Does anyone here have a job they really can't talk aboout?

Yeah, I can see how your position makes writing essays difficult. It seems like the best essays are personal, with lots of detail.

It might be worth getting a free consultation from a few consultants. I've never used them, but Precision Essay seems to be pretty good. Check out their thread on the business week forums.

Even if you don't actually hire them, they may be able to give you some good pointers.

RF

Thanks for the input guys.

Yeah, I've thought of hiring admin consultants, but it's still kind of a Catch-22 situation. The way I see it admin consultants are kind of like lawyers, for them to do their best in helping you, you need to tell them everything about your situation. Well, obviously, I can't do that. It would be great if I can tell them about what I do, who I work for, etc and have them craft a suitable vague essay, but again i can't even go that far.

Ya, I cannot talk about my midnight cowboy position.

In all seriousness, I think you are in a bit of a pickle here since providing examples are extremely important, and providing details for make-believe story is something you cannot do right now. Can you figure out a way of telling your story while not mentioning any names? Maybe that will be OK....

My job was like that...security clearance stuff and high level data. Its best to go with generalizations, you can talk about functions, and stuff just not specifics. If you have a security officer pass stuff through them. During interviews be up front at the start of your interview. You can definitely answer behavioral parts and can give general answers...I think interviewers will understand you cant give up government data.

Not sure the same would hold true for a confidential work for a company. I know consultants who arent supposed to talk about who clients are and what they did but used that stuff in essays and interviews. remember this isnt going to get published. If you wont get arrested talking about it dont worry.

PM if you want to talk more...knowing at least where you work would help. I know some other folks in situations similar to mine who worked in some areas that may be similar to yours.

river,

I'll be sending you a PM. Thanks

Don't you think it's at least worthwhile to ask the consultants what your options are? I mean, it won't cost you anything.

In fact, if I remember correctly, there was a person in the Precision Essay thread that was a member of the Israeli Defense Force, but in a highly sensitive position. She wasn't able to talk about any of her best stories. Great profile though.

A lot of leadership has to do with personal interactions, business details aren't necessary. Write a story, keep the details to a minimum, change details if necessary, then write an explanation in the optional essay.

I'm sure you're not the only person whose been in this position.

RF

During applications they really dont care what you do at work so much as how you do it. I wrote nothing specific about the stuff I did at work...general terms and that was it. In a way its actually nice since you arent tempted to get off the topic about selling yourself and your skills.

i'm writing in very general terms (work in aviation), both to escape any "can i really tell them this?" questions and to focus the essays more on general lessons I learned.

I understand that there are limitations, but rather than name clients, why not just say "The US Government" or "a large defense contractor with revenues in excess of $XB" ? And rather than say, "When my team had to develop software intended to tap into high level routers across AT&T so that the patriot act guys can spy on data", why not just say "My team and I were tasked with developing challenging software related to national security. Although I can't discuss specifics, I can say that my team was instrumental in creating some of the most important national security software in use today."

Finally, if its really is that bad - and I'd venture that probably isn't quite so bad - I say explain it in your optional essay.

hey if you work for SIAC, just mention that is CIA Spelled backwards.