speckyleckie

Are there any Brits in the DFW area working in the aviation/aerospace industry where US security clearance is a prerequesit for employment? I am looking at employment here (already living here, SSN on way). I really want to work in this field and did have UK clearances with previous UK employment. Please PM me if you can help/give advice.

dbj1000

I'm in Plano, working in Dallas, and although I don't work directly in aerospace, I work in a field that requires security clearance for many functions within the company.

From what I've read and been told, the chances are next to zero for a permanent resident or visa holder to be granted clearance. In fact, I read somewhere here on this site that clearance for Naturalized citizens has become increasingly difficult over recent years.

I haven't bothered applying, because my company doesn't need me to have clearance in order to do my job and progress my career. When and if I do need clearance, things may become difficult for me.

penguinsix

There are several threads on security clearances if you do a search of this forum. As was mentioned, you have a very very very slight chance of getting a US clearance, even if you were to naturalize and become a US citizen.

http://britishexpats.com/forum/showt...=clearance+sas
http://britishexpats.com/forum/showt...rity+clearance
http://britishexpats.com/forum/showt...rity+clearance

speckyleckie

Thanks for the heads up about problems involved. I think my plans of continuing with military aircraft engineering now I am in the states will end up being ditched. There goes all the experience for nothing! The civvy world will have to be my goal now.

speckyleckie

If there is anyone with contacts that could help me in my search for aviation employment in and around Dallas I would be eternally grateful.
The internet job sites are so impersonal and trying to paint a UK education and experience picture to a pc online application just does not do me any credit.

Bluegrass Lass

That's because you need to conform your work experience to a US style resume, not a CV. There are many threads on here and some good examples available thru a Google search.

By the way, US resume's are usually pretty impersonal. You don't include details about yourself - about the only personal thing to include are your contact details. Most employers are interested in just your education level and your professional work experience. Concentrate on your accomplishments at each employer (i.e. I led a Six Sigma project on improving the production efficiency of Widget123. This project led to a 5% production improvement and a cost savings of $100k.)

speckyleckie

Thanks for the reply. I have that style of resume already, after lots of converting english to american words! Its the impersonal online HR applications with no contact details to follow up on which I am trying to suss. A direct approach is my prefered approach.

Bob

linkedin, search the company out to see if you think you could find who'd be in charge of the department and send them a message, or looking at some employees who list their company email, see if you can figure out the company email structure...

Bluegrass Lass

Ahh..Well, it's very common that you will not get the HR contact details. The HR folk do not want to have to answer dozens (or maybe more) calls per day about open positions and do not provide contact info. Also, it's common for recruiters to list the jobs for the companies so you don't actually know who the position is with. You only find out if the recruiter contacts you once they look over your resume. You may want to consider getting into contact with serveral recruiters as a lot of professional positions are not actually posted. It's all about networking in the US job market.

If you do know what company has the open position, you could use Google to get their contact details, and then (hopefully) get yourself routed through to HR. Sometimes though, you won't get through to HR and will have to leave a message (which the right person may or may not). That's the best follow-up advice I could give.

nun

The chances are almost nil of getting a clearance if you don't have US citizenship and they may be even less if you had a UK clearance as that would show some serious potential for divided loyalties.

Having said that if you have some particular skills you might get something. The best place to work in the DFW area would be Lockheed (actually in White Settlement, TX, I kid you not) where they make the F-35 Lightening II, formally the JSF. Its a fantastic plant with some amazing folks and technology......leave you pinko liberal European ways at the factory gate though, it's all God, Country and Bud there.

Brit3964

I'm not in the DFW area or in a job in that specialist area of aviation but I am a pilot flying for a 3rd party contractor for a large US cargo airline. The TSA are anal about security these days and there are signs it's gonna be tightened up even more soon. While not needed, it definitely helps to be a USC in this business now. Luckily I am now. I'd imagine DoD clearances would be harder to obtain on top of Naturalization. I used to work for the MoD in UK and I think that might have been part of the reason my Naturalization took 28 months in all. It could well be a disadvantage when applying for sensitive DoD positions over here.

Good luck.