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Since the debut of lan Fleming's James Bond character in 1958, the glamor of becoming a spy has glittered in the minds of millions. After all, 007 got to travel the world, drive the most expensive sports cars, hook up with beautiful women and face off against international criminals who threatened the very freedom of humanity. Despite the fact that James Bond makes espionage look like a cakewalk, becoming a spy is dangerous work.
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Tips on Becoming a Spy
- Get an education
- Learn a foreign language or two
- Consider a career in the military
- Begin the application process
- Undergo a background check, mental and physical evaluation and polygraph
- Begin training
- Prepare to work overseas
- Work as an Operations Desk Officer
- Work as a Collection Management Officer
- Enter the field as a Clandestine Officer
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Managed Since: 08/01/2009
Views: 701
Money Earned: M$10.03
Page revenue is subject to change as we obtain data from our partners
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Step 1: Education
- Whether you're a high school student looking toward your future, or already in college and considering applying to the CIA upon graduation, you will want to work hard, earn good grades and focus your studies on courses that will help you get ahead. CIA job requirements recommend that you earn your bachelor's degree at the very least and maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher.WikiHow: How to Become a CIA Agent While there are no other major requirements, focusing your studies in the following areas will definitely give you an advantage:
- International relations
- Economics
- Mathematics
- Science
- Behavioral
- Physical
- Computer
- Foreign language
- It is important to be fluent in languages that are considered "military hot spots" (currently, China and the Middle East)WikiHow: How to Become a CIA Agent
- Business
- Physics
- Biology
- Chemistry
- EngineeringSo You Wanna: So You Wanna Work for the CIA
- The CIA also has many positions that require higher degrees. For example, a position as a CIA economist requires that you earn a master's degree and maintain an overall GPA of 3.2.So You Wanna: So You Wanna Work for the CIA
- Agencies like the CIA often set up tables on college campuses to recruit interested candidates. If they happen to visit your campus, be sure to express your interest. They will help you begin the application process.
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Military Experience
- It is not required that you have former military training to apply to the CIA, but that training will definitely give you an advantage over others in competition for the job. Candidates with military training, especially in military intelligence, are a valuable asset. Even with military training, however, you are still required to get a college education before you can apply to the CIA.WikiHow: How to Become a CIA Agent
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Step 2: CIA Application Process
- The Central Intelligence Agency is the primary government intelligence agency in the United States. Before you begin the lengthy application process, there are a few things you should know:
- You must be a U.S. citizen to apply
- Extensive background checks are performedSo You Wanna: So You Wanna Work for the CIA
- You must be 35 years of age or younger
- If married, your spouse must also be a U.S. citizeneHow: How to Become a CIA Agent
- Applicants may not have used illegal drugs for twelve months prior to applying
- All applicants are tested to determine their integrity standards
- A tentative offer of employment with the CIA means that you will undergo an intensive clearance process to determine:
- Your loyalty to the United States
- Strength of character
- Trustworthiness and honesty
- Reliability
- Discretion
- Judgment capabilities
- Freedom from conflicting allegiances
- Potential for coercion
- Ability to maintain and protect sensitive information
- You will undergo a CIA-administered polygraph testCIA: How to Apply to the CIA
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The Application
- Because of the nature of the work the CIA does, the application process is long and processing can take anywhere from two months to a year.
- Start by reviewing the CIA's career options
- Choose to apply for the job best suited to youCIA: How to Apply to the CIA
- Submit your resume
- The CIA has specific resume requirements that can be obtained from its websiteSo You Wanna: So You Wanna Work for the CIA
- The CIA will contact you within 45 days if they are interested in your application. Once you hear from the CIA, they will set up an interview and begin the clearance process to find out if you are the right candidate for the job.WikiHow: How to Become a CIA Agent
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Step 3: Spy Training
- If you have been chosen by the CIA to fill a clandestine position, you will have to undergo rigorous training. Much of the training administered to clandestine agents is kept secret for security reasons. However, here is a look at what you can expect:
- In year one you will start out as an Operations Desk OfficerSo You Wanna: So You Wanna Work for the CIA
- Operations Officers: front line agents expected to establish close relationships with those in positions accessible to critical informationCIA: Clandestine Service
- Between years one and three you will move on to become a Collection Management OfficerSo You Wanna: So You Wanna Work for the CIA
- Collection Management Officers: manage the collection of and evaluating CIA intelligence information from the fieldCIA: Clandestine Service
- After the first three years you may be offered a field position as a Clandestine Officer
- Going into the field means that you will require training from the CIA facility known as "The Farm," in a program called "Outward Bound with Guns." That training includes lessons in:
- Swamp escape
- Gathering information at cocktail parties
- Setting up secret meetings
- Determining if you're being tailed
- Use of short wave radios
- Use of secure communications gear
- How to write reports for their superiors
- Prisoner training
- Prisoner training subjects recruits to a jail sequence during which they are deprived of food, water and sleep and subjected to two days of interrogation. This type of training is necessary in teaching spies how to react if they are captured in enemy territory.So You Wanna: So You Wanna Work for the CIA
Life As A CIA Spy: The Life Of A CIA Spy Step 4: Employment as a Spy
- If you are one of the lucky few chosen by the CIA to work in Clandestine (spy) service for the United States, be prepared to live and work overseas. According to the CIA's official website, most Clandestine Officers spend between 60% and 70% of their career working abroad, which can be hard on families. Starting salary begins at around $40,000/year and increases for those in more advanced positions. Benefits include:
- Language pay incentives
- Foreign allowances
- Schooling allowance for children
- Provided housingCIA: Clandestine Service
- Paid time off
- Child care
- Federal health and life insurance
- Retirement packagesWikiHow: How to Become a CIA Agent
- Employment as a spy with the CIA may seem like a thankless effort at times, since the work you do cannot be externally recognized. The CIA realizes the importance of job recognition and offers rewards, medals and honors to their Clandestine Officers in honor of outstanding work.CIA: Clandestine Service
The Dangerous Life of a Spy
- Be aware that working as a spy is a dangerous job. Not only are you endangering yourself, but your friends, family and loved ones as well. As mentioned above, if a spy is captured by the enemy, he is often imprisoned, starved and even tortured. Extreme measures are often taken to find out what information a spy has already gathered and how much has been passed on to their superiors. Ultimately, the temptation for a spy to turn against his own government is very real, and any CIA agent caught in such an act would be subject to a long trial and exposure to the media on top of lifelong imprisonment.Video Jug: The Life of a Spy
- Life As A CIA Spy: What types of danger may a CIA agent face?</hypertext></center>
- Further dangers include the risks of creating a secondary identity. As an undercover Clandestine Officer, you will be required to create an alternative persona with complete background history and the credentials to prove it. The dangers of slipping up when it comes to your secret identity could cost you your cover and your life.How Stuff Works: How Spies Work
Conclusion
- Becoming a spy is a dangerous job, but someone has to do it. If that someone is you, be sure to focus and study hard while in college. Spend time learning a foreign language, or two, and prepare to apply to the CIA by spending some time researching its history and mission. When you are ready to apply to the CIA for a position as a Clandestine Officer, browse their website for job availability. Begin the application process, which includes submitting to extensive background checks, physical and mental evaluation and a lie detector test. If the CIA determines that you are suitable for a position, you will move on to training. After training, the first one to three years of your employment will be spent working first as an Operations Officer and then as a Collection Management Officer. Be prepared to spend the majority of your career as a spy working overseas, and know that there is very little opportunity for external reward for a job well done.
