Intelligence Careers are often accidental careers. Many veterans of intelligence service wandered into their line of endeavor while engaged in 'problem solving' activities unrelated to 'intelligence'.

Some key points to ponder:
-- Opportunities in Federal Government are far fewer than in the Armed Services.
-- The defense industry, even in good times, has few entry-level positions.
-- The defense industry needs experience and security clearances to put you to work.
-- Security clearances can take as long as 18 months to acquire. You cannot be used in most environments without a prior government security clearance.
-- Acquiring a security clearance comes ONLY from government service or employment by a defense contractor with national defense requirements.
-- Except for rare engineers, government service offers most entry-level opportunities requiring a new security clearance; "entry-level" meaning that someone is willing to give you a paycheck without you already having a security clearance -- your knowledge and experience have value ONLY if you readily usable.

Professional Value

Your focus needs to be on having some 'problem solving' value. Intelligence professionals are like bandaids - they are applied as needed. Have you asked yourself WHY you are needed? The answer should be that you have some level of expertise that can be used in problem solving. Many more thoughts on this are available is our downloadable career guide at: http://www.intelligencecareers.com/careerguide (pdf document).

Finding Open Doors

Assuming that you have at least a BA/BS degree (with exception to military service), below are some recommendations for finding entry-level or career changer positions:

Career Fairs

-- Seek out the CIA, DIA, FBI, NSA and State Department. They often attend at academic, professional and technical events.

-- Seek out other federal agencies. They probably have MORE opportunities than some mainstream agencies.

-- University career events - universities with strong programs in computer science, foreign languages, information science, international affairs, policy - foreign or public - offer many unique opportunities. Be bold! Ask your professors - quite a few consult for government agencies or defense contractors. Seek out research opportunities in research contracts the university may have with government.

-- IntelligenceCareers.com has its own career fair series. Our series are focused primarily on transitioning cleared professionals from one challenge to the next. If you do not have a security clearance you will find our events educational but not necessarily a door opener.

Agency Internships

Most intelligence agencies offer internships for college students, and many even offer programs for high schoolers.

-- Check out: www.cia.gov, www.fbi.gov, www.nsa.gov

-- View IntelligenceCareers.com list of available Apprenticeships and Internships

Defense Industry

Sometimes it pays to think big. VERY FEW small to mid-size organizations have entry-level positions, or positions by which you can gain a security clearance. You need to target large organizations like BAE Systems www.baesystems.com, Boeing www.boeing.com and Lockheed Martin www.lockheedmartin.com

-- These organizations will pose a challenge to you as well and patience yields the reward. You want to get into these organizations because, once you are on the payroll doing something productive, they can often sponsor you (via their government contracts) for a security clearance. Being on the payroll however is no guarantee of being sponsored. You will have to seek out 'hire from within' positions that require a security clearance. If you are academically, professionally and technically qualified then there is no reason that you shouldn't be selected.

-- An EXCELLENT source of who the players are around the world is available from membership in the Armed Forces Electronics and Communications Association (AFCEA). AFCEA publishes its 'Source Book' annually with the names, numbers and mission of defense contractors from around the world. A hardcopy is sent to members and a searchable version is online at http://www.afcea.org/sourcebook2002/results2.asp

Government Service

Three main opportunities: civil service (federal), military service or service within one of the intelligence agencies.

-- Civil Service - many federal positions require a security clearance. The rule for civil service opportunities is akin to those in industry: Come in as entry-level and then seek 'hire from within' positions. Once you have your security clearance then your options grow immensely.

-- Intelligence Agencies - CIA, DIA, FBI, and NSA recruiters can often be found at most large career events oriented to educated professionals. You should also visit their websites.

-- Military Intelligence - the Armed Forces are the great source of the majority of security clearances held today. It is the fountain of experience common to many in the civilian intelligence services, and the great source of cleared personnel for industry. Military Intelligence and Armed Forces service has no near competitor in being the means to gain those security clearances that industry needs and seeks.

About Military Service:

-- Lack of a degree will not hinder you in getting a military intelligence position. The military will in fact pay for you to get your degree through part-time study and even after you complete military service.

-- I strongly advise seeking out the counsel of a former military intelligence professional before wandering into a recruiting office. The military has a large need for fresh talent and dealing with a recruiter can be like wandering onto a car dealership.

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