To want to work for MI6?

[Inamechangedalright]

It looks fantastic. And it also looks like they're recruiting.

secret intelligence service

Am I mad?

No, Sannaville - you only live twice......
Ho hoooohhhhh....geddit?

I once acted as a referee to someone who was being vetted for security services. Among other things I was asked about his drinking habits, friends, hobbies, sex life (yes really), whether he gambled, his discretion, his patience, his eating and shopping habits

In short I was with an interviewer in my front room for a full hour while they grilled me about him. Luckily I knew almost everything as we'd shared a house for 3 years (not romantically)

It really is quite intrusive and I found out afterwards someone had been making phone calls to establish I was who I said I was

I think the fact the first words I usually say to DH when I walk in the door are "Hey, guess what?" would probably mean I wouldn't make it past first interview.

stormforce10 I actually applied for a post as a vetting officer, the kind who sit interviewing you in your front room. I failed because I forgot to put my home location on the application form...... All the posts are for home workers living in different areas so they can go round easily to do all the interviews. Shot myself in the foot there, so to speak

YANBU.... I've always fancied it. Seen myself as one of those nerdy code-breaker types! Don't relish the prospect of being concertinaed into a hold-all but, that aside, where do I apply?

Don't you get shot at.

I have a couple of friends who do "foreign office plus" stuff. One was in a very unstable African country until she became pregnant when they brought her back to the UK. The other has just quit to become a teacher. They are both Oxbridge types (one very sporty). The job for a whole year for one of them was intensively learning Arabic - nice work if you can get it! I don't know exactly what either of them did - they were not allowed to talk about it!

Storm I've been a referee for someone to get high level security clearance too. I agree the interview was incredibly thorough. The interviewer came to my office and grilled me for a good hour.

I love spy books, James Bond etc, and yet the life of a spy is (from what I know) a long way from how it is protrayed by Daniel Craig and Rupert PJ.

I have been vetted in the past (ex Services) and 2 (male) friends, plus my Dad's best friend were grilled about my love life, any abortions I might have had (I hadn't but if I had they wouldb't have known) etc etc. It is definitely intrusive.

My DH has spent a lot of time in submarines, and while I have a pretty good idea about where he has been, often he can't tell me.

Not for everyone....although my DS (8) is desperate to apply. He has got the general idea. Last time they were asked what they were going to be when they grew up, he said "I told the teacher Busdriver - I can't tell her I am going to be a spy!" Since then he has upgraded to "International Business Man". Sounds very dodgy to me!

I wouldn't like my head stuck in a Deep Fat Fryer.
That would be my only quibble.

That was my first thought, LadyBeagle

I scored 8 out of 8 for the test.

Shame I live nowhere near London. Have no quals higher than a bunch of O levels and RSA Wordprocessing III.

pah!

Right well that was weird..
Logged in here, opened a new window to do the test, came back here to post on and found out I had been logged out of MN!
Are MI6 watching us?????
Anyway, did the test, got them all right. Shame I don't live anywhere near London though.

my friend did apply and got through a couple of stages but failed as they asked if she had told anyone she was applying and she had told her mum.

I've always thought it sounded like fun! I love Stella Rimmington's novels, although they are 5 rather than 6. And surely her books won't be totally inaccurate given that she was DG? It's not James Bond but it still sounds good!

DH used to work at MI5 (building maintenance, not a spy) and we went through some fairly thorough form filling for that, i can tell you.

i remember one night he had to turn all the lights on as the Knight Bus scene was being filmed over Lambeth Bridge for Harry Potter [glam]

OP have you seen this article? MI6 want a target elimination specialist also known as an assassin