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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Recruitment for MI5/MI6 - AIBU to think that they find you, you can't apply?

320 replies

DoTheHop · 11/12/2019 16:49

Does anyone know how this happens?
They appear to have an application process, but I'm not sure what they're looking for.
An ex of mine was contacted by them after his degree, in Computers and Maths I think, but according to him (not sure if true or bullshit) he'd have had to meet them in a field and never bothered.
I've a ds who is interested in this field. It's not really something you see discussed. I'm not sure what area of it he is interested in - he just finds it fascinating really.
Do they really take applications or is it a case of them hunting you down lol?

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ConkerGame · 11/12/2019 16:52

I saw an advert for applications for MI6 in a newspaper once. I can’t remember which one, probably the Times. I guess they probably do a mixture of targeted recruitment like with your ex and then broader recruitment drives as needed?

I would guess computer science and unusual languages in the West like Arabic or Mandarin would be the best degrees to do.

Witchend · 11/12/2019 16:53

I know of someone who was asked at university if he was interested. I think he went to a meeting in London (not a field-think how obvious you'd be in a field Grin, much easier to blend in as a "normal" business meeting in London) and decided it wasn't for him.
His degree was Classics.

TeenPlusTwenties · 11/12/2019 16:53

No idea, but has your DS considered applying to GCHQ at Cheltenham?

Singlemumscum · 11/12/2019 16:54

This reply has been withdrawn

Message from MNHQ: This post has been withdrawn

OlaEliza · 11/12/2019 16:56

I saw an advert for them once for administrators. I didn't bother applying due to the checks. They investigate everyone you know or are aquaintences with so being from where I grew up I didn't bother.

VenusOfWillendorf · 11/12/2019 16:56

I don't know about MI 5/6, but friend of mine applied, did the aptitude tests and was interviewed for GCHQ - in a normal way, no fields involved! I'm sure the process is on their website - she had a 1st in Statistics.

BettysLeftTentacle · 11/12/2019 16:56

You can apply, they advertise for some of their posts.

Original poster
DoTheHop · 11/12/2019 16:57

Ds is a computer nerd and I think he would like to work in the back end of it rather than on the ground/frontline.
I have to say it's interesting, though not necessarily attractive salaries.
He went through the application online and he said a lot of questions were about family/nationality. Questions like 'How close are you to your family?' on a scale of 1-5.
He's close to us (still a teen), but I could see him ditching us for a career lol. ungrateful brat

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feesh · 11/12/2019 16:57

I know someone who was approached by them. Psychology graduate with exceptional grades. Turned it down.

Apolloanddaphne · 11/12/2019 16:58

My DD1 applied for MI5 but only got so far in the process. It was advertised somewhere.

TopBitchoftheWitches · 11/12/2019 16:58

They have advertised on MN before.

CAG12 · 11/12/2019 16:58

A field! How ridiculous. My OH works in a similar (but not the same) industry. All the interviews etc that take place would be in a rented space/office block. Candidates wouldnt go near the actual MI5/6 building until the very end of the recruitment process.

Also, those going through the application process arent supposed to tell anyone

lovegivelive · 11/12/2019 16:58

They came to our uni when I was a student recruiting. I was really interested but I said you probably wouldn't be interested in me in a jokey way, they replied we take all sorts of people from all sorts of backgrounds. Nothing about a field though! I still regret not pursuing it.

managedmis · 11/12/2019 16:59

So they want you to say you aren't close to your family, right?

Mayvis · 11/12/2019 16:59

I was invited to apply whilst at university back in early 2000's. I wasn't interested as I'm useless at keeping secrets. I was doing a linguistics degree with good foreign language gcses previously.

Original poster
DoTheHop · 11/12/2019 17:00

I guess people who work for them don't really say they do, maybe that they work for the MOD or something.
Also once dated a guy whose job was booking flights for the MOD. He wasn't supposed to tell anyone either in case they tried to get information out of him, but I guess he wasn't too bright. His salary was much lower than mine at the time (I was a PA).

Notes - I'm sensing a dating pattern here......

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Original poster
DoTheHop · 11/12/2019 17:02

Yes, I'm thinking the meeting in a field was added over the years of recounting his tale to add mystique.

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Original poster
DoTheHop · 11/12/2019 17:04

@TeenPlusTwenties Thanks I'll tell him to look it up

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TinklyLittleLaugh · 11/12/2019 17:05

One of DD’s exes got quite a long way in the recruitment process before they turned him down.

We joke that actually he got taken on and his current life of sitting in his mums living room, in his PJs, playing x box, is just very deep cover.

PaneerOfEvil · 11/12/2019 17:08

A friend of a friend said he had an interview like in the street, or maybe an alley somewhere. I think he might have done languages. I don’t think he got through. Or maybe he just said that to throw us off...

Original poster
DoTheHop · 11/12/2019 17:10

Oh so the field story might not be bollocks after all! I believed him to be honest, as he had no reason to lie.

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PegasusReturns · 11/12/2019 17:11

I got a relatively long way through the recruitment process but was eventually unsuccessful when I pointed out I was 8mths pregnant and wouldn't be able to participate in the next stage. They hadn't noticed!!

I applied through an advert in The Times but I had a connection.

Original poster
DoTheHop · 11/12/2019 17:12

I used to work for a real estate agent and we had a mortgage broker in the same office. She got an application from a guy who worked for MI5 and when she described him, he definitely looked like he worked in the postroom rather than as a spy lol. He was about my height and totally nondescript. She (clearly not a good option for a spy herself) told me that his application was going to go through without blip.

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Original poster
DoTheHop · 11/12/2019 17:14

Tell us more Pegasus!

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