The MM Network
If you plan on staying in the DC region and working fed government contracting...yes get your clearance if its available.

Sending a quick email for travel abroad and then the check in after is easy. I have worked in both secured and unsecured facilities, and had interesting and not-interesting jobs with it. The financial and social things are easy notes to your FSO/securities person. I wouldn't actively avoid one unless you hate being tied down by the man for a couple emails a year. Wink

Now you *could* have issues, but knowing Taylor, he won't.
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Cleared work has it's disadvantages but from the jump you're going to get paid significantly more. Microsoft for example, gives out 5 figure bonuses on top of your salary if you have a TS (more for SCI and SSBI).

Reporting foreign travel isn't really a big deal. Just let your FSO know where you're going beforehand, and you may get a brief before you go. If you're planning on going to high-risk countries (e.g. China, Cuba, Iran) it's a bigger deal.

The financial stuff comes down to whether you are a risk based on debts, gambling, or foreign investment. Foreign investment would be owning property abroad, owning businesses, etc. It's not an issue for regular investments on the stock market.

Filling out the SF-86 is a pain, especially if you've lived and worked in a lot of places. Or if you have a lot of foreign relatives or close contacts. Once you're in, your reinvestigation is much easier.

The work environment can be a serious pain if you have to work in a SCIF where you can't bring any sort of electronic device in, can't use many types of websites, etc. But I've worked in cleared environments where it wasn't much different than a normal office. You just have to lock everything up, can't use thumb drives, have to deploy across air gaps, etc.

If you hate cleared work, nothing's stopping you from getting out except the whole golden handcuffs.
2018 Ducati Panigale V4

Past: 2018 Honda Civic Type-R, 2015 Yamaha R1, 2009 BMW M3, 2013 Aprilia RSV4R, 2006 Honda Ridgeline, 2006 Porsche Cayman S, 2012 Ducati 1199, 2009 Subaru WRX, 2008 CBR1000RR, 2009 Kawasaki ZX-6R, 2000 Toyota Tundra, 2005 Honda CBR600RR, 1996 Acura Integra GS-R, 1996 Acura Integra GS-R, 1997 Honda Civic EX

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Thanks for the various view points. I don't want to work in a locked down environment because u know I'd hate it.

I'm just a bit apprehensive about having to make a decision between moving internally and keeping my not vested 401k stuff and all that comes with it, or jumping ship at the hope of better pay and hours and such with a longer commute.

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Current:
2011 F150 Platinum | 1995 BMW 325i 1983 BMW 320i  The MMoped | 2008 BMW 128i
Past:
1996 Toyota Tacoma: | 1992 Mazda Miata | 2002 BMW 325i |
2003 Toyota Tacoma | 1995 Miata M Edition | 1997 Subaru Outback |
1992 Mazda Miata | 1990 BMW 325i  | 2007 Toyota 4Runner | 
1995 Ford Windstar 1987 BMW 325i | 1987 BMW 325 | 1990 BMW 325i Vert |
2018 VW GTI | 1990 Mazda Miata | 
1989 BMW 325i Vert 2015 Fiesta ST | 1983 BMW 320i parts car
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You don't have to make the decision until/unless you have two offers in your hand. Worrying about it ahead of time is just unnecessary stress.
'76 911S | '14 328xi | '17 GTI | In memoriam: '08 848, '85 944

"Here, at last, is the cure for texting while driving. The millions of deaths which occur every year due to the iPhone’s ability to stream the Kim K/Ray-J video in 4G could all be avoided, every last one of them, if the government issued everyone a Seventies 911 and made sure they always left the house five minutes later than they’d wanted to. It would help if it could be made to rain as well. Full attention on the road. Guaranteed." -Jack Baruth
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(05-13-2019, 05:21 PM)Apoc Wrote: You don't have to make the decision until/unless you have two offers in your hand. Worrying about it ahead of time is just unnecessary stress.
Good point. I'm just aimlessly blabbering hoping someone the magic answer to make everything go right.

Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk
Current:
2011 F150 Platinum | 1995 BMW 325i 1983 BMW 320i  The MMoped | 2008 BMW 128i
Past:
1996 Toyota Tacoma: | 1992 Mazda Miata | 2002 BMW 325i |
2003 Toyota Tacoma | 1995 Miata M Edition | 1997 Subaru Outback |
1992 Mazda Miata | 1990 BMW 325i  | 2007 Toyota 4Runner | 
1995 Ford Windstar 1987 BMW 325i | 1987 BMW 325 | 1990 BMW 325i Vert |
2018 VW GTI | 1990 Mazda Miata | 
1989 BMW 325i Vert 2015 Fiesta ST | 1983 BMW 320i parts car
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I've made the mistake of running for the greener grass. I would exhaust the internal transfer option before you jump ship. You can do the transfer (if you get the offer) and feel it out for a few months. If you don't like it then start looking externally. You might find a different department/project/manager can totally change your view of a company. Let me know if you want to chat privately.
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(05-13-2019, 05:24 PM)Senor_Taylor Wrote:
(05-13-2019, 05:21 PM)Apoc Wrote: You don't have to make the decision until/unless you have two offers in your hand. Worrying about it ahead of time is just unnecessary stress.
Good point. I'm just aimlessly blabbering hoping someone the magic answer to make everything go right.

Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk


I get it... it's hard not to let your mind wander all the possibilities. I nearly worried myself sick at the prospect of relocating for Amazon, so I had to consciously tell myself to take one step at a time for other job changes. A lot can happen between phone conversation and offer, so you really don't have to make a decision until the actual offer. Interviews cost nothing, expect maybe a day of PTO, so I say do them both and see what happens.

The good news is if you switch and don't like it, finding a new job is a reasonably achievable outcome.
'76 911S | '14 328xi | '17 GTI | In memoriam: '08 848, '85 944

"Here, at last, is the cure for texting while driving. The millions of deaths which occur every year due to the iPhone’s ability to stream the Kim K/Ray-J video in 4G could all be avoided, every last one of them, if the government issued everyone a Seventies 911 and made sure they always left the house five minutes later than they’d wanted to. It would help if it could be made to rain as well. Full attention on the road. Guaranteed." -Jack Baruth
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(05-13-2019, 05:29 PM)JPolen01 Wrote: I've made the mistake of running for the greener grass. I would exhaust the internal transfer option before you jump ship. 

I'd argue that for anyone's first job out college I'd jump ship after 2 years just to experience a different work culture and product line - may be better or not.

Stuff like vesting and 401k's... at this stage in the career I doubt you have that much tied up in it that it should be a deal breaker on leaving.  You can always ask for a sign-on bonus at the new job to mitigate any of whats being lost.  If you're working for a tech startup and that vest is worth 6 figures or more, different story.
(09-25-2019, 03:18 PM)V1GiLaNtE Wrote: I think you need to see a mental health professional.
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(05-13-2019, 05:43 PM).RJ Wrote: Stuff like vesting and 401k's... at this stage in the career I doubt you have that much tied up in it that it should be a deal breaker on leaving.

+1

A bigger % match on a bigger base and immediate vest catches up pretty quick.
'76 911S | '14 328xi | '17 GTI | In memoriam: '08 848, '85 944

"Here, at last, is the cure for texting while driving. The millions of deaths which occur every year due to the iPhone’s ability to stream the Kim K/Ray-J video in 4G could all be avoided, every last one of them, if the government issued everyone a Seventies 911 and made sure they always left the house five minutes later than they’d wanted to. It would help if it could be made to rain as well. Full attention on the road. Guaranteed." -Jack Baruth
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Would anyone mind looking at the Glassdoor reviews for this place and let me know if it seems better or worse than reviews you've seen elsewhere? The reviews for my current company don't really mention the things I dislike. Not sure how to gauge it.

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Current:
2011 F150 Platinum | 1995 BMW 325i 1983 BMW 320i  The MMoped | 2008 BMW 128i
Past:
1996 Toyota Tacoma: | 1992 Mazda Miata | 2002 BMW 325i |
2003 Toyota Tacoma | 1995 Miata M Edition | 1997 Subaru Outback |
1992 Mazda Miata | 1990 BMW 325i  | 2007 Toyota 4Runner | 
1995 Ford Windstar 1987 BMW 325i | 1987 BMW 325 | 1990 BMW 325i Vert |
2018 VW GTI | 1990 Mazda Miata | 
1989 BMW 325i Vert 2015 Fiesta ST | 1983 BMW 320i parts car
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(05-13-2019, 06:21 PM)Senor_Taylor Wrote: Would anyone mind looking at the Glassdoor reviews for this place and let me know if it seems better or worse than reviews you've seen elsewhere? The reviews for my current company don't really mention the things I dislike. Not sure how to gauge it.

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Glassdoor, like yelp, is a cesspool of mouthbreathers. The only people that write reviews are: 1) people who feel scorned by their former employer & 2) people who write reviews after being pressured by management to write good reviews (of course there are exceptions, don't @ me). It's hard to stay away from them, but I really try not to put too much weight on Glassdoor.
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2012 Civic Si - Sold
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^ What he said. People love to complain. There can be some truth to it, if every review is awful then there's probably something rotten in there.
(09-25-2019, 03:18 PM)V1GiLaNtE Wrote: I think you need to see a mental health professional.
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I generally trust Yelp if reviews are at a critical mass, but I assume Glassdoor is all people with an axe to grind. No one is in the middle of living their job and thinks, "I should really go to Glassdoor and write a review." A fact supported by Amazon asking employees to write reviews if they love their job.
'76 911S | '14 328xi | '17 GTI | In memoriam: '08 848, '85 944

"Here, at last, is the cure for texting while driving. The millions of deaths which occur every year due to the iPhone’s ability to stream the Kim K/Ray-J video in 4G could all be avoided, every last one of them, if the government issued everyone a Seventies 911 and made sure they always left the house five minutes later than they’d wanted to. It would help if it could be made to rain as well. Full attention on the road. Guaranteed." -Jack Baruth
  Reply
(05-13-2019, 05:55 PM)Apoc Wrote:
(05-13-2019, 05:43 PM).RJ Wrote: Stuff like vesting and 401k's... at this stage in the career I doubt you have that much tied up in it that it should be a deal breaker on leaving.

+1

A bigger % match on a bigger base and immediate vest catches up pretty quick.

Also better if your current employers 401k investment options blow.
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Gotta say I'm pretty happy with my move. The only bad thing I can say is that I do hate open offices as much as I thought I would. At least Capital One has implemented it "correctly" so I can't really complain too much. Just doesn't really hold a candle to having a nice quiet private office. Also not a fan of paying for an entire apartment that I basically just eat dinner and sleep in Mon night - Fri morning but that's on me. Definitely digging the much slower pace. I feel like I'm "just" a software engineer here and I'm not wearing 3 different hats or putting up with a customer who's also my manager. Crazy how much of a difference prioritizing QA/testing and an Agile process makes.
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(05-15-2019, 10:00 PM)Deceus Wrote: Gotta say I'm pretty happy with my move. The only bad thing I can say is that I do hate open offices as much as I thought I would. At least Capital One has implemented it "correctly" so I can't really complain too much. Just doesn't really hold a candle to having a nice quiet private office. Also not a fan of paying for an entire apartment that I basically just eat dinner and sleep in Mon night - Fri morning but that's on me. Definitely digging the much slower pace. I feel like I'm "just" a software engineer here and I'm not wearing 3 different hats or putting up with a customer who's also my manager. Crazy how much of a difference prioritizing QA/testing and an Agile process makes.

Wait, so which office is it? Nova or Richmond? 

I don't personally know of anyone at all that has their own office in Nova. Only VPs and above.
Current:
2011 F150 Platinum | 1995 BMW 325i 1983 BMW 320i  The MMoped | 2008 BMW 128i
Past:
1996 Toyota Tacoma: | 1992 Mazda Miata | 2002 BMW 325i |
2003 Toyota Tacoma | 1995 Miata M Edition | 1997 Subaru Outback |
1992 Mazda Miata | 1990 BMW 325i  | 2007 Toyota 4Runner | 
1995 Ford Windstar 1987 BMW 325i | 1987 BMW 325 | 1990 BMW 325i Vert |
2018 VW GTI | 1990 Mazda Miata | 
1989 BMW 325i Vert 2015 Fiesta ST | 1983 BMW 320i parts car
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Glad to hear you like it so far Chris. Sorry your onboarding hasn't been the best. No laptop for the first few days is rough. First time I have seen that at Cap One and I've mentored/onboarded several people now...
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(05-15-2019, 10:25 PM)Senor_Taylor Wrote: I don't personally know of anyone at all that has their own office in Nova. Only VPs and above.

Thats how things are in my building and man, people were salty AF when that happened. It was a pretty clever move to break some shitty behavior, though.
(09-25-2019, 03:18 PM)V1GiLaNtE Wrote: I think you need to see a mental health professional.
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Try to find a job at an office built in the 60s! Positives: most have nice big offices! Negatives: ...because they can't switch to open floor plans because the building is full of asbestos....
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2005 STi
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(05-16-2019, 08:33 AM).RJ Wrote:
(05-15-2019, 10:25 PM)Senor_Taylor Wrote: I don't personally know of anyone at all that has their own office in Nova. Only VPs and above.

Thats how things are in my building and man, people were salty AF when that happened.  It was a pretty clever move to break some shitty behavior, though.

Deloitte was on Partners had offices.  Ridiculous.
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1986.5 Porsche 928S
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