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

[DoTheHop]

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?

I’m another friend of an Oxford classicist who was interviewed ( I was among friends questioned) and ‘decided not to proceed’, but almost certainly did, based on the little I know of his movements since.

Found the job, in case any lawyer MNers are interested: £83,907 - £90,200 dependent on experience
London, Permanent Role

The Secret Intelligence Service (SIS), often known as MI6, collects Britain’s foreign intelligence. SIS provides the Government with a global reach capability to promote and defend national security and the economic well-being of the UK.

MI6 is seeking a proven Commercial Lawyer for a wide-ranging and challenging position. You will provide advice and expert guidance across a broad spectrum of commercial and corporate legal matters. Your work portfolio will include a diverse range of commercial agreements (including software and technology licensing), Intellectual Property issues (including patent protection), general corporate and commercial matters, and management and policy issues relevant to contractors. The nature of MI6’s business means that your work will have a strong international dimension.

You will have strong academic qualifications and at least 3 years post qualification experience as a commercial lawyer with a city, national or large regional law firm. You will also have an interest in and some familiarity with Intellectual Property Law. Experience of construction contracts, facilities management, data protection, technology investment projects, working in-house or advising the public sector would be beneficial but not mandatory.

You will have the ability, confidence and resilience to work independently, deal with complex issues, think creatively and keep calm under pressure. You will also be a strong team player and able to establish long-lasting relationships with both internal and external stakeholders.

These are unique opportunities for talented and ambitious Commercial Lawyers seeking something different. MI6 offers a ‘once in a lifetime’ work portfolio in a unique environment as well as a truly meaningful and rewarding career. The organisation also offers a market leading work-life balance and excellent benefits to supplement a competitive base salary.

To apply to MI6, you must be a born or naturalized British citizen, over 21 years old and normally have been based in the UK for six of the last ten years. You should not discuss your application with anyone other than your partner or a close family member providing that they are British. They should also be made aware of the importance of discretion.

MI6 strives for diversity in the workplace and is committed to the creation and maintenance of a climate in which all staff are treated fairly on the grounds of merit and ability.

Why do they go for classicists? Obviously I get the maths/IT or languages.

They don’t “interview your family and friends.” The vetting officer may choose to interview one or two close friends to build up a complete picture of your life. You do a paper reference first. I’ve done this twice for friends of mine but never had to be interviewed, obviously my paper reference was seen as sufficient. Once again - you aren’t followed and they don’t listen to your phone calls!

The vetting interview is to make sure you are honest and not open to blackmail. They want to build up a picture of your life.

I’ve held DV and SC and worked in three different departments. It’s really not exciting, glamorous or well paid. Occasionally mildly interesting but not as interesting as reading a thriller or watching a new Netflix series.

I was glad to leave the civil service - full of strange, cliquey people. Especially in one Department, they obviously thought that working there made them special.

Oh really Mary? They advertising international spy jobs on there? I must have missed those!

International spy job on Indeed.com:
www.indeed.co.uk/jobs?q=intelligence%20officer&start=20&vjk=0b9c95437a47fb35

I think if you apply for the foreign office you sometimes get streamed into MI6

This is what happened to a friend of mine.

To help you out with the recruitment drive.

You definitely do apply, I went to the grad scheme assessment day for M15 years ago

Although not quite the same, the Ministry of Defence is always advertising roles on Civil Service Jobs...but I can’t say that it’s a great place to work, I suppose it depends in which bit you end up working in.

They investigate everyone you know or are aquaintences with - not true. They will do developed vetting. Interview your references. You'll have to declare anyone you know who gets up to no good (drugs etc). It's tough but they don't investigate everyone.

And you don’t have to be “whiter than white” like someone else said.

If you’ve occasionally used recreational drugs in the past that’s fine - as long as you disclose it in the vetting interview and have been free of drugs for a period of time - I think it’s 2 years but I might be wrong.

If you are into weird kinky sexual activities - fine, as long as you disclose it so you disclose it.

Alcohol isn’t so much a problem from what I’ve seen...

If a family member is dodgy, you won’t pass vetting but you also won’t be told why.

For DV, your finances are looked at, and those of your partner.

Again, all of this information is available on the internet.

I remember really enjoying a TV show a while back all about the recruitment process.

Looked it up and here's the link.

www.channel4.com/programmes/spies/episode-guide

A friend of mine was approached in the street. I think these mysterious meetings / conversations probably do happen, but not for all roles

Spies is a television show. It’s not real.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/45953932

www.stylist.co.uk/people/someone-to-watch-over-you/11974

Most jobs at Mi5/Mi6/GCHQ/MoD are business support. Really boring. Opening post, filing, data entry, looking up information on archaic IT systems - all Civil Service departments have awful, outdated IT. Disposing of confidential waste. Ordering stationery. Fixing the printer, photocopying, ordering catering for meetings and booking meeting rooms.

You might get promoted to a “secretary” but I think they are mostly called PAs now. Diary management, organising travel, dealing with expenses, minuting meetings. You can earn nearly twice as much if you work elsewhere, especially in London. PAs/EAs in finance can earn 40k.

I realised that I was really bored, demotivated and wanted more from life. Admin staff rarely jump up to “intelligence officer/analyst” posts. So I applied for a graduate scheme at another department. Jumped from being an admin assistant to an executive officer - that’s two grades.

This was after being told by my manager that I might be an office manager one day if I worked hard and that admin was all I was suited to! But that my face didn’t really fit so maybe I could just “work my way up” to being a secretary. He laughed when I said I would like to apply for the fast track stream internally and told me to “stick with admin.”

They were quite put out when I left and was brutally honest in my exit interview. My work “friends” never spoke to me again! I was there a year or so later for a meeting in my new job. I bumped into an old “friend” and stopped to chat. She looked me up and down, nudged and whispered to the woman she was with and they both walked off. No idea what that was all about. I was offered an internal secondment but I declined! I wouldn’t want to work in such a weird place ever again.

I sometimes imagine if I was still there, over 10 years later, opening the post! So glad I left when I did. I was (and am) capable of so much more and it’s not even on my CV.

My daughter would love to do this upon leaving school. She is fluent in German, Spanish and Russian at 14. Sadly my biological father is Ukrainian and my ex is a criminal so that probably would rule her out!

Not sure about not getting through if you have dodgy replies, I passed the security clearance for No 10 having declared my uncle who had been in prison for violence including against a police officer, and my brother in law who was in for manslaughter. I was open and the only thing that they came back on was my finances, because I had credit card debt. It wasn't huge and I was repaying it. I had to give a detailed explanation of how I got into a mess financially and what I was doing to sort it.

I've also had developed vetting for my volunteer job with the police, that again was the finances that was picked up and not the family members.

Those sort of myths comes from spy stories! They mostly recruit grads straight out of university as part of the milk round. A friend of mine used to work for MI5 and he applied directly to them. It is true that they get the pic of candidates though, as many people are in the misconception that it’s a glamorous job!

Just google it. The application address is there

I once dated a bloke who was ex navy and he said something about you get approached by them and asked to meet behind trees etc????

It’s not that they want you to ditch your family. The q about being close to your family is one of a range of q’s about your personality and mental health eg if you argue with everyone and ditched your family you’d probably be seen as unreliable / not loyal xx

Why do they go for classicists?

Well, the Ancient Romans invaded us once, I hope we still keep an eye on them ....

On a more serious note - as a woman, I'd be very worried about anyone who wanted to meet me in a field.

They have a height restriction to apply different for men and woman guess they don’t want people too tall that will stand out!

A friend of a friends son was interviewed and asked if he had a social media account. When he said Yes, The interviewer replied 'You obviously don't value your privacy' and the interview was terminated

This is of no help to you at all, but I studied German back in the 80s and you'd get a tap from West or East, depending on your leanings!

You can apply