Have you thought about working for MI5?
Do you know what kind of people we employ?
What kind of jobs do we offer?
We're always looking to recruit people with a diverse range of skills and backgrounds.
We have nearly 4,000 staff based around the UK.
The people who work for us reflect the society we serve.
We offer a wide range of jobs - a lot more diverse than people might imagine. From core investigative and operational roles, including:
- Intelligence Officers
- Surveillance Officers
- Foreign Language Analysts
- Intelligence Analysts
- Electronic Technicians
- Computer Forensic Experts
To the jobs that keep the organisation on the road:
- Vehicle Technicians
- Accountants
- Caterers
- Security Guards
- Business Analysts
We need that breadth of skills.
MI5 is responsible for countering covertly organised threats to Britain's security and economic well-being.
Threats that come from terrorism, espionage and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
By far the greatest threat comes from terrorism.
Even though the Good Friday Peace Agreement in Northern Ireland led to a more peaceful phase in its history there is still an active terrorist threat which MI5 and the Police Service of Northern Ireland work against.
There's an even greater threat from Al Qaida and all those who support its violent ideology:
Tanvir Hussein
"There will be daily torment in this world and a greater torment awaits you in the hereafter".
Many of our investigations focus on working to counter those threats.
Take this case from 2006.
Al Qaida was plotting to blow up airliners flying from the UK across the Atlantic.
An individual under surveillance in the UK went to visit an influential member of Al Qaida in Pakistan.
On his return, he led our investigative team to a group in London that was planning an attack in the UK.
MI5's team, which included a number of recent intelligence officer recruits, quickly identified the alleged terrorists. They set about providing covert intelligence coverage of them.
Rachel, 22, Intelligence Officer
"This was the first big operation I worked on, so it was a bit daunting at first. But I had lots of training to prepare me for it, and my mentor made sure I was OK. Looking back I can’t believe I only left university last year".
A team of intelligence analysts and computer network forensic specialists worked to analyse communications between members of the group, providing a unique insight into the progress of the plot.
David, 24, Digital Intelligence Unit
"It was a major challenge to keep up with what intelligence officers needed from us in terms of data analysis. We used state-of-the-art IT to help build a clear picture of what the guys were up to. There was a great camaraderie between all of the team that worked on the case".
In July 2006, it became clear the plot was reaching its final stage.
A flat in Forest Road, Walthamstow, became central to their activities. It became a bomb factory.
It was time to get approval to gain access to the property.
The Home Secretary gave the legal go-ahead.
A technical team, supported by surveillance teams and the police entered the property to install hidden listening devices and CCTV.
John, 53, Surveillance Team Leader
"Following the group was really tricky as they were paranoid about people watching them. We had to use lots of different surveillance officers to make sure we weren’t recognised. It was hard work, but this was the type of stuff I joined MI5 for."
The surveillance had revealed the plotters preparing video testaments. So-called "martyrdom videos" - justification for the acts they were plotting to commit.
Umar Islam
"Allah loves us to die and kill in his path."
Amira, 28, Foreign Language Analyst
"Listening to other Muslims planning to kill innocent people in the name of my religion was difficult to hear. My team was able to provide our intelligence officers with a cultural perspective to the group’s behaviour. The operation involved people of all ages and backgrounds working to protect the country. It was MI5 at its best."
All the principal plotters were arrested.
In all, eleven were convicted of either terrorist or other serious offences.
Work on the case continued investigating extremist associates preparing evidence for court, advising the airline industry on how to better protect aircraft.
This is just one case, one example of our teamwork.
For more information about careers at MI5, go to www.mi5.gov.uk/careers