I currently am at a big name gov’t contractor as a software engineer. I was hired through a talent development pipeline for 2 year degree holders. I ended up getting TS/SCI clearance (it has recently been rejustified to “Secret” for my current program but was told it could be rejustified to TS if needed - the process would take 2 weeks), but the job in itself makes me so miserable… they never provided promised training so every day is a drudgery as I am eons behind my peers in knowledge. I am also losing interest in the work. I need something more mentally stimulating or even creative/clever.
I am looking into careers where I could use my TS/SCI, and I found the Background Investigator path, due a job posting for Xcelerate Solutions. I am female (late 20’s), and based in Philadelphia, PA and am wondering if this is a good or stable career path especially as I don’t have a 4 year degree… or would you recommend to steer clear of this career path? In addition, could it provide me with opportunities to relocate to Colorado? Would the job be more stable in a state like CO where there are quite a few companies who need cleared professionals?
From what I can see so far on the posts on here: It seems like this can be a really great job, the main stress comes from quotas + cases being reopened, but there’s the issues that I see in my current gov’t job in this job as well: benefits being slashed, contract issues, layoffs, etc.
The position I was looking at was a remote job, where you’d have to travel in your car to do the interviews etc. However, the barrier to entry was needing a Bachelor’s and having had completed the National Training Standards course. Have you seen anyone be hired without having these two credentials under their belt? Are there any good employers who will hire w/o these credentials and pay for you to get the National Training Standards credental?
Also, which employers are ideal to work for, for Background Investigators? I have seen some horror stories on here, so that is why I ask.
In addition, if you are a part time worker for any of these companies, do you still get benefits (i.e health insurance), or must you be a full time worker to get said benefits?
I am really truly just lost and not sure of where to go. Any opinions would be helpful.
With no experience and no college degree, you are likely going to begin with DCSA if one of these vendors will give you the opportunity to cut your teeth as a full time employee. You have two options…Peraton or CACI. You’ll have to go through three to four weeks of virtual classroom training and then on the job training for a couple of weeks. You will have to start on the DCSA contract before other agencies will allow you to work for them such as DHS and Intel agencies. You have to gain experience for several years before working for those agencies. DCSA contractors will hire you and train you. DCSA is a fairly miserable and extremely scrupulous contract but so are the Intel agency contracts when you work them.
I’d recommend starting as a full time employee for the first year or two and then transition as an Independent Contractor (IC) and get away from the toxicity of field managers and section leads who will hound you about quality and timeliness ad naseum. Job is fairly unrewarding except for meeting some interesting people and some fun trips to other areas where you don’t normally travel in your local area or to beautiful areas of the country if you get to do a little travel.
As far as Colorado, there’s always a need in this state for work. Huge government contractor infrastructure in this area as Denver area has a large tech sector and Fort Collins is growing and Colorado Springs has plenty of military work with the USAF and Fort Carson.
I’d imagine you are currently making like 4x as much as you would be as an entry level investigator, so you’d likely be taking a huge pay cut. I also don’t know of any of the contractor or subcontractors who hire without a bachelors. It’s a job that requires a huge learning curve. You don’t start feeling truly comfortable in knowing what you’re doing for at least 2-3 years.
Thanks for this reply – this leads me to another question I forgot to cover – is TDY mandatory in these roles, or can you find a role that doesn’t include TDY assignments?
As an IC, no mandated TDY’s as you own your own business. As a company employee, you are owned by the company. They can send you anywhere for weeks at a time living out of a suitcase and a hotel.
I used to do mandatory four week TDY’s with USIS. I still have PTSD to this day from entering my hotel key card three to four times per day at my hotel for 26 straight days.
My understanding (as a contractor) is that you have to have a 4 year degree, or relevant military experience which will substitute for the degree to be brought onto the training program. Both primes, and I believe a few subs are hiring non credentialed applicants to enter the training program. If you go in as an employee (W2) it is paid. If you go in as a 1099 (contractor, non employee) it is not paid.
Training program is 4 weeks virtual training, and then at least 2 additional weeks riding with an investigator. I believe that preference is given to applicants already holding a T/S which is another requirement for the training class.
Some W2 employees can negotiate to work part time and take a pro rated version of the benefits. That is usually after working full time for a few years. If you decide to go 1099 (after training) you determine your own work load, but there are no traditional employee benefits as you are not an employee, but a contractor.
Its a great job for the right person. You must be super organized, able to handle intense stress, and be able to stay on top of ever changing criteria. I did decades as a W2, loved it most of the time. I’d go 1099 in a heartbeat if I did not need health insurance. Less stress, and if you’re efficient, possibly more money.
I transitioned from one state to another a few years back. My employer made it simple, and I had no loss of pay or benefits. Just finished up my cases in one state, moved, and got more work in my new location once I was settled in.
I don’t know if DCSA requires direct hires to have the degree. There has been talk about making federal entry level positions truly entry level with no degree requirement. But the contractors still want a degree or military experience.
I’ve seen the vendors hire people with no degree and prior law enforcement experience. Although prior law enforcement officers will all tell you that this career is entirely different than law enforcement and there is still a steep learning curve even for prior law enforcement.
Run! do not do it. Stay in the IT Field. If you have been working as a software engineer, switch up to cyber security or forensics. There is no money in this job and it will suck the life out of you. It may be better if you work directly with DCSA as a federal employee, but I would not recommend working as a Contract Investigator. Working for the federal contractors there is no moving up in the industry because all new positions are filled by managers’ friends. Run, do not do it and don’t look back. For any raise you get (if you get one), you have to give them more blood! There is no reward for hard work, they’ll just require more work with any raise. The production requirements are unattainable unless you work more than 40 hours/week, which you are not supposed to unless you are approved for overtime. Even if you ask for OT to complete the work you have, you will be required to produce even more work for them to give you OT. If you already have experience in the IT field, try getting a federal job. Take my advice. You’re still so young and if you want to work as an investigator you can even apply for 1811 jobs (Special agent) with federal law enforcement.
Agreed. There’s no happiness or satisfaction in this as a CI or hourly employee. I’ve been doing this for close to twenty years and I find very little satisfaction with this job. I do it to provide a living for the ones I love but I don’t do it for any other reason than that and certainly not for the vendors.
Don’t mean to hijack this post but wanted to ask you where would you apply if you spent 22 yrs in intel with SSO/FSO exp. and wanted to stay out of intel? I considered investigation but everywhere I look it wants creds or specific exp. I know I can do background checks blind folded, and another similar work. I’m not ‘old’ but did just retire. No one wants to interview a veteran whose clearance just expired…. it’s annoying as I’ve been around lazy contractors or ones that didn’t know what they were doing, and I can’t even get a interview!
If your clearance is expired, it’s gonna be very tough to find a position. I think that is your biggest hurdle, not that you don’t have specific creds. I’m right now looking to hire a number of positions, but each requires a current, active clearance.
Saying you can do “background checks blindfolded” is pretty arrogant. First, a background check does not require an investigator. Second, regardless of your background, there is a lot of information to learn and when you first start you WILL have many reports “reopened” for corrections and you will have to take your blindfold off to be successful. If you walk in with that arrogance you will have a hard time getting your team mates to want to reach out and help you.
If he walks in with that attitude, he’s gonna have a hard time getting hired.
You can sell yourself as an asset to the contract without coming across as someone who is unwilling to learn the process.
Scooter, since your clearance has expired, if you are serious about getting into the BI, your best bet would be to reach out to the 2 primes on the contract. I know they are both sponsoring folks for clearances and then putting the cleared candidates through training.
Sorry for being so ignorant, I’ve never worked in an investigator role…but where is the stress coming from? Is it the amount of work? And also, if you don’t mind me asking, what kind of salary we are talking about for that position?
it’s annoying as I’ve been around lazy contractors or ones that didn’t know what they were doing, and I can’t even get a interview!