You must be granted a security clearance before the end of the hiring process. U.S. citizenship, personal conduct and drug use will be considered before you can obtain a security clearance, and most agencies will require a polygraph check.
Working as an intelligence analyst is an exciting and challenging job that many people have dreamed of since their childhood. However, it takes an enormous amount of dedication and expertise to even go through the lengthy application process. If you’re interested in defending your country’s national security as part of the US Intelligence Community (IC), you’ll need to be highly skilled and reliable and find a way to showcase your qualities, skills and experiences in the best possible light.
In a competitive, highly qualified pool of applicants, certain traits and experiences stand out to hiring managers. You’ll need to emphasize these characteristics during the application process to secure your dream IC job.
The US Intelligence Community — a body of many government organizations and other public and private agencies — is responsible for gathering, analyzing and reporting intelligence information that relates to the security of the nation or world. Seventeen organizations make up the IC, including the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the National Security Agency (NSA) as well as departments within each military branch.
Numerous careers are available within each organization — from education, business and human resources to intelligence analysis and law enforcement. Some skills and experiences remain the same in nearly all fields within the IC, while others are specific to the job position or individual agency.
Believe it or not, previous experience isn’t the only thing that sets apart a great IC candidate. Hiring managers look for a range of qualities that set the ideal applicant apart from their peers. Highlight the following attributes in yourself using specific examples to stand out during the application process for an IC position:
Of course, personal qualities aren’t the only thing hiring managers look for on a resume. Intelligence analysts also need to possess the following hard skills:
Along with these qualities and skills, you’ll also need to prove your competency in your field through past experience. Highlight the following in your resume, and be prepared to discuss them at greater length:
The specific application process varies between agencies. You can find the application timeline for several specific IC organizations on the IC website.
When you apply for a position in IC, you’ll need to prepare yourself for a long application process, including:
You must be granted a security clearance before the end of the hiring process. U.S. citizenship, personal conduct and drug use will be considered before you can obtain a security clearance, and most agencies will require a polygraph check.
All applicants must be a citizen of the United States. You must have no conflicting allegiances in other countries. However, having dual citizenship will not automatically disqualify you.
IC is a drug-free workplace, and frequent or recent use of illegal drugs could disqualify you. The list includes marijuana use even in states permitting recreational or medical marijuana.
After performing a background check, security officials will look at both favorable and unfavorable past and present behavior.
You may undergo an examination during the hiring process to determine your mental and physical fitness.
If you need help crafting your professional resume or getting through the application process, contact SES Writers for help. We offer professional resume writing services, as well as career coaching and interview prep, to help set you apart as the ideal applicant for your dream IC job.