Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,337
Clearance processes vary depending on the agency. Some will use poly-graphs, most won't. Just answer the questions honestly but don't offer up info that is not asked for. They will run a credit check, check your references, and they may look at past returns. However, they are not going to go through them and see if you really should have owed or cheated. They are just looking for verification of income and making sure nothing is fishy. If the IRS didn't tag you, they won't bother with it themselves. You will have to provide employment info for 7-10 years depending on your level, so if gambling was your employment income, you'll need to list that as well as account for any periods of unemployment. You will be asked about it 100%, but if you are honest and forthcoming, you should be ok unless you have other issues that mark you as a risk. The worst thing you can do is lie or deny ever gambling if asked. However, there is no reason for you to walk into your interview and say "Hey, I pissed away $30k in college."
