What to Expect During a Security Clearance Interview

When you apply for a national security clearance in the U.S., it triggers an investigation. You may know that the investigation includes a background check and review of records like your credit history and criminal history. You will also typically be asked to sit for an interview. 

In most cases, the security clearance interview is one of the most important parts of the background investigation because it gives the investigator a chance to clarify your SF86, explore potential concerns, and assess your credibility in person.

You may think that since you’ve already revealed all of the information requested on your SF86, the interview is just a formality. That couldn’t be further from the truth. Your preparation for your secret or top secret security clearance interview can determine whether your application is approved or denied. 

If you have a security clearance interview coming up, you should contact an experienced security clearance attorney as soon as possible. Working with a lawyer who has extensive knowledge of the security clearance interview process is especially important if there are any possible red flags in the SF86.

What Happens During the Security Clearance Interview Process? 

The information below is a high-level overview of how an interview for security clearance generally works and some of the most common types of questions you may be asked. However, it’s no substitute for personalized advice from an experienced security clearance lawyer.

Why the Security Clearance Interview Matters

An interview for security clearance gives the investigator an opportunity to dig deeper into the information you revealed on your SF86 and any other information they may have received from other sources. You should be aware that the interviewer’s goal is not to help you secure security clearance. If there are any discrepancies or red flags, it is their job to uncover as much information as possible. In some cases, that may mean using tactics designed to confuse or mislead you. 

What Is a Security Interview Like? 

Your security clearance interview may take place in person or, in some cases, may be conducted remotely.  The interview is typically structured as a question-and-answer session. The interviewer will have specific questions prepared and will often make reference to your SF86 or other information while questioning you. 

Occasionally, the interview will take less than an hour. More often, you can expect to be answering questions for two to three hours. In some cases, though, the interview may take several hours–especially if the interviewer is attempting to apply pressure as described in the interviewer section below. 

security clearance interview

Common Security Clearance Interview Questions You Can Expect

For the most part, the questions asked during your security clearance interview will be similar to the questions you were asked on your SF86. For example, you may be asked questions about your prior jobs, people you’re connected with, and places you’ve lived. 

You will likely also be asked questions relating to some of the 13 guidelines for security clearance–especially if your SF86 or other sources have raised any red flags. Those 13 areas of interest are: 

Some questions may be time-limited, while others may span your entire adult life. 

The best way to prepare is to work with an experienced security clearance lawyer who can help you understand what to expect based on your background and SF86, what materials you may need to have available during the interview, and what to do if the interviewer is abusive or mischaracterizes what you’ve said. You can schedule a free consultation with The Edmunds Law Firm right now by calling 800-481-2526 or filling out our contact form.

What to Bring to a Secret Security Clearance Interview

At a minimum, you’ll want to take your government-issued ID and a copy of the SF86 form you completed. You should also make sure to have any other information you think they may ask for or want to confirm, such as contact information for anyone they may want to interview or verify information with. 

Finally, you should bring along any documentation that helps mitigate any red flag issues on your SF86. For example: 

  • If you have had problems with alcohol in the past or an alcohol-related arrest, bring along documentation of any rehabilitation program you went through, a successful release from probation, and anything else that helps show that you have addressed the issue and it is no longer a problem.
  • If you have delinquent debts, bring any payment agreements, receipts showing debts have been paid off, or other documentation that shows that you have addressed the issue or are consistently working to resolve your debts. 

Of course, the mitigating information you will want to provide will vary depending on the exact nature of the red flag, how long ago the problem was, and what steps you have taken to address the issue. When you hire a lawyer to help you prepare for your interview for security clearance, your attorney can help you determine which areas may require mitigating information and explain what types of documentation would be helpful. Your attorney can also help you determine whether there are other materials you should take with you to your interview. 

What to Expect from a Security Clearance Interviewer

Interviewers are human, and that means each one is different. That means exactly how the interview is conducted varies somewhat. There’s no way to know exactly what to expect from your interviewer. So, it’s in your best interest to be prepared for the worst. 

It’s important to be as relaxed as possible, be forthcoming with your interviewer, and avoid seeming confrontational or evasive. It’s equally important to remember that the interviewer isn’t a friend or colleague. The interviewer isn’t there to help you get your security clearance, but to unearth anything that might possibly be a concern. 

Unfortunately, the tactics interviewers use to accomplish that aren’t always straightforward–or even honest. Here are a few things you should be on alert for at your security clearance interview: 

  • Your interviewer may try to trip you up. For example, they may “verify” information from your SF86 with you by appearing to reference the form but slightly misstating something. You can’t afford to get complacent and automatically agree if it sounds right. Take the time to think about what they’ve said and make sure it’s precisely accurate before responding. 
  • Your interviewer may try to bully you into answering a question you don’t know the answer to. One common example is pressing you for a specific number of times you did something or a duration. If you know the answer, of course, you should be honest. But don’t guess or estimate or say a random number–no matter how many times or ways they ask the question.
  • Your interviewer may try to throw you off balance. Unfortunately, we’ve heard stories about this getting rough–interviewers making threats, name-calling, even insulting an applicant’s background or culture. You don’t have to tolerate this, but you do have to hold your temper and respond professionally.
  • The interviewer may incorrectly summarize what you’ve said.  You may be encouraged to just sign the summary, or even told that it’s a verbatim transcript. But we’ve seen that the summaries can be riddled with errors–sometimes errors that could mean the difference between being granted security clearance and not. Never sign without very carefully reading the document, and don’t be afraid to point out errors. 
security clearance interview abuse

When to Push Back During a Security Clearance Interview

It’s natural that you’d want to keep the peace during your interview for security clearance, but it’s important to know the limits. As you can see from the examples above, going along to get along with your interviewer can be dangerous. For example, if the interviewer says, “So, you only worked at XYZ Corp for six months,” and you automatically nod and say yes, the interviewer may simply note that your verbal answer didn’t match your SF86. 

Similarly, if your interviewer pushes you for specific numbers or timelines and you offer your best guess to try to satisfy them, an investigation may turn up contradictory information that makes you look dishonest.

You must be prepared to politely but firmly reassert that you don’t know if you don’t know. You must take the time to think through a question–even a simple “verification” of information the interviewer claims to already have–and make sure your answer is accurate. Don’t allow yourself to be pressured into just agreeing or guessing.

Finally, you must be prepared to remain calm and in control if the interviewer becomes abusive. If their behavior is truly inappropriate, you can tell them that you would like a different interviewer. But don’t take the bait and escalate with them. Manage the interview as best you can, request to terminate the interview and continue with a different interviewer if necessary, and then contact an experienced security clearance lawyer right away.

Security Clearance Interview Tips

Before Your Security Clearance Interview

Being well-prepared for your security clearance interview can make all the difference. The first step is to review your SF86 carefully. Most of the information will be familiar to you, so it can be tempting to skim, but don’t. Remember that you may be asked to verify or repeat anything on that form. Having the information fresh in your memory will help you avoid misspeaking about something small that could be blown up into an inconsistency or misrepresentation. 

Despite this information, any other research you’ve done, and any personalized information and advice you’ve gotten from an attorney, you should go into the interview prepared for something to come up that you haven’t anticipated. It may be a question about an area you didn’t think would raise any concerns, a question that’s phrased in a way that takes you by surprise or takes a minute to sort out, or a bad attitude from the interviewer. Recognize that if your interview runs short or long, it’s not necessarily a bad sign, and be prepared to take each question as it’s asked and not try to read too much into it. 

Know what mitigating information you have to offer for any possible red flags, and organize any documentation in advance. 

Practice answering anticipated questions and presenting your mitigating information. The interview can be stressful, so you don’t want to have to think on your feet any more than you have to. If you are working with a national security clearance attorney, your attorney can provide you with potential questions or even conduct a mock interview with you. 

Try to get a good night’s sleep before the interview and be rested and alert. Dress professionally to help show the interviewer that you are taking the process seriously. 

During Your Security Clearance Interview

Be honest and direct with the interviewer. Remember that there’s a full investigation taking place. Trying to hide or underplay anything will almost certainly backfire. No matter what the truth is, it’s best to present it head-on. Remember that your honesty and integrity are being assessed, and the interviewer’s impressions will be considered along with the responses you provided. 

Avoid rambling or speculating. While it’s important to answer questions honestly and completely, it’s generally not helpful to offer too much detail, tell stories that seem somehow related to you, or otherwise offer information you weren’t asked for. 

Present any mitigating information in a clear, organized way. Remember that the goal isn’t to make excuses or minimize what you did, but to show that you have taken steps to move beyond the issues, and they no longer create a concern. 

Remain calm and polite at all times, even if the interviewer doesn’t. 

After Your Security Clearance Interview

Remember to read the summary very carefully and do not sign it if there are any errors or misrepresentations. If you have concerns about anything that happened during your security clearance interview, contact your attorney right away. In some circumstances, we have succeeded in getting a different interviewer assigned. 

How Important Is a Security Clearance Interview?

In short, your security clearance interview can make the difference between approval and denial. Concerns raised during the interview can delay the process, trigger additional investigation, mean having to sit for a polygraph exam, or even trigger a notice of intent to deny your security clearance. 

At The Edmunds Law Firm, we help people at all stages of the secret or top secret security clearance process. If you have attended your security clearance interview and have concerns about something that happened during the interview, we can help. If you have received a notice of intent and a Statement of Reasons explaining why your security clearance is likely to be denied, we can assist with your response and potentially save your security clearance before you receive a final denial. If you’ve been denied, we can help you prepare your appeal and represent you at your hearing. 

Our firm has decades of experience with these and other aspects of the security clearance process. But the best way to protect your access to security clearance is to start early–before you even apply. 

Our firm helps people: 

It’s especially important to get help early–ideally, before you submit your SF86–if you know there are issues that may be red flags and require mitigation.

The Edmunds Law Firm Is Here for You: Talk to a Security Clearance Lawyer Today

We know how important it is for you to have access to the information and advice you need. That’s why we offer free consultations. When you consult one of our security clearance lawyers, you can rest assured that we will be honest with you about your prospects and how we can help. To learn more, call us today at 800-481-2526.