Become a spy and find out the truth about everything!
There is no doubt that being a spy is one of the most exciting and thrilling careers you can have. With all the action, excitement, and intrigue involved in this type of career, it’s no wonder why so many people want to become spies. However, becoming a spy isn’t as easy as it seems. There are several steps that you need to take in order to become a spy.
1) Get Your Degree
The first step to becoming a spy is getting your degree. You need to make sure that you have at least an Associate’s degree in any field before applying for any positions with large corporations or small businesses that hire spies on occasion. This will allow you to gain some experience in the field before committing yourself full time as an employee at such companies because once you become employed by them then there will be no turning back!
2) Find Out About The Company You Want To Work For
Once you have your degree then it’s time for step 2: finding out about the company where you want to work for! This step might seem simple but it actually isn’t quite as easy as one might think because there are many different ways
How To Become Spy
Spies are intelligence officers who work for their home country’s governments and serve their interests abroad. Although being a spy is not like film or TV depictions, it is a job that dedicated and skilled individuals can pursue if they want to help their country. Several government agencies employ intelligence officers, meaning there are multiple career paths. In this article, we discuss what a spy is, what they do and how you can become a spy.
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What is a spy?
A spy, also called an intelligence officer, is a government official who works for an intelligence or security agency. Although formal titles vary by agency, much of what a spy does is consistent across agencies. A spy protects the interests of the nation they work for by gathering and analyzing information that advances their nation’s objectives.
Related: 5 Types of FBI Agents
What do spies do?
Although media representations of spies focus on exciting action, a spy’s work includes long hours completing common professional tasks like filing paperwork, conducting interviews and making reports. Responsibilities for a spy include:
- Attending meetings with senior staff to discuss, plan and coordinate field operations
- Monitoring the behaviors of individuals or groups of individuals to gather information
- Creating a cover identify in order to enter an organization or region as part of a planned operation
- Meeting with informants and assets to ask questions and provide instructions and guidance
- Conducting remote surveillance
- Networking in order to expand potential sources of information
- Analyzing solicited information to identify key data points
- Traveling in order to participate in operations around the nation or the world
- Filing paperwork and creating reports on operations for higher ranking officials and other agency members
Related: How To Become a CIA Agent
How to become a spy
Although some spies begin their careers as a result of recruitment, you can also apply with an agency if you meet the minimum requirements. Because spy positions are highly competitive, it’s helpful to begin preparing as soon as possible. Here is how to become a spy:
1. Maintain a clean record
In order to earn a job with a federal agency, all applicants must go through a rigorous screening process. These background checks serve two purposes for the agencies. First, keeping a clean record shows a history of good judgement, which can indicate your effectiveness as an agent in the field. Because a spy may receive high clearance levels, checking backgrounds also identifies any potential warning signs that outside actors could use as leverage against you.
2. Earn a bachelor’s degree
For a federal agency to consider you for an intelligence officer position, you will often need at least a bachelor’s degree. The most common field to study is criminal justice, but other popular choices for aspiring federal agents include computer science, finance, law, psychology and international studies. Agencies see the benefit in both the specific education of your major as well as the broader education of general electives, with different degree programs offering unique benefits for different spy roles.
A double major or a minor can aid your application, but if you can not add one to your program, consider catering your elective classes to relevant fields. Classes to consider when preparing for a career as a spy include sociology, political science and history as well as technical classes that expand your skill set.
3. Learn a foreign language
Many spies work in foreign countries. The ability to converse fluently with locals is important and may be a requirement if an assignment requires an agent to assume an identity as a resident of the country they are in. Gaining fluency in one or more secondary languages may improve your chances of being accepted at a federal agency.
4. Work on your physical fitness
In addition to a strong academic record, an applicant for an intelligence officer position needs to pass a physical examination. Although the specifics of each physical fitness examination vary based on the agency, all the exams are designed to screen out any applicants who are not in excellent physical health.
Common methods of testing physical health include body weight exercises and long distance running. As such, it’s helpful for aspiring spies to make exercising a consistent part of their routine every week.
5. Apply to a federal agency
Along with traditional application requirements, expect to undergo a significant screening process that includes a full background check and several rounds of interviews at a federal agency. For many intelligence officer roles, this process takes some time—even up to two years. For this reason, it’s useful to have another job while you undergo the application process so you have a steady source of income while the agency pursues your candidacy.
Intelligence and security agencies within the government include:
- Bureau of Intelligence and Research (INR)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
- Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
- Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA)
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
- National Security Agency (NSA)
Related: Complete Guide To FBI Agent Training Requirements
Salary for spies
An intelligence agent makes a salary averaging $50,729 per year. Working in intelligence is competitive but provides strong job security for applicants who earn a position. Government agencies have an ongoing need for a broad range of federal agents, from analysts to spies.
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Tips for a career as a spy
If you want to become a spy for a government agency, these tips can help you prepare for the job so that you can succeed if you earn the opportunity:
Don’t expect a movie
Movie spies are very different from real world intelligence officers. Most spies describe their job as highly interpersonal and requiring frequent research and paperwork. To better assess if your expectations align with the reality of the job, consider reading books or blog posts by former spies who speak in detail about their work.
Choose the right agency
There are several agencies in the federal government that may hire you as a spy. The CIA focuses on operations outside of the United States, while the FBI conducts investigations and operations about domestic issues. Although some applicants may be happy to work in any role, if you have specific hopes for your career, you may prefer to prioritize the agency that can best match your goals.
Be sure it’s right for you
Working as a spy is a rewarding career, but also a demanding one. A career as a spy can result in long periods of time away from home and family in an unfamiliar place. While many applicants find these aspects of the job appealing, it’s important to take time to fully reflect on the implications of the career and determine if it is a good fit for you.
Maintain your grades
Many federal agencies require a minimum GPA of 3.0 for consideration for a position, and additional accomplishments and accolades can only help your application. Make an effort to maintain your grades and seek extra scholarly or professionalization opportunities that may make you a more attractive candidate.
Perform self-assessments
One way to help ensure you become a strong intelligence officer candidate is to regularly assess your strengths and areas for improvement. By developing skills around your strengths and improving on areas for growth, you can present yourself as a qualified and dependable candidate.
