<p>^^^ Sometimes you don’t have a choice about whether or not you are questioned as a reference, however the flyers seem a bit extreme. My S works for a government agency and has a very high level of security clearance. The vetting process was ruthless at times. They contacted every person on his list of friends, and then asked all THOSE people who else he associated with (in case he left out anyone) and then they contacted THOSE people. Neighbors, landlords, high school teachers, etc. were also contacted. Once the investigators started getting similar feedback on my son, they stopped the chain of contact. They even sent an investigator to see me and asked me those same questions about terrorism and blackmailing. I can be a blabber, especially when it comes to my kids. I just sat there and willed myself to only respond “yes” or “no” to their questioning. I didn’t want to say anything in passing that might jeopardize the clearance process.</p>
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<p>He left a card. We will call and verify on Monday.</p>
<p>eastcoascrazy, are you suggesting that the State Dept. is hiring a third party to do its vetting? </p>
<p>I’m confused by your statement since the friend did say she applied for a job with the State Dept and had to supply several references.</p>
<p>No, i’m thinking it was somebody not related in any way to the state department or to the need to pass a security clearance.</p>
<p>Is your daughter living so far off the grid that a simple google search of her wouldn’t turn up multiple ways to contact her other than by posting paper fliers? When has the state department ever been such a hurry to vet a potential employee that they couldn’t figure out another way to contact an acquaintance? </p>
<p>We have been contacted multiple times over the years by agencies doing background checks on friends, neighbors, and family members. Never by a flier. </p>
<p>I would verify that the card/phone number/name of the gentleman are legitimate. Do more than just call the number on the card he gave you.</p>
<p>I have some personal experience with similar background checks and they can be quite intrusive. I’ll echo previous posters and say I’ve never heard of the flier thing, but often background investigators are retired feds and perhaps this one was an older gentleman out of touch with the “Google it” mentality. They do tend to prefer in-person meetings.</p>
<p>Spoke briefly with D. Apparently the man did not have her apartment number, or at least the friend said she did not have it when she listed her references.</p>
<p>Okay that MIGHT explain things a bit.</p>
<p>The State Dept. should contact this Belgian psychic to find out how to do the most comprehensive background checks ever:</p>
<p>[Amazing</a> mind reader reveals his ‘gift’ - YouTube](<a href=“Amazing mind reader reveals his 'gift' - YouTube”>Amazing mind reader reveals his 'gift' - YouTube)</p>
<p>When I was a kid the FBI ( I think it was the FBI)used to call our neighbors and ask if my dad ever came home drunk, or if there were ever loud fights from out house. The neighbors always used to tell us about the phone calls. My dad was not a government employee but worked in the defense industry and had a very high security clearance.</p>
<p>My daughter had a similar experience (minus the flyers; that seems odd) when her good friend applied for a job in the intelligence community. The agent came to our home last summer and spent about an hour with her at our dining room table. We’ve had the FBI and DIA come to our door to ask questions about one of our neighbors, too so I think that this is just the way it works and I’m actually glad that they take the background checks seriously. </p>
<p>Living in the DC area, this just seems normal to me. If you live elsewhere, I guess I can see that this would be startling but these jobs are not like ordinary public sector jobs so if you agree to be a reference you need to take it very seriously. Even an intern can do a lot of damage if they are so inclined.</p>
<p>Several of our neighbors seem to have these types of jobs, from what I can tell by the numbers of investigators who have knocked at my door. (Or perhaps more jobs require clearances than was once the case?)Middle aged and above, the big questions seem to be whether someone appears to be living above their means, or is cheating on a spouse. For younger folk, down to college students, questioning seems to center on alcohol or drug use, or loud parties that disturb the neighbors.</p>
<p>With college costs skyrocketing, however, I have to wonder if excessive college debt relative to income and savings, including retirement savings, is going to become a potential red flag for individuals or family members needing clearances.</p>
<p>The flyers on the doors after a single phone call seems a bit aggressive.</p>
<p>But back in the day, H interviewed on campus for a job with the CIA. He was an International Affairs major and also a sincere Catholic. When they asked him if he had any “moral or religious hangups,” he knew that wasn’t the workplace for him! I kinda hate to think they wanted people with NO “moral hangups” though…</p>
<p>I remember the very funny scene in The West Wing (TV show.) The Latino presidential candidate is explaining what happened when he applied for his first government job. He needed a security clearance and heard that there were problems. So he went back to his old neighborhood to try to find out what neighbors were saying about him that was causing the delay.</p>
<p>His nephews or nieces told him “Oh, yes, those government men came and everyone did the right thing and told them they didn’t know you at all and didn’t even recognize you name. So, you’ll get the job, right?” </p>
<p>It seems that normally when guys with badges came around asking questions about people, they were police officers and nobody in the neighborhood wanted to be a “snitch.” So, when the FBI showed up asking questions about the Jimmy Smits character, the neighbors thought they were doing him a favor by denying they knew anything about him. </p>
<p>I’m sure it was more poignant on the TV screen than it is in my rendition, but I’m sure not everyone answering these inquiries sees government as the “good guys.”</p>