THIS VACANCY IS NOW CLOSED. Any applications submitted after 27th July will not be considered.

Our Intelligence Officers play a pivotal role in running MI5 investigations. They help us safeguard the country against threats to national security, including terrorism, espionage and the spread of weapons of mass destruction.

It’s why we choose people carefully for our Intelligence Officer Development Programme (IODP). This structured two year programme is designed to help you learn about MI5 investigations before you lead them. You’ll get the ultimate insight into news events and help change them for the better.

We are currently looking for candidates to join us on our Intelligence Officer Development Programmes and have start dates throughout 2015 and 2016.  

It is also possible to join MI5 in the Intelligence Officer stream at a higher level than on the IODP. If you have two or more years of work experience, in a graduate level job and are seeking a new challenge, you may be considered for entry directly on to our Foundation Investigative Training (FIT), depending on your performance in our recruitment process.

We pride ourselves on providing varied and rewarding careers for all of our staff. Whilst working as an Intelligence Officer can be challenging, we offer a supportive and encouraging environment that puts the emphasis on teamwork. We also place great importance on our staff maintaining a healthy work-life balance.

For more information about the role, we encourage you to visit one of the links below.

The Development Programme

Programme Postings

Your First Investigative Posting

Your Future and Career with MI5

Recruitment process

Firstly, you should try our investigative challenge to see if you have the potential we are looking for. You will then be required to complete our online self-selection questionnaire. We strongly encourage you to consider the feedback provided when deciding whether or not to continue with your application.

The next step is for you to complete our pre-screening questions to find out if you do meet our initial criteria. If you do meet these criteria we will then ask you to begin an application. You will need to create a login and provide your full name, email address and a memorable password. Once you have successfully created a personal account, you will be required to complete an initial application form providing contact details and equal opportunities monitoring information.

After submitting this form you will be sent an e-mail asking you to take two online tests, which form part of the formal assessment process. On receipt of this invitation e-mail, you will have up to one week to take these tests. If you do not complete both of them within this timeframe we will assume that you no longer wish to proceed with your application.

Online tests

(i) Competency questionnaire

This questionnaire looks at the key competencies and behaviours that are required for the role of an Intelligence Officer working for the Security Service. It is not timed but should take you approximately 20 minutes to complete and you will need to do this in one sitting.

(ii) Verbal reasoning ability test

This test is designed to assess the key skill of reasoning with verbal information, which is essential for the role of the Intelligence Officer in the Security Service. You will be given 25 minutes to complete the test and you will need to do this in one sitting.

We encourage you to complete some practice questions for the Verbal Reasoning Test.  The practice questions are untimed, but please note that in the real test you will have 25 minutes to answer the 36 questions in the Verbal Reasoning Test.   The practice questions are not a compulsory part of the assessment and will not affect the outcome of your application.  If you wish to complete the practice questions for the Verbal Reasoning Test please click on the link below and you will be redirected:

http://www.cubiksonline.com/FPD/PracticeAssessment/GenericVerbal/VerbalInstructions.aspx

If you pass both of these tests, we will invite you to complete and submit our full application form. Our recruitment team will complete an application sift of your form. The next stage, if successful, is a testing session consisting of a written exercise.

Successful applicants will be invited to participate in a telephone interview. This will include competency based questions and will explore your motivation to work for MI5.

Assuming you pass this interview, you will be invited to attend an assessment centre in London. This will be followed by a final selection board interview in Thames House and security interview with a vetting officer.

You should read about the Vetting process and satisfy yourself that you meet the criteria outlined in the Vetting pages prior to submitting an application.

Guaranteed Interview Scheme

As part of our commitment to the “Positive about Disabled People” scheme we offer an interview to all candidates with a disability who meet our minimum criteria for the job vacancy that they are applying for. This is known as the Guaranteed Interview Scheme (GIS).

To secure an interview for this vacancy, the minimum criteria (in order of application process) are:

Vacancy Eligibility Questions

You will be asked a series of questions relating to this vacancy. If you meet the criteria here you will be directed to the initial application form.

Online Tests

You will be required to reach the pass mark set for both tests.

On successful completion of the online tests and application form sift, you will be invited to interview. This will normally be a telephone interview and is our guaranteed interview.

You should read the How to Apply section for further information on the eligibility criteria and recruitment process for this role, and satisfy yourself that you meet the criteria outlined:

Eligibility Criteria

Equality and Diversity

Recruitment Process

Discretion

Please note, you should only launch your application from within the UK. If you are based overseas, you should wait until you visit the UK to launch an application. Applying from outside the UK will impact on our ability to progress your application.

MI5 is committed to reflecting both equal opportunities and the society we protect. Work life balance is important to us at MI5 and we offer flexible working where operational commitments allow.