CIA recruits at IU for jobs, internships

The CIA was on campus Thursday evening to talk to students about the opportunities available in the agency. All myths of the CIA as trench coat-wearing James Bond look-alikes were demystified as they described to students what qualities they were looking for in prospective employees.\n"We provide actionable information ... how the CIA works to protect national security," said Andrew, one of the recruiters for the CIA. His last name cannot be disclosed because of privacy laws. \n"We tell people that the work is not anything like what it is shown in the movies," he said. "We are here to tell what our world is truly all about. We want to be honest and frank with them," Andrew said.\nApart from holding an information session, the CIA also scheduled students for interviews for jobs and internships. However, the number of students signed up was also classified information.\nThe CIA was looking to recruit students for positions as analysts, clandestine services, open source officers and others. \n"Open source officers are those who analyze foreign media," Andrew explained.\nSome of the qualities in students that the CIA was looking for were, among others, language skills, students who have studied in a certain region or area of the world or students who are area experts.\nThough the CIA does recruit from Ivy League schools on the East Coast, IU is one of the preferred "solid" universities because it feels IU offers some of the best programs in the country.\n"The recruiters are attracted to IU because of its good reputation, strong foreign language programs, IT and business programs," said Patrick Donahue, director of the Career Development Center.\nA School of Public and Environmental Affairs graduate student, Jeffrey Blake came to attend the session to see what opportunities the CIA offered in the field of public finance. \n"I want to work with the CIA because it is one way of serving the country, and being in public affairs, I feel I can really help my country out," he said.\nIU has numerous alumni working with the CIA, but the number of those working currently is classified, though Andrew revealed one very successful alumnus in the agency.\n"The deputy director of Foreign Broadcast (Intelligence Service) is an IU alum," Andrew said.\nSome came for job opportunities, others to test waters and explore avenues and yet others for internships. The session saw nearly 110 people in attendance.\n"It is a record turn-out, and we are very pleased that we are able to help students and give them opportunities with some of the best employers," Donahue said.\n-- Contact staff writer Hina Alam at halam@indiana.edu.