In addition, intelligence agents demonstrate leadership and show strong teamwork. Other requirements can include the ability to travel, familiarity with automated tools and systems, and foreign language skills. An applicant to any intelligence department must be able to pass a polygraph test, a background check to gain security clearance, and a psychological interview. After achieving the right skill set and education, there are many different paths a person interested in an intelligence career can pursue. An intelligence agent can choose from a variety of areas in either the government or private sectors. Some well-known government agencies with intelligence departments are the CIA, the FBI, the U.S. Department of State, and the Defense Intelligence Agency. All of these agencies can be applied to with an online application available at the agency's website. There are also many companies within the private sector that perform intelligence services for government agencies. Sytex, Inc. has a counterintelligence department whose primary efforts are to support counter terrorism and force protection missions and provide technological protection. Pacific Northwest National Lab is a private company whose main purpose is to provide full-time support to Defense Counterintelligence Field Activity (CIFA).

Aside from counterintelligence, there are many different areas an intelligence agent can focus in. Political and military intelligence, military capabilities, and crisis and operational technical support are a few areas. There is scientific and technical intelligence and medical intelligence. An agent can also work in transportation and logistics intelligence, economic intelligence, or measurement and signature intelligence. There are also departments that focus on collection...

Because protecting the intelligence of the nation in all areas is important, there is a department that focuses on nearly every industry.
Agencies and private companies compensate their intelligence employees well for the hard work required to meet the needs of the nation's security. A career in the intelligence field can bring many rewards, especially in the area of salary, benefits, and advancement. Government agencies have a starting annual salary between $28,620.00-$35,452.00. Automatic pay increases thru the first three years, and promotions based on reviews thereafter can raise that salary as high as $135,136.00 a year. In the private sector pay is based on education and experience and is negotiable between the company and the employee. The benefits are similar between the government and private sectors. Benefits offered include retirement plans, comprehensive family medical insurance, life insurance, paid annual, sick, pregnancy, and family leave, affiliation with a credit union, and alternative work scheduling, such as gliding, compressed week, flextime, part-time, and job sharing. Other benefits may include adoption assistance, moving expenses, recreational/health facilities, and childcare centers.

Careers in intelligence can be exciting, though demanding. It takes dedication to acquire the skills needed to successfully perform the requirements of the job. But a career as an intelligence agent can be very rewarding. Intelligence agents are highly regarded for their own intelligence and, through hard work, can achieve high levels of pay. The benefits offered offset the demands on an employee's time. And of course, lets not forget the satisfaction of having a direct impact in protecting the United States of America.