“What do you want to be when you grow up?”
My son has been asked this question numerous times over the last few years and particularly since he sat his GCSEs in the summer and embarked on his A-levels this September. He has no clue what he wants to do (apart from knowing he definitely does NOT want to be a doctor like his dad) so I advised him to stick to the subjects he enjoys until he has a clearer vision of his future. He has chosen the following subjects at AS level: History, Geography, Latin and Government/Politics. He thinks he’d like to go to University but isn’t sure what he would like to study. I was just the same at his age: thought I might like to be a pharmacist then changed my mind, read Geography at University and ended up in retailing. So I’m a fine one to advise him.
If only his subjects had been more science based he could think about a fantastic opportunity working with GCHQ. They are offering Apprenticeships in British Intelligence. How incredible would that be to learn how to make a real contribution in tackling cyber threats, terrorism, counter espionage and organised crime.
Working with GCHQ, MI5 (Security Service) and MI6 (Secret Intelligence Service), the two-year Higher Apprenticeship programme is based in Cheltenham for the first year and will consist of university delivered education and technical training. At the end of the two years you will gain a Foundation Degree and a level 4 Diploma in IT Professional Competence. This is the real deal: the first step in a career in British Intelligence.
If you have a teenager who will have, or hope to have gained by September 2013, three A-levels (or equivalent), two of which must be Grade C or above in Science, Technology, Engineering or Maths related subjects, and they like the sound of this, then they will have to be quick. They need to register for open days in Manchester, London or Cheltenham at www.careersinbritishintelligence.co.uk. Applications close on 30 November 2012. Applicants must be British citizens. GCHQ values diversity and welcomes applicants from all sections of the community.
I’m thinking of passing this on to some of Rory’s friends at school, particularly those in the year above him. They all loved the latest James Bond film so I’m sure this would be of real interest to many of them.
Sponsored Post
The intelligence clearance is very useful for cv and interview stage when applying for later jobs in IT but having spoken to a number of GCHQ IT people that do the same job as me, I have to say, the glamour is lacking! Lol Great base for training though.
I had a feeling it wouldn't be a case of sipping martinis all day! Shame 😉 But does sound like the training will be thorough. I didn't mention in the post but there's a salary of 17k which is something to consider when most students will be approaching their university education with some degree of anxiety because of the cost.
Sounds very exciting! Both my father and father-in-law were military intelligence and CIA during the Cold War and my boys grew up on some very exciting stories (after both were retired and wouldn't have had to kill us for leaking info, of course.) Wish they had something like this in the US. You have to be well into your University studies before you can get into a program like this.
I didn't know that about your father and father-in-law. They must have some tales to tell. Rory is studying the Cold War for his history AS level: I'll have to tell him this, he will be fascinated.
Oh, yes indeed… part of the reason MrL and I get along so well is our oddly dysfunctional childhoods – fathers who came home with different haircolors or different names, carried concealed sidearms, both of them were huge James Bond fans for obvious reasons…the best story my mother tells is the one when we were living in Bangkok during the Vietnam war. My dad was in the US military but undercover (I didn't know he was in the Air Force until I was 10, since I'd never once seen him in uniform that I could remember) and most of their friends were espionage-types/CIA. The rules (as explained to Mum) were that they(my parents and their spy acquaintances) could be seen together in public, but only if other known or suspected operatives (from the 'other side') were not around, in case they questioned my father's relationship with the clandestine community (his 'cover' was that of a graduate student in Asian studies.) However, since this had never happened, my mother never really thought about it. Apparently, one night she'd walked into a nightclub in Bangkok and spotted a CIA friend who was chatting with a stranger at the bar (the stranger's back was towards her.) She had caught the friend's eye and was about to wave and approach them when he began to slowly shake his head, 'no' in a way that she realized was directed at her (but would not attract attention from his companion.) She made an about-face and left the club immediately (my dad was outside parking the car) and told him what happened. As it turned out, she acted correctly, since she and dad -as a 'graduate student couple' were not technically supposed to 'know' this CIA fellow and her showing up could have blown Dad's cover. She said it was the first time she'd actually realized that the whole thing was real and serious. Hard to believe she's lived such an exciting life when we're trying to spot hummingbirds on her back patio over morning coffee…
Wow, that's so exciting. Can't believe how weird it must have been to have a father who came home with different hair! It really is James Bond stuff – the story of your mother nearly blowing your dad's cover is thrilling and scary at the same time. Thanks so much for sharing it x
What a intriguing opportunity. Certainly beats being a tinker, taylor or soldier. There are also opportunities for those who have only GCSEs with MI3 and Mi4.
I read about it in the news recently and was intrigued too. What a good start for someone who is tech-minded. If you don't do GCSEs do you just become M?
Or become a double agent on twice the salary and a free retirement apartment in Moscow.
Oh bugger, I didn't notice it was a sponsored post. Now, following my comment above, I'll have strange men standing the shadows outside my home.
And so, by association, will I.
Who are you anyway? Never seen you on this blog before. And anyway, they won't be interested in blokes who can't spell 'tailor' properly….
What a cool sponsored post to do! And what a job that would be, I'm guessing I'm too old to apply, not sure my GCSE physics would get me very far.
That's just what I thought! I don't get offered many and am careful what I choose to put on my blog but this was very interesting and relevant. I have a GCSE (well, an O level) in Physics too: think I'll join you.
At 43 I am still asked the question: what do I want to be if I grow up? There's a subtle difference.
Ah yes, those two letters make all the difference. Have you decided then?
Yes. I have decided not to grow up.
Great looking building isn't it? My son has a mate who works there….and says very very little about what he does……..
How interesting to have such a hush hush job.
I remember passing the building when we visited Cheltenham a couple of years ago. Couldn't get over the car parking!
A friend's son applied for MI5 but (luckily I think) got turned down fairly early on in the process. I'd hate my kids to have a job they couldn't discuss with me, not to mention the risks of some of their activities! But how wise you are to encourage Rory to cast his net wider than just university. So many people now think it's the only route from school and that you have somehow failed if you haven't gone to some crappy former Poly and got a 2:2 in Underwater Basket Weaving!
Ooh underwater basket weaving! Can you get a grant for that? Silly me, you can't get a grant for anything now. The cost of Uni now should make all families/students think carefully about whether a course is really worth it.
One of my friends was approached by MI5 to apply to GCHQ and told not to tell anyone. She decided not to apply, and to tell me. I'm sure she made the right choice… secrecy was not really her strong point.
The modern world is getting every more complicated to navigate. I don't envy my kids frankly.
ever, not every!
I don't think I could keep secrets like that either. I'd want to blog about it! Funny your friend should tell you straight away though.
Sounds like a really practical and tangible profession – great for my son who keeps shtum about everything in his life including what his grades are!
Haha! They can be very sly, these kids.
Good idea to pass the info on, it certainly is not easy to know what you want to do at that age… xx
I agree, FW. It used to be easy to say to youngsters to just keep within the education establishment if you didn't know exactly what you wanted to be. Pick a favourite subject, keep studying it at university and hopefully you'll eventually get an idea of where your career is going. With the costs of university being so high now, this isn't always an option. So paid apprenticeships seem eminently sensible.
Wellll, I’m not exactly the age to be applying to Uni, more like in my 30s – well double the 30 and add a bit. But pensions “ain’t wat they used ti be” so I am considering maybe working at something part time if I return to the UK to live. Do you think the Secret Service would have a place for an aging Pussy Galore?? Please note the “voluptuous” figure is due to the ravages of time, gravity, life, travel and good food in general. I don’t do well with guns, but if somebody gets me angry I can certainly punch them on the nose and make more than their eyes water — ayup lass, eeh by gum, nod, nod, wink wink, ya noh!!
Marion, Surfacing Slightly in Panama
Ah my lovely friend! Good to see you back here and in such good spirits.
I can just imagine you as a secret agent – in your youth or even as a mature Pussy Galore :-))
Ooh how exciting but Jack is doing A levels in politics, philosophy and law so couldn't apply
Similar type of subjects with my lad too. Maybe they can both enter the Civil Service instead via the traditional University route?