Become an Intelligence Officer

Profiles

Read what these Intelligence Officers say about their careers at CSIS.

(Please note: In order to protect the identity of our employees, the names in these profiles have been changed.)

James: Putting Diverse Knowledge and Skills to Good Use

James, a bilingual engineer in his early 30s, has been working within the Counter Proliferation’s Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Program for approximately two years.

After graduating from university, James travelled through Europe and Asia for a few months before starting work as a scientific advisor for the government. While he thought that the position was well-suited for his environmental engineering background, he knew that he would prefer a job that offered more of an international element. When his interest in current affairs led him to take a look at the CSIS Web site, he was surprised to find out about the many interesting career opportunities the organization had to offer. Although initially concerned that he might never use his engineering degree again if he worked for CSIS, he decided to apply for a position.

Within a year he had passed all the interviews and the polygraph test and was accepted in the Intelligence Officer Training Program. He was then posted at National Headquarters in the WMD Program. “My fear of leaving behind my expertise in engineering was soon put to rest!” James says. He quickly learned that as an Intelligence Officer, he would be called upon to solve a wide range of problems. “It is a fast-paced environment where your creativity is constantly being challenged. Not only is my engineering background useful in solving problems, but my understanding of scientific information is also very helpful,” James adds. “Because the WMD program requires a knowledge of science, having a scientific background is really an added bonus both for myself and for the organization.”

James is typical of many Intelligence Officers, who draw upon their specialized knowledge to be more effective in their work and to bridge the gap between the various experts and specialists who work on cases. “I am happy that I can use my skills for solving multi-faceted problems that can have wide-ranging repercussions in Canada and, by extension, the rest of the world,” he explains. “My job combines the best of both worlds: my studies in science and my interest in history and current affairs.”

Linda: Passion to Make the World a Better Place

Linda joined CSIS in 1988, holding a number of positions, including Research Assistant, until she became an Intelligence Officer in 1991.

Linda lived abroad as a child and travelled extensively throughout her youth, becoming exposed early in her life to different cultures. When the time came to select a career, she felt that working in the field of intelligence would satisfy her keen interest in world affairs, politics, and culture.

“An Intelligence Officer has the opportunity to work in many different locations, across Canada and abroad, and the job itself requires that you develop two diverse sets of skills, as an intelligence analyst and as an investigator in the field.”

Linda points out that working with, and gathering information from, people on the street has been the highlight of her career, and compares it to being a reporter. “It’s the people you meet and deal with that make this job interesting...really making a difference and contributing to a better place to live—now that’s what it’s all about.”

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Mark: A Worthy Career Change

Mark joined CSIS eight years ago following a career in teaching humanities at the high school and college levels. His reason for changing careers—an intellectual challenge and the prospect of greater mobility.

Mark enjoys the Service’s reputation for high standards and says that “the Service is recognized throughout the world for being the best of its kind.” He cites a number of advantages in working for CSIS, including interesting work that has a significant impact on our country’s security, unique responsibilities, and excellent training programs.

To newcomers, Mark stresses the importance of not confusing criminal or legal judicial processes with the Service’s mandate and raison d’être. “The Service collects and retains intelligence by investigating and analyzing information that may constitute a threat to the security of Canada, and advises the federal government on these threats.”

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Date modified: 2005-11-14

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