RobbyHammerManaging Expectations
Top 10 Reasons for Working at the CIA (from their website):
[but keep in mind, this is work that will not satisfy many productive urges. It’s a bureaucracy with many firewalls. Other reasons to pass on what would otherwise be a proud and erudite profession: Norman Mailer, The Washington Post.]
1. You’ll feel good about making a difference for your country.
Many employers will tell you that you can make a difference in your career, but few offer the opportunity to do so on behalf of your country. You can do that at the CIA because we offer a wide variety of global employment opportunities that position you to help keep America safe — on the front line of human intelligence as a Clandestine Service Officer, or utilizing your talents in fields such as science, engineering and technology, analysis, foreign languages and administration.
2. You’ll be on the leading edge of your career specialty.
No matter what your individual role is or what field you work in at the CIA — you’ll have a demanding career that puts you at the forefront of global events. That’s because all of our professionals are part of America’s first line of defense, providing the support and information necessary to help us protect the nation. It’s a sometimes demanding and always critical opportunity for you to apply your unique expertise, experience and personal initiative to performing in a position where each decision you make — either on the scene or behind the scenes — can enable you to propel your career further.
3. You’ll get to work with really, really smart people.
At the CIA, we strive to maintain a unique environment that combines smart, focused people from a multitude of occupations and cultures, and with assorted abilities and experiences, in order to produce a dynamic workforce with unlimited potential. This mind-broadening thinking enables us to expand our knowledge base to achieve mission goals and take a deeper look at world events in order to understand them better. It also helps us to establish an inspired, inclusive environment that allows our workforce to give all it has to offer as we confront the intelligence challenges of today and tomorrow.
4. No day will be the same. Ever.
When you come to work at the CIA, you’re not just taking on an ordinary job opportunity that takes you from 9 to 5 through the same, ongoing tasks day in and day out. Instead, you’re taking on important and exciting work in a dynamic ever-changing environment where daily world events challenge your career skills, where you’re part of a group of individuals who possess extraordinary integrity and intellectual skills, and where you can perform as part of a unique team in service to the nation.
5. You’ll be at the forefront of global events.
The world is rapidly changing every day — which makes each day of your CIA career an exciting adventure. That’s because you’ll be at the heart of world-altering events as you apply your skills to helping us collect, assimilate, analyze and report information in support of US government policy decisions. Where would you rather be? Hearing about global events after the fact from a news reporter, or learning about them firsthand as they’re happening? That choice is up to you.
6. Your career can go in many directions without switching employers.
In the private sector, if you want to shift from one career field to another, or even just experience another work location, it is likely you will have to leave your current employer behind in favor of another position at another company. That isn’t so at the CIA. Here, you’ll find a supportive environment where you can excel both professionally and personally. You will be challenged to be your absolute best with fair compensation and rewards. And you will be given the freedom of mobility throughout the agency, so you can grow and experience your CIA career to the fullest.
7. You’ll work with a diversity of people with many different interests.
In order for us to meet our mission of protecting the nation’s security interests, the CIA relies upon a workforce as diverse as America itself — the most diverse nation on earth. Therefore, you’ll find that our professionals represent men and women from a variety of nationalities, races, ethnicities and age groups, educational backgrounds and much more. It is through their combined attributes that we can create the diverse demographic, functional and intellectual views that are of vital importance to our innovation, agility, collection and analysis functions.
8. You’ll contribute to the work of a nation at the center of intelligence.
As the premier agency responsible for intelligence about the ever-changing political, social, economic, technological and military environment, the CIA continuously offers exciting and challenging career opportunities to our new employees. For instance, our professionals have played critical roles in detaining al Qaeda operatives and associates, they have worked against international terrorism and new threats from weapons of mass destruction, and they have helped to prevent the spread of biological weapons. Our mission encompasses many key roles such as these — all of which require staying ahead of international developments.
9. You never have to talk about your work while away from the job.
If you have ever held a position where people were constantly asking you to share your knowledge for their own personal or professional gain, you will appreciate the difference a CIA career can make. Here, you won’t feel compelled to respond to such curious or invasive questions because you get to leave your day’s work behind at the office — or out in the field. It’s just one more way that you can claim your time off as your own — without the stress of worrying about how to divulge just what it is that you do all day.
10. Everything you’ve heard about government benefits is true.
A career at the CIA is rewarding in many ways, from providing the opportunity to serve the nation to receiving a comprehensive variety of federal benefits that are hard to match in the private sector. From flexible work schedules and time off, to exceptional health care plans, retirement and savings programs, child care centers and more, you’ll be rewarded with a benefits package that reflects your dedication and contributions to helping us succeed in our crucial mission. [One benefit, if you are already a fed, is that they will pay relocation expenses] 2 years ago
