NatSec@Work - National Security Workforce - July Issue

Career Advice

STEP 2: Complete Your Professional Profile

STEP 3: Add Keywords Strategically

7 STEPS TO BUILDING A STANDOUT

Once you’ve registered and logged in, you’ll be taken to your profile dashboard. Treat this like your personal marketing space—it’s your chance to showcase your expertise to potential employers. ■ Headline: Use a clear and specific title like “TS/ SCI-Cleared Cybersecurity Analyst | 10+ Years DoD Experience.” ■ Summary: Write a compelling overview of who you are, what you specialize in, and what kind of roles you’re looking for. ■ Work History: Include detailed job descriptions that highlight your cleared work. Use metrics when possible (e.g., “led a team of 10 in deploying secure networks for Navy operations”).

Recruiters search ClearanceJobs using keywords. Integrate job-specific and clearance-related terms naturally into your profile, especially in the summary, skills, and experience sections. Use the language of job listings that interest you to align your profile with recruiter search habits.

CLEARANCEJOBS PROFILE By Katie Helbling

STEP 4: Upload or Build a Resume

You can upload a resume in Word or PDF format, or use the built-in resume builder. Either way, make sure it complements—not duplicates—your profile content. Focus on accomplishments, not just duties.

Our episode of the Security Clerance Careers Podcast focuses on navigating ClearanceJobs.com as a job seeker. We have Brent, ClearanceJobs Manager of Client Success who runs our candidate how-to webinars. This is an engaging, informative episode that highlights both practical tips and strategic insights for cleared professionals navigating ClearanceJobs.com, ultimately getting you on the phone with a recruiter which can be pretty difficult nowadays in such a saturated candidate market.

■ Certifications and Education: Don’t skip over your certifications (e.g., CISSP, PMP) and security training.

If you’re a cleared professional looking for your next career move—or just want to keep your options open— ClearanceJobs is the top platform for connecting with employers in the defense, intelligence, and government sectors. But before recruiters can find you, you need a standout profile. Here’s how to build one that does more than just exist—it gets results. HOW TO CREATE A CLEARANCEJOBS PROFILE THAT GETS NOTICED

STEP 1: Sign Up and Verify Your Clearance Start by visiting ClearanceJobs.com and selecting Register Now. You’ll be prompted to enter basic personal information, including your email, name, and password.

Clearance Requirement: Only individuals with an active or current U.S. government security clearance are eligible to join. You’ll need to specify your clearance level (e.g., Secret, TS/SCI, etc.) and indicate whether it is active or expired.