On the job: security clearances

Why would you need a security clearance to work? The answer is that, depending on where you want to work and the kind of work you want to do, you may, in fact, need one. Even a low-level, non-academic position at it university may require a security clearance if the work being done is defense related. Out in the "real world", the need to have a clearance is much more commonplace. This is because much government-funded research is dictated by military requirements. Therefore, it is a good idea to think about the potential impact on your job prospects of needing to qualify for a clearance as well as the effect of doing work that is classified on your career development. The paper discusses these two issues.