Career in MI5

[dave_c]

OK before you answer I know I'm not going to be issued a Walther PPK and a Amphibious Aston DB9! However as a graduate I'm toying with the idea of applying (among a pileworth of other varied applications) but I have a few questions.

 

-What doe's this (graduate entry) position consist? What would be a 'normal' week for one in this position, and what tasks would normally be carried out?

-What do the entry assessments for an potential employee consist of?

-What personal requirements would MI5 find desirable?

[mystress]

dave_c,

I am sorry to say that for most of the Security Services (MI5/MI6 etc) YOU don't apply to them, THEY seek you out.They have people who say "So and so would make good recruit".Quite how,where and when they do I could not say,it is hush hush after all!

Maybe someone else on AB will be able to tell you how?

[Andy008]

I believe that the qualities required for working in this area would be roughly similiar to those needed for working in investment banking. Excellent academics, people skills, and and eye for detail coupled with tact and discretion.

Entry assessment could be anything up to 20 phases.

There is no "normal" week.

Hope that answers the question. My good deed for the day is done.

[jake-the-peg]

I don't think the they recruit you thing is true any more. The days of the old school tie have well gone.

If you haven't already take a good long look at MI5's website here http://www.mi5.gov.uk/ there's a section on jobs.

However without being rude I would have expected somebody looking for a career in MI5 to have figured that out.

By the way don't join them if you want to get rich - civil service pay grades and all that

[dave_c]

mystress, it's funny that, I received an application pack from MI5 (even though I got it a year ago) and like I said in my original post I'm just toying with the idea. Just another uninspired graduate!

[Scullywoo]

jake-the-peg is right, overall they don't find you anymore!!  They use a long drawn out recruiting system that my brother is currently waiting out, can take up to 7 months for the initial stage and then as Andy008 says, phase after phase after that if you're successful.  Good luck, fantastically interesting opportunity if you get it!!

[beamer]

If you would like to know more there are two books left on the third bench towards Marble Arch from Speakers Corner.

Time: Pride and Prejudice, Page 157, Paragraph 3.

Location: London Fields, Page 43, Paragraph 1.

I will be reading a copy of the previous days Times at 4.20PM.

;-)

[dave_c]

beamer, shouldn't there be a password, like 'the geese flock to the north' or something? ;-)

[Ward-Minter]

MI5????

Why would a graduate want to work in a flat-pack cheap furniture store???

[Booldawg]

MI5 were doing a big recruitment campaign in The Sun (of all newspapers!) about 2 years ago.

Graduate entry usually means that if you have been to uni and have a degree then you are qualified to do pretty much any job in the world. Its how large organisations recruit, i.e. totally blinkered and unable to recognise talent before qualifications. "Hey great, you have a masters in textile design, come and be a spy!"

[lucemma4]

I don't if this helps but Im also a grauduate and whilst I was at uni a few months ago i applied for their graduate position as a desk officer via their site. It is a lengthy process, the initial application form is pretty annoying to fill out-they want to know everything about you! I got through to the assessment stage-you have a test about anaylsing and assessing intelligence as that is what your job would be. It lasts an hour and I found it very hard as you need to read questions carefully but don't get long to answer them. I know when I came out of the test lots of other people found it hard too and I unfortunately didn't meet the requirements. If you do pass than there's a few more stages. The job role sounds very interesting but to be honest after doing that test I would not enjoy doing that for a job everyday I think it would be quite stressful and you need to be very analytical but it all depends on the individual.