How to Become a Spy

The world of spies appear exciting with lots of glamor and adventure which is a contradiction from reality. A spy works in a world filled with danger in every step, working against the enemies of the country staying in the enemy country. Spies provide a great service to their country but they are never openly acknowledged by the governments. People are inspired of becoming a spy as spying is portrayed as a career opportunity with adventure and a thrilling life. They actually do not have any idea of how to become a spy and what is involved in the world of a spy.

The World of Spies

A spy obtains valuable information considered as a 'secret' or confidential through unfair means which are considered illegal. The information is collected through unfair means like blackmail, bribery or enticement through other forms of coercion. The risk of the information being changed or countermeasures taken before the information is used, is very high. Spies are employed by a government department known as intelligence agency involved in gathering information or intelligence for the purpose of protecting national security against its enemies. The information is gathered through different means that includes espionage, intercepting communication, cryptanalysis and also by working with other agencies of similar profile.

The Work of a Spy

Spies are involved in activities considered as dangerous. They provide intelligence analysis through collection with the help of spy cameras and propagation of data related to national security. A spy provides advance warning of impending crises against the country and helps in crisis management by detecting the bad designs of opponents. Spies have to protect information related to national defense, military operations and secrets of their agencies using spy and surveillance equipments. They have to act covertly to influence events in their national interests. Spies are involved in activities such as counter-espionage or counter-terrorism.

How to become a spy

The process of becoming a spy is not actually different from entering any state department jobs. A person has to be a citizen of the country and pass through a selection process which is tough and rigorous. After clearing the process and having good experience and proper educational background, a person can still be rejected for many reasons. Here are some of the basic requirements for becoming a spy:

1. The person needs to be a citizen of the country to which the spying agency belongs.
2. A background without any criminal or bad debts record is a must and other qualities includes being trustworthy, ethical, dependable and responsible.
3. There should be no illegal drug record for the last 12 months and having no record is even better.
4. A good academic record with a graduate degree in a scale of at least a 3.0 GPA or 4.0 with subjects like international relations, economics, etc., are preferred.
5. Fluency in a foreign language as a native, especially languages that are spoken in many of the world’s political and military hot spots, is necessary.

Search for current employment opportunities at the specific websites and apply for a relevant position after examining the job description, to ensure the minimum requirements and prepare for the test. A medical exam designed according to the need of the job will be conducted, followed by a psychological exam to assess the level of intelligence, judgment and mental stability. An extremely thorough and lengthy background check will be conducted, checking the character and the loyalty quotient. There will also be a polygraph test done which is considerably thorough, and borders on the side of caution, if there is any scope of lies. After clearing the selection process, the job is offered and the training process starts with rigorous practice for using spy gadgets, spy phones and other equipments. Training is also given for maintaining full composure at the time of crisis and surviving in extreme conditions. A newly recruited spy is placed under a controller who provides some training in spying methods with instructions for obtaining and transmitting information. A spy has contacts only with the controller and no one else. Anonymity is maintained for secrecy and for keeping the nationality hidden. Spies work under compartmentalization where they works within their own compartment. It helps in situations where a spy is captured and interrogated. He is sworn to keep all vital information to himself at all costs.

The process of how to become a spy is not exactly tough but the life of a spy is much tougher. Some movies have even portrayed the role spy kids, which are non existent, inspiring children to become spy kids. The world of spies are already dangerous and it will be much better without these wrong perceptions.