| There are more than "spy games" going on | | | | of the analyst to perform meaningful |
| in the Central Intelligence Agency. A | | | | assessments of this intelligence to pass |
| career in the CIA could have you doing | | | | along to government officials. Trained |
| any number of activities, and not | | | | Intelligence Analysts must possess |
| everything will be about espionage and | | | | advanced critical thinking and |
| covert actions. The mission of the CIA | | | | analytical problem solving skills along |
| is to provide foreign intelligence for | | | | with a keen knowledge of their subject |
| national security to the President and | | | | matter. Some of the analyst positions |
| senior US policymakers. To achieve this, | | | | for the CIA are in counterterrorism, |
| the CIA has specialists in numerous | | | | counterintelligence and intelligence |
| fields, ranging from clandestine | | | | collection. A background in any one |
| operations to mechanical engineering. | | | | these subject matters would be |
| The CIA has employees from all fields of | | | | invaluable to a career in the CIA. |
| study and backgrounds to collect and | | | | Clandestine Service: The CIA's |
| provide intelligence that consumers | | | | clandestine service provides the |
| need. The CIA offers career options | | | | intelligence needed by U.S. policymakers |
| into five major categories, each of | | | | to protect national security interests. |
| which has many different possibilities | | | | One must complete a 12-month Clandestine |
| and application requirements (most | | | | Service Training (CST) Program to begin |
| require at least a bachelor's degree in | | | | their career as a field-based Core |
| a national security related field and, | | | | Collector for the CIA. Core Collector's |
| quite often, a master's degree or higher | | | | will partake in all aspects of |
| is preferred). | | | | clandestine operations while performing |
| The career options are as follows: | | | | their overseas assignments. Knowledge |
| analytical positions, clandestine | | | | in intelligence collection, intelligence |
| service, language positions, scientist, | | | | operations and counterintelligence will |
| engineer and technology positions and | | | | provide the background needed to be |
| support services. | | | | successful in the CIA's clandestine |
| No matter what career path is chosen, an | | | | service. Just about every employment |
| extensive knowledge of the world of | | | | opportunity at the CIA requires a |
| intelligence, high academic standing, | | | | bachelor's or master's degree. In order |
| and a relevant background in strategic | | | | to prepare for what it takes to be |
| security issues will likely help you be | | | | involved with the CIA, knowledge within |
| better prepared when applying to the | | | | the intelligence community will benefit |
| CIA. This article will provide a quick | | | | anyone interested in pursuing a career |
| look into two of these career paths, and | | | | with the CIA. While much of the work |
| what will be beneficial for you to know | | | | that the CIA and other intelligence |
| for a successful career in the CIA. | | | | agencies do is conducted behind closed |
| Analytical Positions: Once intelligence | | | | doors, there are many aspects of the CIA |
| is collected someone has to analyze and | | | | that you can learn about through open |
| put into context the importance of that | | | | sources to help you understand how our |
| intelligence. An analyst for the CIA | | | | nation collects, analyzes, and uses |
| will evaluate information from many | | | | intelligence to protect and preserve its |
| sources and will have to determine what | | | | interests. |
| information is reliable. It is the job | | | | |