- Info
FAQs
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.
Posted: Apr 25, 2007 07:08 AM
Last Updated: Sep 04, 2008 02:51 PM
Last Reviewed: Sep 04, 2008 02:51 PM