Career Advice
By Jill Hamilton
Explore Lateral Moves Before the Freeze Hits If you're feeling stuck but not ready for a giant leap, consider a lateral shift. These moves can increase your visibility, expand your network, or teach you a new part of the mission. 4. Many agencies and contractors lock in hiring decisions by early Q1, which means fall is your best chance to start the conversation before positions dry up. Connect with HR, raise your hand in team meetings, and let leadership know you're interested in growth. Schedule a Career Conversation Sometimes the best move you can make is a conversation. Set a meeting with your supervisor or mentor to talk about your career goals and how you’re tracking toward them. Don’t assume they know what you want. Clarity can create opportunity. 5. If your current organization doesn’t offer a clear path, that conversation can also help you assess when it’s time to start looking elsewhere. Fall Isn’t Just for Pumpkin Everything It’s easy to stay heads down and mission- focused, especially in national security work. But taking just a few hours this season to audit your progress, update your materials, and consider your next step could be the best career decision you make all year. And you can do all that with a pumpkin spice latte in hand too.
There’s something about fall that signals a shift. The weather might be changing but our mindset does a little too. The sprint toward year-end begins, calendars fill up, and before you know it, the holidays hit and things slow to a crawl. If you're in the national security space, this makes fall the ideal time to take stock of your career trajectory. Whether you're looking to level up, laterally shift, or simply get organized, a fall career check- in can set you up to finish the year strong and start the next one even stronger. Refresh Your Resume (Even If You're Not Job Hunting) Think of your resume like your security clearance paperwork: it’s always better to keep it current than scramble at the last minute. Take 20 minutes to scan through and update key accomplishments from the past year. Did you complete a major project? Shift into a new team or role? Lead others, even informally? Save a version of your resume that's tailored for internal opportunities and another version geared toward external roles. Even if you're not looking now, you’ll thank yourself later. 1.
season to reflect: have you experienced anything this year that could intersect with adjudicative guidelines? If so, make sure to consult your security officer and address any issues proactively. Use fall to monitor policy updates and guidance via reliable sources such as: • ClearanceJobs.com, which highlights news on clearance reform and procedural changes • The DCSA website for updates on Trusted Workforce 2.0 and evolving adjudication rules • ODNI releases, which may clarify what needs to be reported and how evaluations are conducted Clearance policies evolve over time. Staying updated helps ensure you're always aligned with best practices. Train for the Role You Want The quiet truth of national security careers is that people often get promoted not because they’re the most qualified, but because they’ve been preparing in the background. Use fall to register for that certification course, finish a leadership module, or brush up on tech trends like AI/ML, zero trust, or open- source intelligence. Not sure what’s next? Talk to someone one level above you and ask what skills or tools they use every day. That insight is often more valuable than a job description. 3.
Leverage your experience in new
sectors with targeted graduate education at Northeastern in Arlington Northeastern University supports military personnel, veterans, and transitioning federal employees with flexible, high-impact graduate programs.
8 SEPTEMBER 2025 | NATSEC@WORK Powered by ClearanceJobs Scholarships are available to cover up to 25% of tuition costs —helping you navigate your next career move with efficiency. Areas of study include: Tech, Innovation, Policy, and Security. Learn More arlington.northeastern.edu
2.
Stay Sharp on Clearance Policy and Guidelines
If you're an active clearance holder, your self-reporting obligations (like noting foreign travel, financial shifts, or address changes) are ongoing. Use this
NATSEC@WORK Powered by ClearanceJobs | SEPTEMBER 2025 9
Powered by FlippingBook