| During difficult economic times, jobs in the | | | | CIA) require full scope polygraphs. Not everyone |
| Intelligence Community (IC) have shown | | | | can pass scrutiny. This barrier alone reduces the |
| remarkable growth and career value. As National | | | | available pool of skilled professionals and increases |
| Security continues to be a priority for the | | | | wage rates. |
| government, Intelligence Community jobs have | | | | The type of work and the environment in the |
| created interesting, well paying careers. | | | | Community is demanding and challenging. Many |
| Compensation in the Community is significantly | | | | professionals support mission critical projects and |
| higher than comparable jobs in other Federal | | | | strict deadlines are the norm particularly when a |
| Agencies and, because of the continuing need for | | | | national security event occurs. |
| Intelligence, career potential is high. | | | | Agencies also tend to prefer individuals with |
| Types of Jobs | | | | advanced degrees for the jobs requiring greater |
| By a large margin, the greatest number of jobs | | | | skills and this preference underlies the requirement |
| created are Information Technology (including | | | | for professionals with state of the art skills. |
| increasing skill requirements for Cyber Security) | | | | The work is very challenging, but usually very |
| with Engineering and Operational Support also | | | | rewarding. State of the art applications are |
| popular. This trend is dictated by the mission of | | | | developed that produce real time intelligence that |
| the Intelligence Community based upon collection, | | | | is valuable in the War against Terror. |
| analysis and dissemination of actionable intelligence. | | | | Non-Monetary Rewards |
| The amount of data processed by the IC each | | | | In addition to higher pay and benefits, psychic |
| day is enormous and extensive use of state of | | | | rewards in the form of job satisfaction, national |
| the art data management tools and techniques is | | | | pride and honor, and an overall high esprit de |
| a requirement in order to produce quality | | | | corps and morale add to the rewards of the job. |
| intelligence. | | | | This factor contributes significantly to the low |
| Professionals are employed directly and through | | | | turnover of jobs in the Community. |
| system integrators and other contracting | | | | Small Business vs. Large Business |
| companies and these individuals play an important | | | | Many of the employees working for the IC are |
| role in an effort to produce actionable intelligence. | | | | actually provided by contractors who respond to |
| Importance of Jobs in the Intelligence Community | | | | requirements of Agency end users. These |
| The national security of the American people is | | | | contracts are often long term engagements and |
| the top priority of the Federal Government and | | | | large contractors like Lockheed Martin, Boeing, |
| the mission critical requirements of the Intelligence | | | | BAE and Northrop supply thousands of IT and |
| Community require the best in technology | | | | Intelligence specialists under contract. In addition |
| providers. As a result, the 16 members of the | | | | there are a large number of smaller, niche type |
| Community that collect and interpret intelligence | | | | contractors that also supply valuable technical |
| information generally pay at least a 15% premium | | | | support personnel. |
| in wages for both employees and contractor | | | | Both large and small contractors offer premium |
| personnel. | | | | compensation and benefits but recent studies |
| The Wage and Benefit Premium | | | | show that smaller contractors offer the individual |
| Premium wages and benefits are offered because | | | | higher pay and richer benefit packages. This is due |
| the requirements and preferences of the IC are | | | | to the fact that smaller contractors have lower S, |
| demanding. | | | | G&A rates and can afford to provide employees |
| High level security clearances (often with full | | | | higher pay and benefits. |
| scope-lifestyle polygraphs) are required and | | | | Both large and small contractors are eligible for |
| advanced degrees are often preferred. | | | | long term contracts and job security is not |
| Obtaining a high level security is a difficult, | | | | dependant on the size of the company. Often, |
| expensive and time consuming process. | | | | smaller companies provide greater opportunity for |
| Bureaucratic delays occur at each level of the | | | | advancement based upon greater individual |
| clearance process. Extensive background searches | | | | recognition. |
| are required and at least two agencies (NSA and | | | | |