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.

Q: Can DI analysts travel and live overseas?

A: A DI analyst will spend the majority of his/her career at CIA Headquarters.  At various points throughout their careers, however, 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 US 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.

Q: Will I work on the same topic or region for my entire career?

A: It depends on pressing national security needs, 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 or law enforcement agency in downtown Washington, or serving in a rotational assignment elsewhere in the Agency or the Intelligence Community.

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.

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, although it is advisable to be discreet, both for personal and professional reasons. Because of the classified nature of the Agency’s work, you should not talk to others about the details of your work. Security precautions and restrictions are a fact of life with all CIA jobs.