Sir,
I recently came across your LANL blog and I had a question- do you know LANL's policy on candidates for hire who have DWIs on their record? I screwed up way back when I was young and dumb, and I was wondering what trouble I'm facing in regards to security checks before I drive across the country for an internship there. I didn't hide it, it's just they gave me the internship before I could say anything. Please understand how awkward and embarrassing, as it should be, it is to go out of my way to ensure they know about it? I was hoping you might have some insight in regards to their hiring processes... Thanks.
-Anonymous
Anonymous,
I don't know the answer to your question but I'm certain one of the blog's readers will. Since it was only once and it was a long time ago, I'm betting the DWI will not be an issue. Good luck and let us know how it turns out.
-Frank
PS Don't mention that you read the LANL blog during the interview!
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74 comments:
Don't know the details of the LANL policy. LANL does not check police records.
BUT, if you plan to do work that will require a security clearance, then you should not lie about the DWI or anything else.
By all means be honest about the DWI. And, be prepared for several follow-on questions regarding your use of alcohol since the incident.
Alcohol related history can also drive several questions regarding any use of controlled substances.
Best of Luck.
I was on probation for DWI-related charge (deferred adjudication to a lesser charge) in another state when I started at LANL and nothing ever happened. But then again, I didn't need a clearance for my job. They didn't ask so no one knew.
I looked into this and an investigator will look to see how long ago the DWI was and if you are still drinking. Continuing to drink is a sign of not "learning your lesson". If you require a clearance, your DWI conviction was less than 5 years ago, and you still drink, you might need to hire a clearance attorney. They have some in SF. But it sounds like you might be a summer student. If so, I wouldn't say anything and I wouldn't worry about it. You're not here long enough for anyone to care.
The problem isn't LANL. It's the Department of Energy bureaucrats. The best thing you can do is not try to hide anything. On the other hand, don't volunteer anything.
Not sure about LANS but when I worked for LANL I had a friend who got a DUI. He immediately reported it and still maintained his clearance and job. It is much better to be up front about it. If they find that you lied about it then you are in trouble, big time.
Rule #1. never lie.
Rule #2. If they ask you if you have something in your past that concerns you, tell them. Believe me, lots of people have such skeletons in their closets -- esp. the boomers.
Rule #3. never volunteer more info than they ask for.
DOE is the one you will deal with regarding a DWI. If you are truthful with them it will not be a problem, if you try to mis-lead or lie that will creates a problem of "trust" or lack of . They (DOE) will allow a DWI in the past without a problem, although you will have to explain it. Don't lie, because they will check and lying is far worse to them than a DWI.
Actually I know several individuals with more than one DWI on their record and still maintain their security clearance.
So what's this IMI-1 cover-up story with Neu and husband someone reported on the "Comment of the Week" entry?
It is also important to show an appropriate level of remorse or misgivings about your past errors in judgements, during a DOE clearance investigation.
There is a cursory background investigation required for an uncleared employee to request an administrative-partition cryptocard (which almost everyone needs these days at LANL). I don't know what it covers, however, and what it would take to get turned down for one.
I will also mention that LANL employees need to be very careful about current alcohol consumption. I know two individuals who ultimately lost their jobs at LANL because security personnel turned them in for "reasonable suspicion" of being under the influence at work (defined as 0.02% or higher), based on smelling alcohol on their breath. One was an existing employee who was put on FFD with a "NO alcohol ever" restriction. He ultimately failed to meet this FFD condition and lost his job. The other was showing up to badge in for his first day of work, and had his employment offer rescinded.
You have been warned.
Just be cool, you will be fine, if not, refer to:
Secrecy
The Democratic party feels it necessary to keep all questions about Obama at a safe distance. It is an unprecedented move to keep secrets about a presidential candidate. The following questions remain sealed from the public.
1. Certified Copy of original Birth certificate (see certificate controversy below)
2. Columbia College records
3. Columbia Thesis paper
4. Campaign donor analysis requested by 7 major watchdog groups
5. Harvard College records
6. Illinois State Senate records
7. Illinois State Senate schedule
8. Law practice client list and billing records/summary
9. Locations and names of all half-siblings and step-mothers
10. Medical records (only the one page summary released so far)
11. Occidental College records
12. Parent´s Marriage Certificate
13. Record of baptism
14. Selective Service Registration
15. Trips schedules for trips outside of the United States before 2007
16. Scholary articles
17. Access to his Grandmother (Obama´s Grandmother has since past away from cancer)
18. List of all campaign workers that are lobbyists
Obama keeps donations secret by exploiting a loophole that allows campaigns to refuse to divulge donations under $200.00. This is useful to the candidate because many of his contributions are from dubious foreign or illegal sources. It is described as the "largest pool of unidentified money that has ever flooded into the U.S. election system, before or after the McCain-Feingold campaign finance reforms of 2002."
(http://www.conservapedia.com/Barack_Obama)
To the original poster: Is coming to LANL the best you could do? You reference an "internship" - does that mean a post-doc? Be aware you will be subject to so many safety and security rules (regardless of your area of work or clearance) that you will not be allowed to get any actual work done. If you can, avoid LANL like the plague. Your career will not be advanced here, but retarded. Your stint at LANL will always be seen as a negative. You will not be happy working at LANL, and your spouse (if any) will find the Los Alamos social, cultural, and shopping wasteland a hell on earth. Stay away if you can - you do not want to be sunk in this swamp.
From 9:44 pm, "...that you will not be allowed to get any actual work done."
uh, that is not true. it depends upon the postdoc. Over in chemistry we have a Reines Fellow who is so stuck on himself and does nothing but use government resources to do work for his next job at U Penn. He even buys books and supplies for his next job using LANL money. THe fact that he gets nothing done is not LANL's fault, but rather his mentor's, management, and ultimately the PD office for not monitoring his activities. In the meantime, the real hardworking PDs without fancy fellowships are busting their asses and getting none of the credit.
do not worry, check neu and wolfgang records, they have clearances...so unless you get more than ? dwi's, no problem
If you've been reading this blog and you still think working at the Lab is a great idea you may not be so young anymore. But dumb?
Working at LANL might be a good first job depending on where you land, however, there's no possibility of building a career here, the work environment is steadily worsening due to the mismanagement of the lab under the new private operating contractor, LANS, which is led by a construction company - Bechtel.
Don't buy a house in the community, the only reason Los Alamos exists is the lab; since the lab's funding and staffing levels are declining, especially so for scientific work, the community will follow the lab's death spiral.
Finally, if you come to Los Alamos, keep all other options alive at all times, layoffs could happen with very little notice, and there won't be any significant amount of severance pay for new staff.
"Your career will not be advanced here, but retarded. Your stint at LANL will always be seen as a negative."
THIS is true. I'm a PD right now looking to work at other national labs. I've applied for several jobs with other national labs and many didn't get back to me. I heard back from 2, both of which told me "you can always tell a lanl person b/c there isn't hat big enough that fits on their heads." 2 separate labs, 2 separate areas of research, 2 different parts of the country. I had to convince these people that I'm not an arrogant a$$hole and that I wouldn't bring "the lanl culture" into their workplace. If you're applying for PD, please stay in academia. The pay is less, but you'll have a better shot at a real job when you get out.
11:04 PM
you have to admit, success in academia relies on coming up with your own ideas and following through with them. i read his research statement and the ideas are based on his 5 years(!) of working as a pd at lanl. don't hate b/c he has a "sweeter" deal than you right now, it will catch up with him in due time. you always have to wonder with a "hot shot", are the ideas coming from the person or the advisor?
Wow, thanks for the great answers. So doing an internship there could be a risky move? Is it the 'quality' of working at the lab that gives it a 'bad-rep' outside, or is it the 'arrogant'-stereotype that does? I'm not a post-doc, just a soon to be BS degree in Bioinformatics. I see the negative statements about the lab, but I have no experience of working in a lab outside of the undergraduate research I did at school and for KECK. Is it that bad? I'm sure an intern is completely worthless compared to a post-doc. Either way, I'm very excited about seeing Los Alamos, the town, as well as getting some experience under my belt before I make any future move. As for my DWI, it was the stupidest move of my life, and the way I got arrested was equally stupid. I asked the question to the owner of the blog out of curiosity as to whether or not they already did a background check. However, I recently talked to my future-manager who gave me the position and he said when I arrive I'd have to fill out various paper-work and what not. This worries me, because I figured they would have already checked my background before giving me the position. I'm really worried about driving all the way to LA in a month, filling out paper-work, and then getting my position 'rescinded'. I appreciate the wonderful answers, and it disappoints me that such a historical and break-through research lab doesn't get as much funding as some privately owned labs. Is this all because of politics? Does the lab get any representative lobbying in government? Sounds very unfair to the hard-working employees at the lab. From what I hear, it seems like the employees are forced to work in WWII-era facilities?
Oh MAN, you just opened up a can of worms with your response!
I will say this...if you have a BS in bioinformatics, you can work at other national labs which have more experience in that area. I have known many people who worked here for a year then went off to grad school. They didn't have a problem getting in, but that was also back in 2001-2002.
If I were you, I'd hold out and see what the other labs have to offer.
Good luck in your decision!
Despite all of the problems, a post-BS internship will be a benefit for your career, not a detriment. You should come, and have a good experience.
The situation is different for a post-doc, for whom the stakes are higher,
"Will this be a problem?"
Who knows. Perhaps NNSA will suddenly decide to make it one. LANL policies are changing on a daily basis for the worse.
If I were you, I'd run, not walk, to just about any other job you can find. If you decide to stay, check your ethics at the door. The only way to advance these days is as a LANS manager with no moral code whatsoever. Good luck.
Come on, this kid will be helped in his career, not hurt in his career, bu 3-12 months at LANL.
Sorry - that should have been BY 3-12 months at LANL.
Since LANL is like a prison the experience will not be new to him.
I second 2:35PM - give the kid a chance. As a post-BS you don't really much have to worry about all the red tape, bureaucracy and funding. That's what your adviser has to do. You "just" do your research. Paperwork during the hiring process maybe larger than elsewhere. So get there, do your work, have fun, get paid well, and don't worry. You are not hiring into a permanent staff member position, thus you don't plan to spend the rest of your career at LANL (at least you shouldn't). You are at the earliest beginning of your career where you are supposed to earn your first credentials. LANL is a reasonable place to do that. But I do recommend that you don't stay too long at this place.
Again, don't sweat the one DWI. You were young and stupid, and based on your comments here you learned your lesson well.
To 11:04 PM - what is most disturbing is that I think this is the second PD from the aqua regia incident. Can't quite figure out why this PD did not get fired and got a fancy fellowship. What is the story other than the PD got paid off for services rendered to help the Lab. What gives here?
7:13 pm
Jackie Kiplinger, the second most hated woman on this blog (Sorry Mary, you win that honor). I haven't figured it out, but she has a lot of pull with the fellowship people. He went from Seaborg to Director's to Reines. But this isn't his first attempt to get a faculty position. He tried once before and got no takers. THEN he got the Reines.
One thing that has changed in Q clearance land is your Q investigation will automatically be terminated if you have used illegal drugs within one year of your employment at LANL. Our group learned the hard way by putting in a GRA student for a Q. He admitted to smoking pot 6mo. prior. His clearance investigation was suspended.
I wanted to clarify my previous post. He admitted to smoking pot 6 mo. prior to starting his GRA position at LANL but hadn't used since.
8:17 PM - have you thought about the fact that this PD is really THAT good? My understanding is that lots of people are pullling for this guy and the only reason Kiplinger has a program of any sort of credibility is because of this guy.
8:17 PM wrote .. "... Jackie Kiplinger, the second most hated woman on this blog ..".
Ahhh, so Doc Aq is this guy's mentor. Now the corruption aspects that 11:04, 8:49, and 7:13 PM talk of all make sense. So why hasn't LANS gotten rid of this second-rate most hated bitch at LANL and the blog?
11:09 PM, you are an idiot. Neu and Runde have way more than DWIs on their records. Let's not forget how WR was still a red-badge and he was ordering people in the shared forest program to give him information so that he could get funding.
stop protecting doc aq - the truth must be told.
8:17 PM - don't worry, although Doc Aq's record with the PD committee is bothersome, trust me - and I have this on good authority - she will never see another dime of other internal or external funding again.
As a post BS student currently working at LANL, I would encourage the student to come for a summer and then decide if it is worth staying on for a longer term position. I interact with many students who benefit from there time here, and I'm one of them as well.
As far as the DWI, my understanding is that you will be subject to a background check if you apply for administrative access, which many summer students don't need. I don't know if the check would find your history, but you can avoid it all together by refusing administrative access.
FYI Administrative access will allow you to enter your own time and effort, but administrative assistants can do that for you, and most students don't have need for the purchasing and other rights that admin access gives you. So don't apply for it, but if you plan to say longer than the summer, you will probably need it.
To the young intern, I hope you realize that all employees at LANL are required to pass a drug urine screening test before beginning work. If you are holding back anything, drug-wise, about your recent background, it will be discovered at this time and you will be fired.
These tests are done in a rigorous fashion, so don't even think about substituting someone's urine as your own. You'll be required to take this test even if you don't hold a clearance. You may also be required to take additional drug tests at random intervals during your stay. If you are called in for a test and fail to "deliver" within two hours you will be fired.
On your arrival, you'll undoubtedly notice the large piss-mobile vans parked in front of the lab almost every day.
Cheers!
On your arrival, you'll undoubtedly notice the large piss-mobile vans parked in front of the lab almost every day.
Cheers!
4/27/09 12:13 AM
So no poppy-seed bagels on your first day. And be careful with that cough medicine.
It is still amusing to see how little LANLites understand about the real world.
Pre-employment, random and for cause drug screening have been the standard at any organization of any size for 20 years. Only at LANL, a national security enterprise is this a relatively new phenomenon. Go figure.
"8:17 PM - have you thought about the fact that this PD is really THAT good? My understanding is that lots of people are pullling for this guy and the only reason Kiplinger has a program of any sort of credibility is because of this guy."
Read 4/24/09 11:04 PM.
If Kiplinger's program is based on the work from this guy, then why is he working in chemistry?
To 5:26 PM - because he QUIT working for the &$%! and went over to chemistry to some quality care and mentoring without having to inhale aqua regia fumes on orders.
6:10 PM, right on. I wish the best for Schelter. They should have fired doc aq in 2005 just like they did Todd, John, Jaime, Tom and Al. Peace.
6:49 PM, just for the record, I am doc aq's friend. Kiplinger-aka doc aq - is also decent people who has been thrown by the waste-side due to the likes of management who wish to kiss Terry Wallace's ass.
Uh, no 7:03. Kiplinger has been capital-T trouble since she arrived at LANL. She was forced onto an unwilling group by Carol Burns. She is quick to whine, quick to send 'anonymous' complaints, and quick to anger. Many at LANL have outsized entitlement mentalities, but Jackie goes above and beyond anyone I have ever seen.
OK, 7:10PM, riddle-me-this: why is she still at LANL, why had she been entitled to continue mentoring PDs, and why did she get a Fellow's Prize this year? If Kiplinger is so fucking bad, why does LANL - and now LANS who fires ANYONE with a spec of crap stuck to them - keep this insitutional T-trouble-maker and embarassment around? Insight please? Maybe with some insight we might be able to get her outta here - we dun't need more trouble.
C'mon, 7:18 PM! It is because LANL management is afraid to fire a fuckin' female or minority. You got both boxes checked with Doc Aq. Like I said in an earlier post, she has no funding, won't get any. I know for a fact that LANL, and MPA, is trying to get rid of the trouble-maker. Her days are numbered just like John, Todd, Jaime, Al and TOm's. Buh-bye.
"To 5:26 PM - because he QUIT working for the &$%! and went over to chemistry to some quality care and mentoring without having to inhale aqua regia fumes on orders."
again, read 4/24/09 11:04 PM.
I thought he quit b/c his head wouldn't fit through the door anymore at MPA. At chemistry, there's no problem there.
7:10, considering the sterling examples set by Kevin Ott and John Gordon, if Kiplinger just had a Y chromosome, she should be promoted to Group Leader.
De gustibus non est disputandum.
The LANL drug testing program is very good. I have yet to hear about a "false positive" claim. The staff is excellent and the managment takes the high road. I lost a worker to drug use and I never had a problem with how it was handled. This is one area where the lab has done it right.
Jackie is bright, engaged, and successful. None of that is a problem for me.
- A Fan
To the original poster - I don't think you need to worry about that DWI.
However, the cannibalistic tendencies that are on display here might give you pause to reconsider working at LANL.
7:10, so she's "quick to send 'anonymous' complaints"? Sounds like the pot calling the kettle black.
Wow, and they say sexism isn't alive and well these days! You sure come a long way indeed LANL.
Sounds like Neu was right in her LANL-View assessment about not being respected like her male colleagues.
To the original poster - I don't think you need to worry about that DWI.
However, the cannibalistic tendencies that are on display here might give you pause to reconsider working at LANL.
4/27/09 8:48 PM
This student is an undergrad. This student will not have any chance to come even close to these tendencies. S/he is expected to do well defined research in the few month s/he is at LANL and then move on - end of story.
Yes, 9:03. JK has a hair trigger for crying sexism.
I second the comments of "A Fan" above. Jackie is bright, engaged, and successful. Also quite funny, fiercely loyal, and very direct. Making anonymous complaints is certainly not her style, I call bullshit on that one.
"I second the comments of "A Fan" above. Jackie is bright, engaged, and successful. Also quite funny, fiercely loyal, and very direct. Making anonymous complaints is certainly not her style, I call bullshit on that one."
ummm...ok. you know you'll get more brownie points if you post your name ass kisser.
5:11 PM, What bothers you so much about Kiplinger? What is kissing her ass going to do for anyone?
4/27/09 7:10 PM ..."Many at LANL have outsized entitlement mentalities, but Jackie goes above and beyond anyone I have ever seen."
Oh please do tell!
i don't have a problem with jackie or her research. i just have a problem with people who kiss ass...poster 1:24 PM sounds like a postdoc from her lab who is trying too hard. "i second the comments..." please. next time, don't bother.
I try not to comment on this blog but I've been reading all the hateful comments regarding JLK. What I find irritating and hypocritical is that we have men at LANL who display the same types of supposed "negative" behaviors(aggressive, direct, "quick to whine"),yet this is acceptable for the male scientists but considered unbecoming for a woman.
I've personally known JK for many years and most of the negative comments I've read are complete crap and nothing more than a select few who have bugs up their asses. NOBODY at this institution is perfect and everyone has personality flaws. However.....
I agree with the two fans, being anonymous is NOT her style. She'll tell you upfront and call bullshit to your face---a quality I highly admire and respect. Perhaps some people can't handle her direct nature and need to be caudled and stroked. She won't pussyfoot around and sugar-coat tough subjects. I also agree with the strong loyalty statement and I've never heard her use the sexism card, like another poster elluded to. Not her style.
IMHO, I think she got totally f*cked over by LANL and was treated like sh!t over the infamous aqua regia event. She was allienated by colleagues, espcecially management, and treated like an outcast. I was glad when the day came and she was vindicated via the DOE investigation. I still believe she
is blackballed by LANL and always will wear a scarlet letter on her chest becasue of the accident. Perhaps this is why she allegedly can't get funding? Funny how someone has a successful LDRD funding portfolio pre aqua regia and now "she can't get money." Hmmmm
A sad state because she is a very bright and successful chemist.
-Signed another fan. THe opinions expressed her are my opinions and do not necessarily reflect those of LANS and JLK herself :-)
7:43, you assume that her postdoc's like her. Remember her best postdoc left.
P.S. Please leave JLK's postdocs out of these discussions. Good or bad, they don't deserve to be insulted because they chose to work for her at one time or another.
4/26/09 5:55 PM here - I think LANL and the world would be a much better place without this evil person hurting our postdocs and institution. Terry, for once will you do something useful for LANL and the folks at TA-48?
"postdoc's"
Learn English you illiterate dipshit! I went to public school, and I know the difference between the plural and possessive.
I left the Lab for a different post in DC but wanted to address the remarks made by 8:17 and 9:14 regarding Kiplinger's ability to somehow "woo" the PD committee. I think it is fair to say that this remains the one committee at the Lab not tarnished by the disgusting politics played out on the LDRD committees and what proposals get sent out for external funding from BES, DARPA, DOD, NASA, etc. We look at the candidate and the package presented by the mentor. In the years I was on the committee, I must say that Kipinger not only attracted some very stellar people, but also put together some of the most compelling and awesome packages for her candidates. Yes, she talked fast, :-), but you could always tell she cared about the candidates. In fact, the template that is posted by the postdoc office comes from one of Kiplinger's first PD packages that she submitted. Based on the incredibly hateful comments I have seen in this post, I know this will be difficult for some of you to understand, but this is her so-called "pull" with the postdoc committee. Please do NOT insult this committee by putting it into the same corrupt category as the others at the Lab.
"I left the Lab for a different post in DC..."
You're not in the game anymore and you no longer know the rules. I have met and worked with several director's fellows and over the past few years I am NOT impressed with their quality. There are some who are deserving of the award, but others are just mediocre garbage.
"7:43, you assume that her postdoc's like her. Remember her best postdoc left."
you don't know her postdocs. her current staff genuinely likes her, from appearances anyway. if I didn't like my boss, i wouldn't go out drinking with them...but they will all grab a beer from time to time. i certainly hope that they aren't doing it for "face time" with the boss, but you never know.
as for the reines fellow leaving, there is more to that story than people are posting.
"7:43, you assume that her postdoc's like her. Remember her best postdoc left."
I wouldn;t call the reines postdoc her best postdoc ... but he did publish a lot of great work for the wench and he did get an awesome position at UPenn but not thanks to JK, but due to luminaries at LANL like Boncella, Clark and Thompson. Nuff said.
Boncella is a luminary?!!??! hahahahahahahhahahahahahhahhahaahah
The same person who couldn't get tenure at a 3rd-tier university so came to LANL? The same luminary who can't come up with his own novel ideas so pilfers from published work and calls it his own?
Oh, my side is hurting from laughing so hard. With statements like this you can't have ANY credibility to your name.
"Boncella is about as luminous as a firefly's ass."
Well said. Let's stick a fork in this discussion, b/c it's done!
A DUI/DWI will not hurt your career. To reiterate what folks have said before there are many skeletons in closets of many employees. If ever comes a reason to know your background, then yes be honest. The investigation for your Q will take longer, I know from experience :) But as long as your not hiding anything your cool.
As a past student employee, I found that working with LANL has been a great opportunity! It has not been an issue for future jobs, I ended up turning jobs down due to pay, benefits, type of work, etc.
Enjoy your time here, and go to the "Drink and Stink" i.e. Canyon Bar and Grill.
Like most places, for interns, it's a mixed bag -- it doesn't seem like the place to build a career, and you need to be used to living in a place with no culture out in the boonies, BUT...
It can offer unique experiences and opportunities given the resources available. I'd say staying like 6 months while working hard to get everything YOU want out of it, at the same time as helping your mentor get what HE/SHE wants out of it, will not be a bad thing.
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