Affiliate Marketing Secrets

Recently, the I.T. company I worked for closed it’s doors. The reason was due to the economy. Our client base either cancelled their services with us due to them closing their doors or just cutting back for economic reasons.
I didn’t like this but thought that I would really have no problems getting another job as I usually scanned the I.T. job listings online and there seemed to be plenty listed. I also figured that my CCNA & CCNA/Security certifications would be a plus as well, not to mention I am working on my CCNP.
Here is the problem. Now that I am actually in the job market, I still have no problem in finding a plethora of I.T. job listings, however, 99% of these listings have a stipulation that the applicant must have a current security clearance or in many instances, a top secret clearance. With out either of these, they will not even consider you. Years ago I never saw these requirements, though I do remember seeing that you must be able to get one of these clearances once employed; now, as said, they won’t even talk to you without having a current clearance. I never needed a clearance with the last company I worked for so I never thought about this either. I also see no reason why I couldn’t be cleared as well.
How does one get one of these clearances, or am I just screwed here with my certifications, training and experience and now unmarketable commodity?