Q:
I’m just a junior at my university but really
would like to work in the DI. Are there any opportunities
for students?
A:
Yes, there are a limited number of openings for outstanding
undergraduate and graduate students to work in the
DI as interns or grad fellows. We are particularly
interested in students specializing in economics,
physical sciences, engineering, geography, area studies,
international affairs, or political science. These
highly competitive positions offer the full range
of employee benefits, including health insurance,
paid holidays, and possible tuition assistance in
some cases. We ask students to apply about nine months
before they are available to begin work.
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Q:
Can DI analysts travel and live overseas?
A:
At various points throughout their careers, DI analysts
may travel overseas on short trips ranging from a
few days to several weeks to learn more about the
region or topic they have been assigned to follow.
In some cases, analysts may spend several months working
at an Embassy or in support of U.S. military operations,
depending on their responsibilities or language skills.
Many analysts also choose to deepen their expertise
by competing for an overseas posting that may last
up to three years.
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Q:
Will I work on the same topic or region for my entire
career?
A:
It depends on your own interests and the skills and
knowledge you bring to the job. Some analysts choose
to concentrate on deepening their substantive expertise
and technical command of their topic area, while others
may opt to expand their expertise by working at various
times on different countries in their chosen region.
Regardless of their area of specialty, however, all
analysts can broaden their skills as intelligence
officers by working on an interagency task force,
doing a tour in a policy agency in downtown Washington,
or serving in a rotational assignment elsewhere in
the Agency or the Intelligence Community.
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Q:
What qualities make a successful DI officer?
A:
DI officers come in all sizes, shapes, and temperaments.
What they all share, though, is a passion for making
a difference and contributing to the national security
decisions made by senior policymakers. If you have
an intense desire to learn, if you enjoy digging deep
into an issue or a region, if you are stimulated by
the intellectual challenge of making sense of incomplete
and often contradictory information, then working
as an analyst in the DI may be just the job for you.
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Q:
How much can I talk about my work with friends and
family?
A:
In general, you may tell family and friends that you
are employed at CIA, althogh it is advisable to be
discreet, both for personal and professional reasons.
Because of the classified nature of the Agency’s
work, details about your work must remain inside the
building. Security precautions and restrictions are
a fact of life with all CIA jobs.
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