FBI should have the easiest time finding hackers. Unlike the CIA and NSA, they have offices in almost every major city, but they don't seem to take advantage of that at all. They don't event list any tech/cyber/whatever roles here: https://apply.fbijobs.gov/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single_Scope_Background_Invest...
The purpose of clearance investigations isn't to dig up dirt in order to hurt you you, it's to find out what dirt foreign intel services can dig up on you in order to hurt/blackmail you.
No wonder they're having problems finding candidates. Hackers are probably way more likely to use certain drugs like weed, MDMA and psychedelics than the general population, due to their intellectual curiosity and intelligence levels (which I assume are significantly higher than the average).
Do they really force applicants to disassociate with their friends and family, like in Scientology, or is it just a rule they only care really about in the most serious cases (if friends are dealers or have drug problems etc)?
Anecdotal but it wasn't enforced at all. I suspect it was a CYA measure for firing someone with undesirable connections but no illegal activities.
I hear they bend the rules for extraordinary candidates - maybe that applies to all hackers these days.
Polygraph evidence is not admissible in US courts anymore.
CIA: "To be considered suitable for Agency employment, applicants must generally not have used illegal drugs or misused prescription drugs within the last 12 months."
NSA: "Recent and/or frequent use of illegal drugs, including marijuana even in states whose laws permit its recreational or medical use, could raise a security concern, and may be disqualifying"
If the FBI anything like the DOE it's random for the duration you have a clearance. Random polygraphs too which are much, much worse.
- No smoking pot in 3 years
- Random drug tests
- Random lie detector tests
- Not the best pay in the world
- Lousy career prospects
- Working with others who they admit aren't the most technical in the world
Yeah can't see why they're having trouble hiring
I've literally never seen actual marijuana in real life before, even in a state where it's legal. So I'm not sure I buy this argument that you can't go 3 years without smoking the stuff.
Have you asked around your circle of friends? Or asked them to ask around for you? You probably aren't too many hops away from a supplier.
First off, it is the rare businessperson who sees harming their customer as the road to success. But such antics do occasionally happen, so I won't belabor it.
Second, you live in Oregon? Unless you live with a restrictive religious sect, I guarantee at least one of your friends gets high. Figure out who it is, ask them. I'm sure Portland, like Seattle, has a park or two; put your hoodie on and go for a walk. Or just ask the internet these days.
All moot for you now, as you swing by the store on the way home.