Face to face with three CIA agents selected for the knowledge of one or more foreign languages; a look at a profession often mythologized by cinematographic and literary stereotypes, in reality they are ordinary people perfectly inserted in their respective societies.
Their competences range from the analysis of government plans of a foreign country or from the translation of television and / or radio broadcasts, to the role of interpreter during public or secret meetings; this valuable support work guides and optimizes the economic, political and military choices of the United States, creating very noticeable economic repercussions.
(Carolyn, Support Integration Officer)
Tell us about your journey to the CIA
I graduated in economics and was unmotivated to work in the business sector. I wanted to travel and immerse myself in other cultures and not monotonous work. Bumping into a CIA recruiter changed my life, I consider it a stroke of luck.
Why did you choose to work at the agency?
To travel and do a job that makes my country safer.
What are your skills?
I had a complete language training and my first assignment was in Latin America; I immersed myself in local life, making friends, participating in social events, among the options there was the possibility of marrying a citizen of that region and so it was, today I have a large family and my children are multilingual.
Do you feel realized?
Yes, as a supervisor in foreign countries I can advise and manage my team, negotiate with local suppliers and mediate relations with local partners more efficiently. We are like a family, my mentors, supervisors, and colleagues working in different countries. We are very united, I feel lucky.
What advice would you give to those interested in working for the CIA?
We need expert officers in languages, a competence appreciated and rewarded by the agency; our mission is a highly rewarding experience.
(Flora, Directorate of Science and Technology)
Tell us about your journey to the CIA
I met the agency thanks to my brother, they were looking for a native Spanish photographer, I also did the interpreter.
Do you feel satisfied?
Yes, my work is much appreciated and the experience gained in the agency will be part of me forever.
(Brian, Directorate of Analysis)
I spent several years in the private sector before joining the CIA, I wanted something different, I started talking to my wife about the possibility of changing my career. It was she who found the official website on the web and applied for me.
Why the CIA?
Because I thought it would be the best place to put my skills to use.
What is your typical day like?
There is no real typical day, we conduct an annual project to answer the questions politicians submit to us, the rest of my time I use it to translate and analyze information from various sources.
What is the most rewarding aspect of your job?
Provide intelligence to the ability to answer questions that would otherwise be unanswered.
They are among us, we will never suspect them, yet they are there, they know us, they study us, they analyze us, their reports determine economic, political and military choices at a higher level, they specialize in all infiltration techniques in a foreign country.
We can only imagine the implications in the military field, a subject not specifically addressed in the interview, in short, reality exceeds fantasy.
Source: www.cia.gov
(photo: web)
