SF-86 Employment History Section: 10-Year Work History Guide

SF-86 Section 13 requires complete employment history for 10 years, including all jobs, unemployment periods, and self-employment. Employment verification issues cause 18% of investigation delays.

Employment History Requirements

What Must Be Disclosed

Employment Type	Must Disclose	Lookback Period
Full-time employment	Yes	10 years
Part-time employment	Yes	10 years
Self-employment	Yes	10 years
Military service	Yes	10 years
Temporary/contract work	Yes	10 years
Internships	Yes	10 years
Unemployment periods	Yes	10 years
Full-time student	Yes	10 years

Information Required for Each Position

Field	Required Details
Employer name	Official legal name of company
Employer address	Complete street address
Employer phone	Main company number
Position title	Official job title
Start date	Month and year (MM/YYYY)
End date	Month and year or "Present"
Supervisor name	Direct supervisor's full name
Supervisor contact	Phone, email, or address
Reason for leaving	Brief explanation
Salary	Starting and ending (some versions)

Section-by-Section Breakdown

Active Employment

For current job(s):

• List as "Present" for end date
• Provide current supervisor information
• Include current position title
• Note any title changes during tenure

Multiple concurrent jobs:

• List each job separately
• Include dates for each
• Provide separate supervisor for each

Previous Employment

For each past position:

Requirement	Best Practice
Dates	Verify against tax records/W-2s
Supervisor	Find current contact info if possible
Reason for leaving	Be honest but professional
Address	Use address at time of employment

Self-Employment

Required information:

• Business name (or "Self-Employed")
• Nature of business
• Business address
• Dates of operation
• Someone who can verify your work

Verification sources for self-employment:

• Clients who can confirm your work
• Business partners
• Accountant or tax preparer
• Professional references

Military Service

If applicable, provide:

• Branch of service
• Duty stations
• MOS/Rate/AFSC
• Dates of service
• Discharge type
• Supervisor/commanding officer

Unemployment Periods

Must account for ALL time:

• List unemployment as separate entries
• Explain circumstances
• Provide someone who knew your situation
• Include dates (no gaps allowed)

Unemployment Reason	Documentation Approach
Job searching	List activities, references
Caring for family	Family member as verifier
Medical leave	General explanation, no details required
Relocation	Note move, job search activities
Education	List as "Full-time Student"

Common Employment History Mistakes

Mistake 1: Date Discrepancies

Problem: Dates don't match tax records or LinkedIn Impact: Investigators will find discrepancies Solution: Cross-reference W-2s, tax returns, LinkedIn before submitting

Mistake 2: Gaps in Timeline

Problem: Unaccounted time between positions Impact: Investigation delay, additional questions Solution: Account for every month - even 2-week gaps need explanation

Mistake 3: Missing Short-Term Jobs

Problem: Omitting jobs held briefly Impact: Discovered during investigation, raises honesty concerns Solution: Include ALL employment, even jobs lasting weeks

Mistake 4: Wrong Supervisor Information

Problem: Supervisor no longer at company or wrong contact Impact: Delays as investigator tracks down correct person Solution: Research current contact info, note if supervisor left company

Mistake 5: Vague Reasons for Leaving

Problem: Generic explanations like "personal reasons" Impact: Raises red flags, requires follow-up Solution: Be specific but professional ("accepted position with higher salary")

Handling Difficult Employment Situations

Terminated for Cause

Situation	How to Handle
Fired for performance	State factually, don't be defensive
Fired for misconduct	Disclose honestly, explain lessons learned
Mutual separation	Explain circumstances
Laid off	Clearly note "Reduction in Force"

Example disclosure for termination:

"Terminated due to policy violation regarding [brief description]. Have since completed [relevant training/changed behavior]. No similar issues in subsequent employment."

Company No Longer Exists

Situation	Solution
Company closed	Note "Company no longer in business"
Company acquired	List original name, note acquisition
Records unavailable	Provide best information, note limitation

Verification alternatives:

• Former coworkers
• W-2s or tax records
• Pay stubs if retained
• Professional references from that time

Can't Remember Supervisor

Situation	Solution
Don't recall name	Research LinkedIn, company directory
Supervisor deceased	Note "Deceased" with approximate date
No direct supervisor	List manager or HR contact
Can't locate supervisor	Provide last known info, note efforts made

Classified Employment

For jobs involving classified information:

• List employer normally
• Use unclassified job title
• Note "Classified duties - details available to cleared investigators"
• Don't disclose classified program names in unclassified sections

Verifying Your Employment History

Before Completing SF-86

Step 1: Gather documents

• Last 10 years of W-2s
• Tax returns
• Pay stubs
• Offer letters/employment agreements
• Termination/resignation letters

Step 2: Create timeline

Year	Employer	Position	Dates	Supervisor
2024	ABC Corp	Engineer	03/24-Present	Jane Smith
2022-2024	XYZ Inc	Analyst	06/22-02/24	John Doe
...	...	...	...	...

Step 3: Verify dates

• Cross-reference multiple sources
• Resolve any discrepancies
• Note explanation for any issues

Step 4: Research supervisors

• LinkedIn search for current info
• Company directories
• Professional networks

What Investigators Verify

Standard Verification Steps

Item	Verification Method
Employment dates	HR records, tax records
Position held	HR records, supervisor interview
Reason for leaving	HR records, supervisor interview
Supervisor	Direct contact attempt
Performance issues	Supervisor/HR interview
Disciplinary actions	HR records

Red Flags Investigators Look For

Red Flag	Why It Matters
Unexplained gaps	Possible concealment
Date discrepancies	Honesty concerns
Missing employers	Incomplete disclosure
Can't verify any supervisors	Pattern concerning
Multiple terminations for cause	Reliability concerns
Falsified credentials	Integrity issue

Employment History for New Graduates

If Under 10 Years Work History

Include all:

• Part-time jobs during school
• Summer employment
• Internships
• Work-study positions
• Volunteer positions (if extensive)

Full-time student periods:

• List as "Full-time Student"
• School name as "employer"
• Dates of attendance
• Advisor as supervisor (optional)

Example for Recent Graduate

Period	Entry Type	Details
2022-2026	Full-time Student	University of Alabama
Summers 2023-2025	Internships	Defense contractor
2020-2022	Part-time	Retail job during high school

Contractor Employment Considerations

Working for Staffing Agencies

List both:

• Staffing agency as employer
• Client site as work location
• Separate entries if multiple clients

Example:

• Employer: Acme Staffing
• Work Location: Client ABC Corp
• Supervisor: Client supervisor name

Multiple Contracts at Same Client

If you worked at the same location through different contractors:

• List each contractor as separate employment
• Note same work location
• Explain contractor transitions

Questions Investigators Will Ask

During employment verification:

• Did [applicant] work at your company?
• What were the dates of employment?
• What was their position/title?
• Who was their supervisor?
• Why did they leave?
• Would you rehire them?
• Were there any performance or disciplinary issues?
• Is there anything else relevant to a security clearance?

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SF-86 employment guidance current as of January 2026. Keep records of all employment for future reinvestigations.