You’ve probably wondered at some point in your life whether you had what it takes to be a spy.
Do you need to be a pro at high-speed car chases and death-defying stunts? Do you need to exude James-Bond like charm, dress in tailored suits and drink martinis?
Nope, none of that. The eligibility requirements are actually pretty simple, according to the Guardian.
Here’s a break down of the qualities you actually need:
YOU MUST BE A BRITISH CITIZEN
You need to be a British citizen and one of your parents must be also be a citizen, or have substantial ties to the UK.
You also need to be 18-years-old or over – sorry, kids.
YOU DON’T HAVE TO HAVE A DEGREE
Like most jobs these days, MI5 doesn’t need a masters degree in rocket science or 30 years experience. They recognise that university isn’t for everyone and need people fresh out of school who are eager to get started and want to do something interesting.
Sure, you probably won’t get a top-notch secret agent job, but everyone needs to start at the bottom, right?
Without a degree, MI5 can offer you a career as an administrative assistant, technical apprentice, English language analyst, security officer, or driver. It doesn’t roll off the tongue quite as nice as ‘super spy’ though.
YOU NEED TO ACCOUNT FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS OF YOUR LIFE
None of that ‘only relevant experience’ stuff here. With MI5, you have to account for the last 10 years of your life.
MI5 personnel told the Guardian that you need to fully explain any unaccounted for periods of time or holidays over a fortnight – which may be a tad difficult after those booze-fuelled trips to Ibiza and Benidorm.
BE PREPARED TO NOT MAKE MUCH MONEY TO START
At the start of 2013, MI5’s starting salary was £24,750. And, while that might be a liveable salary for someone outside the UK capital, it may not cut it if you’re living in central London.
YOU NEED TO BE REALLY, REALLY DISCRETE
That means you can’t update your Facebook work section to ‘MI5 secret agent’ or tweet ‘lol I’m a spy now guys’.
Discretion is obviously vital in a role like this – and they take it very seriously. You can’t even tell your family that you work there. It’s a big deal.
If you’re one of those people who spill every detail of their life after a pint, you might want to think twice before heading to the pub – or signing up to MI5 at all, to be honest.
So, think you have what it takes? Head to the MI5 website.
