Resources

Intelligence Job Search Tips

No matter how far away your graduation is, it will be time to start your job search before you know it! Here are some suggestions to help your resume stand out and to prepare for your job search.

• Intelligence relevant Internships- Paid or unpaid, federal, state or local
• Research Experiences- Join a research course and select an intelligence relevant topic, these are great for writing samples to include with your application!
• Become an ICCAE Scholar- Make sure your status as an ICCAE Scholar is front and center on your resume/cover letter
• Study a language- Any language (including sign language) is relevant; consider languages critical to the IC
• Travel Abroad- Study Abroad experiences are valuable to IC recruiters, ICCAE Scholars are eligible to apply for a scholarship!
• Use our resources to craft your federal resume: KU ICCAE Career Resources, Federal Intelligence Careers Explained, and contact the KU Career center for assistance. Let your mentors review your resume and provide feedback.
• Join clubs and participate in ICCAE activities: You want potential employers to see that you are a knowledge seeker, and you care about your chosen career path. You can highlight these events on your resume. Try our National Security Club, Instagram @KU.NSC
• Tell your story: What makes you unique? What have you overcome to be here? Share this in your cover letter, along with your relevant experiences
• Take advantage of ICCAE opportunities: Apply for the summer seminar, schedule an individual meeting with IC recruiters who visit campus. You are always welcome to contact Dr. Urban and set up a meeting to discuss your job search and ask questions!

Lastly, federal agencies will require you to have a security clearance, which can take up to one year to complete. Apply for federal internships and jobs one year in advance. It’s never too early to get started on your resume! Be prepared to have some down time between graduation and finding a job. Fill your time with something that will benefit you in an intelligence career. Maybe it’s taking a position that you will use your writing, research, or technical skills. Keep learning and growing!

IC CAE LINKS

The Intelligence Community (IC) 

The IC is an integrated group of 18 federal intelligence agencies working together to protect our nation's security.  The IC focuses on an ever-expanding range of issues, from terrorist financing to drug trafficking, from climate change and environmental issues to foreign technology threats and nuclear proliferation.

Learn more about the 18 IC agencies

Intelligence Community Career Opportunities

Intelligence Community Career Opportunities site

The IC is seeking a culturally diverse, technologically savvy and skilled workforce for exciting careers in a number of fields. The Intelligence Careers official site offers information on multiple student opportunities from multiple IC agencies.

Intelligence Community Center for Academic Excellence

ODNI offers a variety of training venues and training partnerships with other government agencies to assist with our ultimate goal of deploying alongside combat missions in trusted intelligence partnerships. For example, through our Intelligence Community (IC) Centers for Academic Excellence, we award grants to universities whose academic programs can provide a basis for intelligence or national studies programs. We operate in-house programs to train the diverse nature of our workforce through our Joint Military Attaché School (JMAS) and Joint Military Intelligence Training Center (JMITC) programs. And finally, our National Intelligence University (NIU) is an accredited curriculum, offering programs that allow members to be awarded undergraduate, masters, or certificates to students.