]

Walmart and Target are always looking for good people. The O.P.'s future employer sure isn't going to be anything with the U.S. gov. D.O.D as a customer.

 

[daylatedollarshort]

Someone mentioned you and your wife getting minimum-wage jobs in the worst case, but I'm assuming that you'd have child care expenses, so if your wife becomes a barista at Starbucks it may be cash-flow negative.

The kids are 10 and 14 and I would assume in school most of the day.

 

[fired_need_help]

Question: How would it sound if on the question on why I have quit, in addition to saying that I am looking for new career opportunities, I'd add that "I like to travel and I like to take my family on vacations to Europe (or international in general), but it has become a problem in my previous employment"?

It is actually true, since as I wrote above, it could've been one of the first red flags that has started the whole issue and I've also been grilled multiple times on where I am going, why, etc.... and that in addition to the mountains of the paperwork.
(In fact, my older sister has been telling me for years that I should start looking for a non-government related job because of my love to travel, but salary was so good that I've ignored the advice).

Thanks.

 

[Bryan Barnfellow]

Sorry to hear about your work troubles. Have you asked your boss for a written letter of recommendation -- "great skills, excellent employee, sorry to see him go" stuff? That could be something useful as you search. Also, I would definitely sit down and make a detailed budget, even if some things are guestimates. It took my wife and me several iterations over several years to get it to a useful, accurate predictor.

Think about looking at college/university web pages near you. They will list IT jobs and some have fairly sophisticated IT environments. Most cannot pay what you will be looking for; but may be very pleased to get you. This could be your transition to retirement over the next decade or so.

I think you should write out, revise, and revise again your explanatory statement about why you resigned. What you wrote in post #134 is a good start - perhaps focus it on your strong need to continue learning and these opportunities weren't as available in your previous job. In your preparation for a specific interview you could zero in on tools/products that they are using that you would like to learn and so become an even better contributor.

Also I wouldn't bring up the travel except in response to a possible question on your October trip. Saying you like to travel and it was a problem for you at the previous job says to me: "I like to travel more than I like to work." If it comes up, you might emphasize your and your wife's commitment for giving your kids an international perspective.

These are just some ideas; you need to spend the time needed to get it straight in your head. Consider talking with an career specialist/consultant on this. It is critical for you.

When it is perfect and you have memorized it, then write down potential followup questions and answers. Study them and have your spouse go over them and go over them again and again with you until you are perfect. That way, you won't start sweating in the interview and in fact can look (and be) more confident going in. Don't plan to "wing it" in the interview! Disaster waits patiently for you by the roadside on that route.

Best of luck to you. We all make mistakes. The key thing now is to create a successful strategy for recovering!

-BB

 

[youbet]

I've opened CCs to get travel bonuses and did MS (manufactured spending, everything pretty much from the front page of flyertalk MS forum)

You said that these CC's and the MS activities were totally unrelated to your employer. Just curious...... how did your employer find out what you were doing with your personal CC's?

 

[sturbridge]

Question: How would it sound if on the question on why I have quit, in addition to saying that I am looking for new career opportunities, I'd add that "I like to travel and I like to take my family on vacations to Europe (or international in general), but it has become a problem in my previous employment"?

No. Just no. As a former hiring manager, that would peg my bs monitor. Its not at all believable. Except if you want a new employer to believe that you feel entitled to more than typical vacation time.

 

[fired_need_help]

No. Just no. As a former hiring manager, that would peg my bs monitor. Its not at all believable. Except if you want a new employer to believe that you feel entitled to more than typical vacation time.

Thanks!

How about that?:

--
I had been with the company for over XX years and I’ve learned a lot. I’ve also enjoyed working with people there (and if you see me as a good fit for your position, you are welcome to talk to my former direct supervisor and my former co-workers. I can provide you with their contact information).
But I was no longer finding the work enjoyable or challenging. So, I’ve decided that it was time for me to move on, explore new opportunities and challenges… I am eager to learn new things and I hope this job (whatever it is) will provide me with a good challenge / opportunity to do that…
--

?

 

[gayl]

Why not keep it simple: "I WANTED TO TRY SOMETHING DIFFERENT?"

Several of us have left cushy government jobs to try something different. I know I did. Sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn't. But they can't ask you what you did when you were working for the government. They can ask you a kind of skills you have but not actually what you did. Aread you overthinking this? Like you're concerned that your skills won't transfer to a non government position?

 

[ivinsfan]

Thanks!

How about that?:

--
I had been with the company for over XX years and I’ve learned a lot. I’ve also enjoyed working with people there (and if you see me as a good fit for your position, you are welcome to talk to my former direct supervisor and my former co-workers. I can provide you with their contact information).
But I was no longer finding the work enjoyable or challenging. So, I’ve decided that it was time for me to move on, explore new opportunities and challenges… I am eager to learn new things and I hope this job (whatever it is) will provide me with a good challenge / opportunity to do that…
--

?

this is a flat out falsehood and if any future employer calls these people and gets any hint that you are lying you're done..

this stuff is just job hunting 101 and someone who has worked for 20 plus years, is a software person, has amassed 2 million bucks mostly on a single income and is smart enough to MS for free family trips to Europe should be a little more savvy this.

 

[Sojourner]

I've had continuous employment since age ~21 till today. S/w development... C++ / Scripting / GUI / etc. Latest salary was ~140k.

I sincerely doubt you will have trouble landing a decent-paying SW development job with those credentials. If you were making around $140k, you're likely in the realm of a "software architect", which usually indicates highly advanced skills. So I wouldn't worry too much about being able to find something comparable. You just need to get yourself out there, contact a few local recruiters, network on LinkedIn, etc.

Regarding what to say about why you resigned your former position, keep it very generic and pleasant. "Oh... well I was looking for some newer, more exciting opportunities where I could grow my skill set and work on more challenging/interesting projects." If they ask why you resigned before securing another job, just say your wife works and can easily float the family while you look around for the perfect new gig... or something like that.

 

[Blue Collar Guy]

Question: How would it sound if on the question on why I have quit, in addition to saying that I am looking for new career opportunities, I'd add that "I like to travel and I like to take my family on vacations to Europe (or international in general), but it has become a problem in my previous employment"?

It is actually true, since as I wrote above, it could've been one of the first red flags that has started the whole issue and I've also been grilled multiple times on where I am going, why, etc.... and that in addition to the mountains of the paperwork.
(In fact, my older sister has been telling me for years that I should start looking for a non-government related job because of my love to travel, but salary was so good that I've ignored the advice).

Thanks.

Definitely not.

 

[fired_need_help]

Talked to several head hunters today, who have replied after I've updated my profile / submitted resume on job search sites.
Couple of them have asked "that question" and I've replied with my above answer. Don't know either I've passed the sniff test or not, but at least one of them has submitted my profile to an open position.
Thanks for a great suggestion on simplifying the answer.

Unfortunately, all decent opportunities are in 100+ miles range. So, I'd need to make some tough decisions on what to do with the house / location / etc.
Posters, who were questioning my sanity above about selling the house, don't realize what it means to look for a job in a city where X/10 people work on government-related jobs.

 

[ivinsfan]

Why do you say people were "laughing" most of them just said don't rush out and plan on selling your house the first day you lost your job.

That chip on your shoulder won't help you going forward.

 

[fired_need_help]

Why not keep it simple: "I WANTED TO TRY SOMETHING DIFFERENT?"

Several of us have left cushy government jobs to try something different. I know I did. Sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn't. But they can't ask you what you did when you were working for the government. They can ask you a kind of skills you have but not actually what you did. Aread you overthinking this? Like you're concerned that your skills won't transfer to a non government position?

There are multiple reasons why I am overthinking this:
- Still in shock, since I've lost job < 48 hrs. ago
- Never had a formal or phone screening interview in my entire career. Got a job via Co-op / intern out of college and then switched jobs once after a short discussion.
I've applied for more jobs in the last 24 hrs. than in the entire life.
Yeah, I am clueless about everything in the job search process.

 

[fired_need_help]

Why do you say people were "laughing" most of them just said don't rush out and plan on selling your house the first day you lost your job.
That chip on your shoulder won't help you going forward.

I've changed it to "questioning my sanity"
Gotta be a realist.
Sorry, by selling the house, I did not mean that I was about to put house on sale, but rather that my chances of finding a job where I currently live are pretty slim.

 

[ivinsfan]

There are multiple reasons why I am overthinking this:
- Still in shock, since I've lost job < 48 hrs. ago
- Never had a formal or phone screening interview in my entire career. Got a job via Co-op / intern out of college and then switched jobs once after a short discussion.
I've applied for more jobs in the last 24 hrs. than in the entire life.
Yeah, I am clueless about everything in the job search process.

If that's the case I suggest you google job search in your area and find someone you can pay to help you navigate, resume, applications and practice interviews, it will be money well spend. Slow down on the job apps and work on that before your overseas trips.

 

[alaska55]

I'm thinking I smell a troll, sounds a lot like the troll we had last year.

 

[ivinsfan]

I'm thinking I smell a troll, sounds a lot like the troll we had last year.

+1 since about the second page but I just can't stop..

 

[daylatedollarshort]

fired_need-Help, FYI - For some of the kicking you while you are down posters there is a feature in this forum where you can put specific posters on an ignore list.