Security cleared contractors are basically granted access to classified information while working on contracts. But should freelance professionals really put so much emphasis on gaining security clearance? Many IT contract jobs may require contractors to deal with confidential data, so is it really worth the extra hassle?
There is an increasing amount of IT freelance professionals who have been faced with the same question, to be security cleared or not? Organisations that had not previously needed BC (Basic Check) are increasingly changing their approach and needing it as an entry requirement. The same story is occurring across the whole of the UK, suggesting that freelance professionals should go that extra mile in order to secure highly paid contracts.
Or perhaps not. According to Contractor UK, daily rates between security cleared and non-security cleared contractors are comparable towards the end of projects; although security cleared contractors may initially be offered slightly higher daily rates. Not exactly a selling point needless to say, but is it still worth holding out for when those big money contracts come around? This may be easier to determine after realising what contractors actually to do to become security cleared.
Freelance professionals cannot gain security clearance without a sponsor. A sponsor can come in the form of an organisation or firm that has expressed an interest in a contractor and is willing to supply them with what they need to go through security clearance. This can be risky task for many firms, but many do choose to supply freelance professionals with security clearance in order to get projects up and running. This means IT freelance professionals shouldn’t avoid applying for security cleared roles, as it may be a contract opportunity and a chance to get security cleared all rolled into one.
Obtaining a BC, (Basic Check) is always a good place to start; it takes about 2 weeks to obtain and can be used as a ticket to get into security cleared roles.
Although it is slightly un clear as to if security cleared contractors are held in a higher stature to ones that aren’t, contractors are advised to go that extra mile towards gaining security clearance as it may bring more projects their way, making up the daily rate numbers that are comparable with non-security cleared contractors.