If you are a smart and ambitious person, you are part of the police force and are ready to serve your country, you may want to consider joining the AISE (External Information and Security Agency). To do this you must be an Italian citizen, have the appropriate requirements and pass the checks that will be carried out on your background. Keep in mind that the selection process is obviously very competitive (as with all government positions) and that there are many reasons to fail a potential candidate. In spite of this, if this is your dream it is important that you commit yourself to make it come true.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Familiarize yourself with the AISE
Step 1. Find out what an AISE career entails before you decide you want to join
Although spying is the aspect that fascinates you the most, you must understand that there is also a whole other set of operations behind it. Most of the figures who work in the secret services, in fact, deal with analysis, study the information that is found and are familiar with new technologies. Your skills and attitude may open up new scenarios for you anyway, so be prepared for every possibility. Also, joining AISE is a bit like being part of a family, deep loyalty and ability to develop new social relationships outside of work will be expected of you.
- Whatever your position, having a role in AISE means being at the forefront of the defense and protection of your compatriots. You will work with people with strong integrity, intuition, analytical skills and intellectual curiosity.
- On many occasions you will have to do teamwork, so you need to have excellent team working skills.
- You will need to be able to achieve important goals, so it is advisable to continue your career in the secret services until you are able to work.
- The Agency is based in the Forte Braschi in Rome and is also competent within the Italian embassies abroad.
- The Agency hires qualified people, employees of the Public Administration, graduates in particularly rare technical or scientific disciplines, etc.. Among the professionals who cannot be hired, however, we find politicians, magistrates, ministers of worship and journalists.
- Before you even embark on the process of becoming an AISE agent, find out and do some research to understand what you will be facing - for example, how agents work (regardless of spying activity). Also remember that real-life espionage isn't like what you see in movies.
Part 2 of 3: Are You What AISE Does?
Step 1. Before starting the application process, it might be a good idea to do some background checking
If you're not entirely clean, don't even waste time running. Carrying out a preliminary self-check is important because - if false information is reported - you will be prepared for when you have to report it. Apply to the criminal record to make sure your criminal record is clean to avoid any nasty surprises.
Step 2. Stay perfectly clean
In the secret services every single position requires the security clearance, a qualification that you will get if and only if your civil and moral conduct has always been impeccable. The checks that are carried out are not publicly known (it would defeat their purpose), but it is quite obvious that there are legitimate and approved activities and behaviors, and others that must be avoided. If you want to be the ideal candidate you must meet the following requirements:
- Have a clean criminal record. Of course, this includes not having participated in any activity against Italy's interests, whether criminal or otherwise.
- Don't take drugs. Drug abuse at any point in your past can jeopardize your chances of being part of the Secret Service. Do not abuse even so-called legal drugs, such as alcohol and drugs, which can be seen as proof of your frailty.
- Have a good financial situation. This means that you are not dependent on gambling, you do not invest excessively in the stock market, you do not have bankruptcy or bankruptcy behind you. No intelligence agency would be willing to risk hiring a person who cannot manage their own money and is potentially corruptible.
- Be a hard worker and an honest man. Whatever work you have previously done, think about whether you have been committed trying to always give your best, and whether you have been ethical and honest. Loyalty and reliability in any working environment are two qualities that are a very important feature for the purpose of an application.
- Be a highly reliable, trustworthy and loyal person. Those who perform background checks will be able to ask questions of people in your circle of relatives, friends and acquaintances. If their answers are positive, good for you, your reputation will only improve.
- Understand the importance of keeping secrets and confidences. If you enjoy gossiping, working at AISE is probably not for you; you will need to be able to demonstrate that you will be able to comply with the rules regarding the use, management and protection of sensitive information.
- Having an exceptionally strong character and excellent judgment, and demonstrating loyalty to one's country. If any flaws in your past are found, the Secret Service agents will evaluate the nature, extent and period in which they took place. They balance the risks and benefits of each individual with the utmost care. If you have all the requisites but there is a small stain in your past, do not lose hope immediately: if the AISE thinks you are a valid element it will probably turn a blind eye.
- Have perfectly clean friends and relatives. While this isn't always possible, it would be particularly helpful, as any relative or friend with dubious tendencies could become a source of weakness for you should they get into some trouble. If there are any such problems, ask the agents what your options are and always be honest.
Step 3. Be highly competent in your field
The AISE chooses only the best profiles, although a particularly high degree is not usually required. Only in the case of figures such as Intelligence Analyst and Network Manager is a degree required, but without address preferences. In some cases, having a master's degree is a preferential title. The candidacy is however open above all to those who have acquired a good experience within the police.
Although there is no degree preference, having attended study paths focused on international relations, law, political science, history, security and defense, economics and finance (including international finance), mathematics, journalism, science (behavioral, physical, or computer science), languages, sociology or psychology, and anything else that can develop analytical skills will work to your advantage
Step 4. Learn other languages
The more you know the better, but learn to master at least one very well. In this period there is a great demand for people who can speak Chinese, Farsi, Pashto, Dari, Russian and Arabic, which are the languages of the countries that currently require special attention. Having a very good knowledge of the language is very important, especially if you are personally interested in gathering information by means of espionage. You must be able to speak a second language at a much higher level than school, preferably as if you were a native speaker. If your level of knowledge is not very high, try to improve it on your own or find out if the AISE gives you the opportunity to do so.
Step 5. Be flexible, friendly, and personable
The best way to get information from people is to be a good conversationalist and listener, able to relate to others easily and put them at ease. For some people these skills are more complicated to obtain than academic ones, so if you don't feel comfortable with people, either brush up on these skills through reading and courses, or make sure you give up those positions that require direct contact with any sources of information.
- Find out what piques people's interest; learn to recognize their abilities and understand how to please them. You will need to learn to have intimate and friendly conversations, and to form relationships with people of all kinds and simulate interest in what others say in order to find contacts and information that may interest you.
- If you can't make yourself attractive and likeable enough, becoming a secret agent is probably not a good choice. Likewise, arrogance, selfishness and pride will prevent you from taking part in the training.
- Learn to be open-minded. If for you something can only be white or only black ("I'm right, he's wrong"), you don't have the right mindset for the job. Open mind, willingness to dialogue and the ability to identify potential consequences are the basic elements in the analysis of each situation. Sometimes, for the sake of your country, you will be asked to do something that will not necessarily have beneficial effects on the population of another state. Do you think you can handle it?
Step 6. Stay fit
You will have to face situations where it is important to maintain good physical shape. Engaging in individual and team sports will show recruiters that you intend to keep looking good, are predisposed to relationships with other people, and want to preserve your health. Having a good resistance will be useful especially in the case of undercover work, being essential to be able to maintain lucidity for a long period of time.
Step 7. Keep your mind trained
You will be tested to see how you can handle emotional pressure. Furthermore, if you become part of the espionage actions, you will need to be able to manage the emotional pressure associated with dangers and particularly risky situations. For example, if you get caught you could be a victim of torture, and the government could deny its relationship with you. If, on the other hand, one of your contacts gets caught, you may not be able to stand the way you know they are being treated. You will have to deal with many difficult situations, for this the mind will have to be fit and able to cope with all possibilities.
Step 8. Be honest and sincere
Be prepared to face many trials; recruiters will want to make sure you tell the truth. If you get admitted to the interview, everything you say can be checked later, and by lying your chances of joining AISE will drop dramatically.
- Be prepared for periodic checkups during your intelligence career. A lot of checks on you will continue to be done (lifestyle, acquaintances, etc.).
- Maintain a high standard of conduct at all times, at work and in your free time, for the duration of your stay at AISE.
Step 9. Be prepared for travel and transfers
A job in the Secret Service often requires you to move from your initial place of residence. Also, many positions require frequent travel, which - especially if you're not ready yet - interferes a lot with family life.
Don't underestimate the stress this job will have on your personal life. If you are the type of person who wants to disconnect at 6pm to be home regularly to raise their family, you are not suited for this type of work. However, even within the secret services there are some job positions that offer the possibility of living a rather stable family life
Step 10. You must be an Italian citizen
Only Italian citizens can apply for the AISE. If you don't have citizenship, find a way to get it.
Part 3 of 3: Submit Your Application
Step 1. Apply to join AISE
If you are confident that you will meet the initial requirements, it is time to submit your application. You can do this online, by arming yourself with the necessary patience to go through the whole process. Send your application at this link. However, the fact remains that, in order to have greater career opportunities, it is necessary to proceed through interposition by the Public Administration Body where you have previously served.
- Follow the application instructions to the letter, otherwise your application will be discarded.
- Put your resume to perfection, you will have to send it together with the online application.
- Check the aforementioned site regularly to keep an eye on the vacancies that are posted.
Step 2. Be patient and wait
The selection process can be particularly lengthy.
- Don't write or call for feedback. So you won't get any response.
- Don't give up. Keep trying - it may be that you have applied for a position that you are not cut out for, or that many other highly qualified people have applied and that a small flaw in your application has prompted them to reject yours. Try again, and your persistence will pay off. In some cases, they might reconsider you once your experiences have improved; in this case, do what it takes to make them notice you.
Step 3. If you are successful and manage to be hired on probation, be prepared for the next steps
You will have to go a long way and go through numerous tests (physical, psychological, intelligence, etc.) before joining the Agency.
- Undergo medical and psychological tests. The first test is used to determine if you are in optimal physical condition to tackle the job, as well as to verify the use of substances. The psychological test serves to assess intelligence, judgment and mental balance.
- Wait for the background check to complete. This is a particularly thorough process and can take a long time.
Step 4. Accept or decline the job offer
If you pass the selections, you are in luck! There are not many who make it. Now you can accept the job and prepare for training, after which you will understand if you are made for this type of work or not.
- Attend the training period. For some positions, especially those related to espionage, you will have to face a probationary period during which you will have to successfully complete the training for your specific position. During this initial phase you are likely to be asked for a transfer.
- You will not be a secret agent until you pass training, which - depending on the position - can be very difficult indeed.
Advice
- Embark on a course of study that responds to your inclinations and abilities. When you apply, the Agency will figure out which position is best suited to your profile, and it could be one you haven't even applied for.
- You will be required to keep certain information confidential. If you think you can't keep secrets, this career is not for you.
- Unfortunately, there are currently no placement programs or internships for university students; however, within some faculties it is possible to attend courses that are committed to spreading the culture of intelligence and security.
- Consider joining the Army. With previous military experience you will have more opportunities to be hired in the secret services.
- Other frequently requested languages are: Greek, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Serbian, Croatian and Turkish.
- To apply, you must be between 18 and 40 years of age, although the 40-year limit may be waived in particular cases.
- Race, skin color, religion, sex, nationality of origin, disability, age and sexual orientation are not parameters that influence the granting, denial or revocation of the security license.
- Being a scientist can help. Espionage organizations often recruit scientists because of their special skills.
Warnings
- The famous phrase "Big Brother is watching you" cannot be truer in the case of the secret services or other government organizations. You will be constantly checked and monitored by your own colleagues without knowing it, and many of them may also work for other agencies - for example the AISI (Internal Information and Security Agency) or the DIS (Department of Information Security). Even if you are 100% trustworthy, chances are someone will want to poke their nose into your personal life just to experience a few thrills. If you cheat on your spouse, have online relationships, frequent chat rooms, have a lover, go with prostitutes or escorts, or have fetishes (just to give a few examples), you risk that this information will be included in the document that someone is filling out about you, even if it is useless and banal material. At worst, private facts from your life can be used against you. You may be stalked by one of your own, even if you have no reason to believe that someone would be interested in what you do even when you are not working. One of the likely reasons is to make sure you are not involved in any illegal initiatives, such as selling secrets or taking advantage of your position. It could also happen to make sure that you are not advocating opinions or behaviors that are considered deviant. It is in your best interest to give up vices and live a life as spartan as possible. You are not joining an organization that values or promotes individualism, let alone individual privacy.
- Secret Service training can make you more aloof and calculating.
- Don't lie in your application or hiring phase. The background check is done very rigorously, and if they find out that you have lied, in most cases you will be dismissed (unless it is a clear misunderstanding). Do not forget that the various intelligence departments communicate with each other: being discarded by one agency means precluding the possibility of becoming part of another.
- Be prepared to handle a considerable amount of emotional stress. The training, as already mentioned, is particularly intense (and, at times, even overwhelming). Once you start training, especially the one for espionage, you will be pushed beyond your limits to check how far you can go before entrusting yourself to a job where other people's lives are at stake. If your endurance is low, you will certainly have less chance of success.
