Social Media Sleuths: The MI5 Is Recruiting

Are you the kind of person who can dig up all the dirt on a pal's ex in a flash?

Do you constantly suss out the baddies in thrillers, staying several plot twists ahead of the storyline?

Well, heads up, your dream job could well be up for grabs, because MI5 is hiring.

The Government agency is currently recruiting for staff to join its bases in Cheltenham, Central London and Manchester as vetting officers.

MI5, MI6 and GCHQ help to protect the UK from threats to its national security at home and abroad.

The trio of agencies work against everything from terrorism and espionage, to cyber threats and sabotage.

As a vetting officer, you'd be working across all three agencies.

Essentially, you'll be helping to keep the country safe by thoroughly vetting current and prospective employees, and identifying anything about them that could pose a risk to national security.

Already envisioning yourself hustling your way into the role like a real-life Eve Polstri?

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Read on for the full job description...

What experience do I need?

All new vetting officers will join a two-year programme to help develop the skills and knowledge required for the role, so previous experience is not essential.

The programme will consist of:

• Intelligence agency familiarisation
• Formal training
• On-the-job learning
• Project-related work
• Working with an experienced Vetting Officer who will mentor and support you throughout the programme

Once the programme is completed, you will be expected to have developed the skills required to apply for a fully accredited vetting officer role and apply for promotion.

If successful, you will then take on a broader range of activities as an autonomous vetting officer.

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What does the role entail?

• Vetting Officers work with significant autonomy across all three agencies, to deliver high quality vetting decisions and recommendations to ensure that they support the delivery of an increasingly flexible and dynamic workforce of the future, mindful of existing and emerging risks that will shape their thinking on a potential recruit or member of staff's suitability to hold vetting clearance.
• Essentially, you'll be helping to keep the country safe by thoroughly vetting our people, and identifying anything about them that could pose a risk to national security.
• In this role you'll hear the good, the bad and everything in between. It's about having insightful, confidential conversations, to build a fuller picture of who they are.

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Where is the role based?

Although you'll join MI5, you'll be based at the headquarters of whichever agency you state as your preferred location. In the role it may be necessary to travel to others part of the UK.

Who is the ideal candidate?

• You'll be self-motivated and resilient, able to manage your workload and ensure that tight deadlines are met.
• You'll engage with confidence with staff at every level of seniority, and candidates and their referees from all backgrounds.
• Empathetic yet assertive, you'll build rapport and have an innate sense for the truth.
• You'll know when it's right to dig a little deeper, with the ability to spot inaccuracies or inconsistencies.
• On-the-spot decision-making skills will be crucial, while remaining professional and unbiased.
• Your objective analysis will be built on the evidence and a careful consideration of the risks that are presented.

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• You'll be a great listener and a natural people person, with the ability to handle delicate matters sensitively.
• Organised and logical, yet intuitive and curious, able to naturally absorb and record a lot of detail whilst asking questions.
• You'll enjoy writing and are able to bring together information in case reports that are detailed, clear and concise.

How do I apply?

• To apply for the role, candidates need to fill out an online application form which will cover relevant experience, motivation for applying and some situational judgement questions related to the role.
• If successful, candidates will then go through a vetting process which involves completing some online forms, a security interview, and referee interviews.
• Candidates must be born or a naturalised British citizen to be eligible to apply, and must normally have been resident in the UK for nine out of the last 10 years.
• However, applications will still be considered if you have served overseas with HM Forces, or in some other official capacity as a representative of Her Majesty's Government, studied abroad, or lived overseas with parents.

Reckon you have what it takes to be M?

• Candidates can apply at the age of 17 years and 6 months. However, if successful, they will not be offered a start date prior to their 18th birthday.
• Applications should not be discussed with other people, except for partners or a close family member, and should only should only be made from within the UK.

Finally, our social media staking skills might be put to good use...

Topics: Life News

Mary-Jane Wiltsher

Mary-Jane Wiltsher is a freelance lifestyle and culture journalist. Elsewhere she writes for Stylist, Euronews, PHOENIX and What We Seee.