5 ms·
DC/NoVa is hurting for programmers. Particularly if you can get a clearance, there's no shortage of work out here, at a (somewhat) cheaper cost of living.
by bandrami 10y ago
DC/NoVa is hurting for programmers. Particularly if you can get a clearance, there's no shortage of work out here, at a (somewhat) cheaper cost of living.
- develprofthngs 10y agoThat's nice to hear. I've recently been contemplating moving from the DFW area to the VA area to be closer to family. Would also love some land/trees, which is lacking around here and becoming even harder to find.
- ryandrake 10y agoI lived in NoVa for a bit, and found that employers would strongly rather you already have clearance, and don't really care if you're clear-able. Most places I looked had no uncleared work to fill so they'd literally have to hire me and sit me behind a desk doing nothing for months waiting for my clearance. That was usually the deal breaker. I'm currently probably not clearable anymore (married a foreign national) so it's less relevant for me now, but I agree it's a nice area.
- bandrami 10y agoThat's definitely true: coming in with a clearance has a huge premium. But being able to obtain one has a premium too.
- vonmoltke 10y agoMy direct experience is that the companies that cover cleared engineers pay slightly below average salaries and jack shit for variable compensation (bonuses, stock, and such). Plus, you can't talk about all the best work you did when you interview elsewhere, so you sound like a faker to interviewers. I'm glad to be free of the shackle of my clearance.