^ Thanks man but if what you are saying is TRUE then its a catch 22 i.e you need clearance to get a job but you cant get a clearance by your self and your employer should
I don't think it's that bad. I always thought that teh requirement to have security clearance was given so that you know that if you wouldn't pass clearance than you should not apply.
Usually, things like drug use convictions in particular as well as other criminal convictioned, whether pardoned or not, prevent security clearance.