Considering A Job With The CIA?
Recently, thousands of people receive emails from the CIA, regarding job opportunities at the Agency. Did you get one? If so, you may have thought it was just another cyber scam. NOPE! According to MSNBC, the CIA has beefed up efforts to recruit new employees. Marie Harf, spokeswoman for the CIA, says they’ve started broadening their recruiting strategies, including sending emails, and creating TV and radio campaigns targeting college students, former Wall Street workers, and anyone with foreign language skills – especially Middle-Eastern. While a job at the CIA may conjure up images of spies in overcoats, or 007 duking it out with the bad guys, the majority of the jobs the Agency’s looking to fill are a bit more ordinary. Harf says there are currently openings in 90 different occupations, from psychologist to software engineer to accountant.
Becoming a CIA employee, especially if you’re undercover, can be difficult on you and your family. Everyone has to carry a heavy burden of secrecy, and if you do decide that you’re up for the challenge, expect a grueling interview process and lots of competition. If you make the initial cut, you’ll then have to go through an exhaustive screening process over many months, since all CIA employees - no matter what department or level - require government clearance. 70 percent of jobs at the CIA require a secret clearance or above. That can take six months to a year. The process includes a polygraph, medical evaluations, psychological testing, and both credit and criminal background checks. Also, agency personnel will interview your friends, family and maybe even your neighbors.
Still interested? Harf says starting salaries generally range from about $40,000 to $100,000 a year, and you can earn a hiring bonus of up to $35,000 for foreign language skills. Sound good? You need to apply via the agency’s Web site, CIA.gov. You must also be a U.S. citizen, and most jobs require a bachelor’s degree.
