Becoming an Intelligence Officer at MI6

Despite what TV and films might tell you, today’s MI6 isn’t a place for suave tuxedo-wearing action heroes. But as an Intelligence Officer (IO), you’ll certainly get a thrill from the impact you make. Because the work you do will help us protect the security and economic wellbeing of the UK. And you’ll do it all in an environment that’s supportive and inclusive.

“I feel honoured and privileged to be doing the extraordinary every day: saving lives.”

Impossible, high-energy missions won’t be on your to-do list. Instead, you’ll use your everyday skills to tackle extraordinary challenges. Skills like problem solving, empathy and adaptability. If you didn’t know the mission behind it, the work might look like an everyday office job. But the reality? As an IO, you’ll be helping to keep communities around the UK safe.

IOs cover four main roles:

• Targeters, who analyse data to be turned into real-life intelligence operations
• Case Officers, who build and manage relationships with agents (the people who pass on intelligence to us)
• Reporting Officers, who analyse, validate, and test the intelligence before briefing government officials
• Operational Managers, who plan and manage the collection of intelligence

We don’t expect you to be a fully-fledged IO when you join; it’s your potential we’re interested in. That’s why you’ll start your career by completing a three-year training pathway, learning all about gathering intelligence and growing your skills. There’ll be both classroom learning and on-the-job training where you’ll experience different roles and take on your own workload. After that, you’ll get the chance to apply for a role in an area that suits your skills and interests. And all along, you’ll have access to mentors and be supported by everyone around you.

“I was surprised about the great maternity and paternity leave available, which applies when you work overseas too. It’s better than some private sector offerings.”

We’re an inclusive organisation, filled with supportive people who are passionate about what they do and always happy to lend a helping hand. While we’ve made great progress, we’re not where we want to be in terms of diversity and have more to do. We value diversity in every sense of the word, and  the many characteristics that make each of us unique such as culture, ethnicity, socio-economic background, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability and neurodiversity.

Not only do we want our workforce to represent the diverse communities we’re protecting, but we’re also committed to creating opportunities for all.  Having a range of opinions and perspectives  strengthens our work and how we collaborate.

“My voice is valued. How I understand the world and my perspective as a woman of colour is important in supporting successful operations to protect the UK.”

Curious. Perceptive. Motivated. Proactive. Collaborative. That’s you. You’ll be passionate about learning, have a knack for building trusted relationships, and bring clear, persuasive communication skills. You’re a natural people person, able to put yourself in others’ shoes and understand how they might feel. Sound familiar? Head to our website to learn more about becoming an Intelligence Officer.