Yes, You Can
If you want to do a job that really matters, and where you matter too, MI5 has a role for you. Straight after school, you can help keep the country safe in a role like no other. Here, you’ll be part of our fascinating, vital and unique work. Protecting the lives of over 66 million people. Countering terror and combating espionage. As the threat evolves, you’ll help us adapt and stay one step ahead. You’re the next generation of brilliant new talent. We’re MI5 and we want you on our team.
Why be an Admin Officer?
You’ll make a name for yourself on the team that supports our every move. From booking travel and planning meetings to keeping your eye on the detail, while you’re keeping it all confidential. If your passion and ability shine through, we’ll give you every opportunity to take your career where you like at MI5. Your first full-time role will lead to great things at the heart of national security.
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Why be a Technical Apprentice?
You’ll learn some incredible skills. From creating new apps that track terror suspects, to developing innovative ways to stop espionage in its tracks. On our apprenticeship programme, you’ll earn while you learn, and you’ll get fantastic opportunities to grow and progress. Here’s where we’ll fast-track your future at the cutting edge of innovation.
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We’ll be straight with you. Yes, some of the challenges we face can be tough. But that doesn’t mean what we do is always stressful. Like anywhere else, we have lots of ‘normal’ days. And just remember, you’ll never be left on your own - there’s a real sense of all being in it together. So you can always lean on your managers, mentors and team.
To do what we do, we need lots of different perspectives, opinions and thoughts. It’s the only way we can solve problems. So there’s no one ‘type’ of person we employ. It just wouldn’t make sense. We’ve actually won lots of awards for our inclusive culture. If you’re open to learning and making a difference, you’ll fit right in.
There’s no denying that our work is serious, but that doesn’t mean our culture is. We’re so friendly – we promise! There’s no old-school hierarchy or calling people by their surnames. Everyone’s important, so everyone’s treated the same. It makes it a really collaborative and supportive place to work. There’s no such thing as an unfriendly person at MI5. It’s just not who we are.
We’re not really that interested in your age. (We mean that in the nicest way possible.) As long as you’re over 18, your age just doesn’t come into it. We’re interested in your talent and passion for learning. We have people of all ages and with all sorts of experience working across MI5. For some, working here is their first job. So just concentrate on your potential, because that’s what we’re focused on.
Parents and guardians
At MI5, we keep the country safe. It means we offer some really varied, interesting and unique careers. That’s what the TV shows do get right. But sometimes we’re portrayed as a dangerous place to work, or a place that only employs one type of person. While that might be the case in fictional drama, it’s definitely not the real us. We’ve got lots of opportunities, for lots of different people. And that includes school-leavers.
We actually take on people from the age of 18, and we offer a range of apprenticeships, internships, graduate schemes and entry-level roles. And once you’re in MI5, you can job-shadow other teams to learn what they do, and, after a few years, even move into other roles. A lot of people go on to have many different careers all under one roof.
But it’s not all work, work, work. It’s such a collaborative and social place that people quickly make friends for life. Our personal interests outside of work are really important to us. We’ve got a range of societies where everyone can get to know each other better and share their passions. These help us create our inclusive culture, where employees can be themselves and share their ideas.
So what are we after? All we’re looking for is someone who’s keen to learn and has potential. With this, we teach our employees everything they’ll need to know. We run a thorough induction scheme where all new starters can meet and learn about MI5. And no matter the role, there’ll be plenty of training and lots of team support. Everyone is assigned a ‘buddy’ to help them settle in. And we have a dedicated team on site to give security advice. Looking after our staff is our top priority.
That’s partly why our recruitment process takes longer than other companies. We ask candidates to go through Developed Vetting (DV). It’s our way of getting to know everyone who works here and making sure they won’t be vulnerable. Don’t worry, a dedicated and experienced Vetting Officer will be on hand to answer any questions they have and support them through the process. Our recruitment team will be in touch with them too. They’ll make sure they know what to expect next and update them about their application.
While the process is a little longer, we promise we’re worth the wait. But don’t just take our word for it. Visit our careers site to hear from real school-leavers and find out more information.
