Lately I’ve been seriously considering trying to find work with the Central Intelligence Agency after college, preferrably as a political analyst specializing in the Middle East. I’d appreciate any advice as to how I should go about this.
First, some background. I’m seventeen, and going to be a senior in public high school. My only brush with anything close to formal study of international relations thus far has been a paper I wrote for the International Baccalaureate program on initial Pakistani support for the Taliban. I haven’t yet applied to college, but I’d love to go to the Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University, probably with a concentration in international politics. From there I’d probably try for an undergraduate internship while continuing my education, probably going for a Master’s in Arab or Middle Eastern studies. I also plan to spend at least one undergraduate summer in the Arab world, and I’ve begun the long, slow process of learning Arabic (at the moment I speak English and Spanish).
This seems to fit the CIA’s requirements for the sort of position I’m interested in, but does anyone recommend an alternate course of study?
I’m also a bit worried about getting a security clearance. Obviously I don’t plan to do drugs, use credit cards irresponsibly, et cetera, but last summer I was in a passenger in a car that took a wrong turn in McLean and wound up detained for trespassing on the grounds of CIA headquarters. I imagine they’ve kept a record of me; what sorts of problems is this likely to cause? For that matter, what else do I have to watch out for in getting a clearance?
If anyone has any first-hand experience in what it’s like to work for the Agency, and is allowed to talk about it at all, I’d be thrilled to hear about it.
Very good. But don’t plan on that alone, make any preparations you undertake flexible. You never know if you will get in, I believe the attrit rate is quite high.
This will take about 5 years. Stick with it and you will be a rare commodity. Make sure, however, you get practical experience in a working field, e.g. journalism, economics, etc. to join up. You will want choices.
None. Cop to it and move on. Innocent mistake.
Foreign associations. I have some funny stories to tell about that, from an Agency amigo of mine. Just be more or less straight and go for it.
DI people will be able to speak to you, you’ve mapped out a good plan, and if you stick with it - make sure it works for you personally in the end - you’ll be fine.
But build in options, the wash out rate is suppsoed to be high, they have a bias towards erring on caution. Too much as I hear, so don’t just think about the Agency, think about the universe of possibilities. That includes Consluting in the field, or maybe even ending up like me.
Don’t just be an academic head. Get some real life experience. This is coming from a man with two graduate degrees, you need real life experience. Seasoning. If it can be overseas, that would be doubly interesting, but something in journalism or business with an analytical aspect is going to be useful.
Anyone can get some IR / Poli Sci Masters. Combine that with some rarer skills, e.g. financial, economic or related analytical, and you’ve the shit.
I strongly suggest you pick up as many languages as you can. (You’re off to a good start)
A Mr. Dennis of the Agency spoke to my Coercion in International Politics class at UCF a while back, and told us that whether you speak a language or not is immaterial; the fact that you’ve learned foreign languages is of huge importance in securing employment, because it means you can learn more. Chances are, should you accept a post with the Agency, they will teach you an entirely new language unless you have specific experience (particularly of living) in a particular country.
I would also suggest you minor in Middle Eastern studies and go for the masters’ in IR or comparative politics- in intelligence, from what I’m told, analysis is usually more important than content.
Keep in mind that I’m merely passing along what I’ve been told- for myself, I’m basically in your shoes, four years further along (and I skipped the internship for now).
ditto on the “plan for other career options.” My sister majored in poli sci and International Relations. She planned to be a diplomat. She ended up as a TV commercial producer (which requires the same sort of skill set–negotiating, schmoozing, and smoothing ruffled feathers).
I taught myself to read and write Hebrew, Hindi, and Russian. I’ve taken classes in Russian, Mandarin, and German. I learned Spanish in high school. I speak Urdu and English.
I’ve lived overseas for a number of years (Pakistan and an Arab country). I got a BA in religion.
Why was I rejected? Can’t they send me to some school to learn a language and then use me? Was my major really such a big deal (note: it’s a degree in religion, not theology)?
[/hijack]
CIA rejects people for all sorts of random reasons. A friend of mine who I’ve known since childhood–a harmless geek that had never been in a fight in his life and never done any drugs harder than alcohol (never even smoked)-- failed their polygraph for the questions, “have you ever used illegal drugs” and “have you ever committed a violent crime against another person.”
Meanwhile, the NSA hired him , no strings attached.
You may just want to try a different intelligence agency. Lord knows there’s enough of them.
Thanks a ton to everyone who replied. This has been a big help; it’s certainly given me some interesting things to think about.
Now that’s really interesting. I happen to love both history and economics. In fact, until recently I planned to double-major in the two. Lately I’d been leaning towards international politics because it seemed more focused than a double major in history and econ, but you’re absolutely right - that also means it’s much more limiting. I’m definitely going to have to rethink this. Do you think it would better to go with a double major in history and econ even if I didn’t focus specifically on international relations?
Don’t worry, I don’t plan on the Cairo program: my Arabic tutor recently moved from there, and he told me the same thing you just did. Syria definitely strikes me as an attractive destination too, though in my more adventurous moments I’ve thought about going to Yemen. Do you have any thoughts on that idea?
I’m impressed, to say the very least. How long would you say it took you to pick up each dialect? I’m interested in speaking as many as possible (though that’ll probably be far short of all twenty-two(?) of them).
(By the way, I obviously have much less experience than you do at this, but I agree with you about Egyptian. I don’t know why, but I find the use of “il-” ( ﺇﻟ) for the definite article to be particularly grating.)
Hey, thank you very much for the advice. I hope things work out for you. Good luck.
Again, thanks a ton to everyone (especially Collounsbury) for all your help. If I don’t get into Langley, it certainly won’t be because I didn’t get good advice.
Just as a side note, the CIA has an internship program – I think it’s for college juniors (maybe seniors, too). I know you’re not at that point in your college career yet, but it’d probably be smart to look up what it takes to get into that program. The best way to get a job somewhere is to have a foot in the door and internships are the best way to get there.
I once had a job interview at the CIA – they offered me a job (information technology), but I took an offer from another employer. As far as applying to CIA for employment goes, it is pretty much like applying to any other large business or government organization. At any given time, they have a number of jobs to fill, each with its own educational and experience requirements. Don’t go there looking to become a secret agent, go there looking to become a translator, a computer specialist, etc.
Yes, they do a more in-depth background check than most, but not that much different then any employer hiring into a position of trust.
I’m surely not thinking of joining up, but I am curious. Will they reject someone who just smoked pot once in high school? Or, similarly, someone who got into a fistfight in school? Or, on questions like this, are they more concerned with you telling the truth rather than the content of the actual answer?
When I was going to apply for an internship (this may have been with the FBI), I was told that you couldn’t have smoked pot more than 10 times and couldn’t have done any other illegal drugs more than 5 times. They also stressed that it would be covered in the polygraph.
Without qualification. Almost anything of interest in Pol Sci is done better with Economics (e.g. Game Theory, Agency issues, etc.) and historical studies generally give one a far better grounding in a region than poli sci. Now a few poli sci course with a quality professor is fine, but overall for a background with maximum flexibility, I think history and economics are the best undergrad prep. Graduate, well, there you may find different interests.
Arabic Studies
Syria. Yemen is a fucked up place and might not be the best thing if it’s your first shot at the Arab world. I like the place mind you, but it is seriously fucked up.
Dialects
A long ass time. Spend a decade working on such things. Mind you I am far from ‘fluent’ in the proper sense of the word in the dialects, but good enough so in general speakers can’t quite tell what the hell I am. Never a local, but maybe from over the hill.
One thing at a time little brother, one thing at a time.
Personally I find the combination of the Geem, the ‘af and the habit of sticking kesra in for fatha to drive me up the wall. Mind you Shami dialect has many similar qualities, but over all like the style of speech better. Also might think of Jordan too.
And don’t get fixated on CIA. Live your life, follow the plan but don’t hang too much on CIA or intel. I like my Agency friends, but it isn’t the end all. You might end up working for me one day instead. Mind you, my opinions are based on a number close friendships with Agency personnel in all ranges of analytical and other activities, but very obviously are based off only what they are/were comfortable sharing with me over beers and the like. It certainly does not represent inside knowledge in a proper sense of the phrase and may be skewed by the kinds of people I tend to know.
I warn this on the first part, because I recall meeting some guy, was looking for a jobbie with me, referred to me since he spoke Arabic but had no real job skills or economics. Had been rejected by the Agency for lord knows what reason (actually I can guess based on interviewing him, but….) and was at a loss after having spent too much time prepping only to be a CIA or Intel analyst.
Don’t do that, give yourself a catholic background and some business skills. They will be of use in the Agency and they give you options. Thus, my stress on the economics. Hell, you might do a grad degree with Arabic and Finance and end up in great demand with them in their terror financing division.
Thinking on these lines, you also should think carefully about the lifestyle. It may seem sexy, but recall, your life is not really your own. I have a good friend who left the agency over his wife, not a joking matter in the end. Your life becomes regulated by strange rules, e.g. this same friend a while back and I were in a bar somewhere hitting on some women – ah those were the days – and suddenly it turns out the chicks were non-Americans and diplos to boot. He breaks off the game and heads for the twerlet, I check with him, to see what the deal was. He’s cursing. See, if sleeps with her, he’s gotta file a fucking report about it.
However in re this advice:
BrotherCadfael
Ignore it. You’ve sketched out a particular approach to what you want to do, be it an analyst in the DI or a DO guy in one of the sections. For the foreseeable future they will need well-rounded folks with analytical abilities, as well as economics and Arabic. Go for that. The tech heads do their thing, you do yours. Don’t go as Tech when you’re not. Wrong track anyways.
Hummph. I worked for one of the world’s largest multinationals, they never went round poking in my past as the Agency did for some close friends of mine.
On background
Given I have an analyst friend who had his share of scuffles and smoked weed, well, the answer is no, evidently not ipso facto for the Agency et al. They ain’t the FBI it is clear. They want someone who’s straight up. Of course using that bullshite polygraph like they do is bullshite, but what can one do?
Collounsbury is right on the mark–and I mean exactly. I interviewed with the Agency years ago, but opted for another (read: more lucrative) profession and haven’t looked back since. I went through the entire recruiting/interviewing process, A to Z, and obtained some good info/insight in these processes.
Focus on developing proficiency in one language, especially if it’s as obscenely difficult and nuanced as Arabic. The shotgun approach, unless you’re a certified linguistic genius, is a ticket to being half-assed at everything and thus unemployable by the Agency and its peers. If you can truly master Arabic, the Agency will find you a very attractive canditate.
Focus on getting the highest grades/marks possible (GPA 3.6++)and distinguishing yourself academically with your professors. Georgetown is a major trolling site for the Agency and your professors will have good Agency connections. For your class papers, angle them toward issues that might suitably impress an Agency recruiter. That said, follow Coll’s advice re: not focusing on employment with the Agency. At your age, you really can’t begin to understand the career opportunities that exist. Closing hundreds of doors prematurely is foolish.
The Agency is keenly attracted to those with strong knowledge of economics and computer technology. I’m not talking just ECON 201 and 203, but more likely a double major in, let’s say, econ and Arabic, with a very strong minor in regional history. I’ll also agree with Coll that poly sci is rather weak vis-a-vis history. If you’re really committed, you’ll want to immerse yourself in their culture. Locally, I’d suggest reading their newspapers and listening to their electronic media. That said, you’ll never begin to understand these cultures unless you live among the natives for years and years.
Coll’s suggestion re: journalism is right on the mark. Consider working part-time for the campus newspaper, just to get moving in the right direction. I think part of what Coll is alluding to here is not just writing skills. Being a talented “beat journalist” with a flair for cultivating contacts, digging for information, and separating wheat from chaff can be attractive to the Agency.
Last, the Agency wants well-rounded candidates, especially for its accelerated emerging leaders program. Even if you’re going to be an intelligence analyst, the Agency is attracted to candidates with military backgrounds. A hitch in the Marines or Navy would likely impress them. They like candidates who show some mental/physical toughness. Of course, you can’t be all things to all people. If you can master a “hard” language, write with flair, show academic excellence and good character, and prove yourself ready to commit to the long-term, you will be a strong candidate. Also this: show yourself able to keep your mouth shut, to keep secrets closely guarded. In short, if you’re keen on the Agency, start marketing yourself to your professors early on through academic excellence. There are study books on the Agency’s entry exam–an exam I found rather easy and interesting.
Re: your unexpected visit to the Agency’s gate: this happens to countless hundreds of innocent people every year. Don’t sweat it.
Re: polygraph: Coll is correct. The Agency wants people who are 100 % honest and forthcoming. Smoke a little pot and they are okay with that. Lie to them even once–and get caught–and you will never work for an intelligence agency.
Coll: the wash-out rate at the Agency is lower than State’s Foreign Service.
Although it wasn’t my intention, my majors seem like a decent fit for intelligence, (okay, one of them was poli sci, it was my “for fun” major, not part of a plan) and I’ve been kicking the idea around lately; unfortuntely, I worry I’m getting started a little late, I don’t know if I’ll be able to catch up with what I’d need to compete with heavy-hitter candidates. That aside, I’m curious about any more anecdotes anyone has about the restrictions that being with an intelligence agency can add your life, particularly as far as overseas travel and work go.
I’ve also been considering internships/classes with the CIA or NSA, but I graduated from college at the end of last year. I’ve been taking classes since then, but am not exactly a “grad student.” Does that pretty much take me out of the running for any “student programs?”
