Although being a spy is not like film or TV depictions, it is a job that dedicated and skilled individuals can pursue if they want to help their country. Several government agencies employ intelligence officers, meaning there are multiple career paths.
Spies might seem like a throwback to earlier days of world wars and cold wars, but they are more common than ever—and they are targeting our nation's most valuable secrets.
ASIS officers work in Australia's secret services, acting on behalf of the country and gathering information about potential threats. If you are interested in becoming an ASIS agent, it's a good idea to have an understanding of what the job entails.
Australia has busted a "hive" of spies which has been operating in the country for years, its intelligence chief says. Mike Burgess did not identify any countries behind the network, but said the undercover operatives appeared to be "highly trained".
How much does a Spy make? As of Apr 30, 2023, the average annual pay for a Spy in the United States is $51,139 a year.
How much does Australian Secret Intelligence Service in Australia pay? The average Australian Secret Intelligence Service salary ranges from approximately $91,128 per year for Security Officer to $152,616 per year for Director.
Along with traditional application requirements, expect to undergo a significant screening process that includes a full background check and several rounds of interviews at a federal agency. For many intelligence officer roles, this process takes some time—even up to two years.
ASIS was formed in 1952 but its existence remained secret within much of the government until 1972. ASIS is comparable to the American CIA and the British MI6 (formerly known as the Secret Intelligence Service). Australian Secret Intelligence Service. Intelligence agency overview.
Australian Secret Intelligence Service (ASIS)
We collect and distribute foreign intelligence to protect Australia's security and promote Australia's interests. We are Australia's overseas secret intelligence agency.
Australian Security Intelligence Organisation
ASIO is the nation's security service. ASIO protects Australia and Australians from threats to their security. ASIO collects, assesses and investigates intelligence on threats targeting Australian interests – including terrorism, espionage and foreign interference.
The average ASIO salary ranges from approximately $77,898 per year for Information Manager to $152,972 per year for Software Architect.
Local spies are hired from among the people of a locality. Inside spies are hired from among enemy officials. Reverse spies are hired from among enemy spies. Dead spies transmit false intelligence to enemy spies.
Private 'spies for hire' are increasingly being used to gather evidence for multimillion-pound legal battles at London's Royal Courts of Justice, a hive of global corporate litigation relying on an intelligence industry valued at more than £15bn ($18bn) worldwide.
Qualifications for Spy Training
You must be at least 23 years old, but younger than 37 unless you're a veteran and meet waiver qualifications. You'll need a bachelor's degree from an accredited university, some work experience and a driver's license.
The ACIC is Australia's national criminal intelligence agency. We work with our law enforcement partners to make Australia hostile to criminal exploitation.
Potential spies will no longer need to be born in the UK in order to apply to MI6, but they are still required to hold British citizenship.
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) is a progressive and multi-faceted law enforcement organisation taking a strong lead in the fight against 21st century crime.
ASIO is part of the Australian Intelligence Community and is comparable to the American FBI and the British MI5. ASIO has a wide range of surveillance powers to collect human and signals intelligence.
Do ASIS officers carry weapons? Yes, but only in certain circumstances and only for self-defence purposes. ASIS's legislation provides for the protection of our people. Schedule 2 of the Intelligence Services Act 2001 sets out the conditions by which ASIS officers are permitted to carry weapons.
Keeping our staff safe is a huge priority, and as a result, we ask all employees to be discreet about their association with ASIS – especially during the application process. Once you are employed, you'll be able to discuss the process of telling someone (spouse or family member) of your employment with ASIS.
We are looking for average height, build, appearance,” MI5's new application forms for jobs say. The form for the domestic intelligence service states in unequivocal terms that: “Applicants would ideally be no taller than 5ft 11in for men and 5ft 8in for women.”
For spies to gather valuable intelligence, they have to be intelligent, too! Spies often speak several languages and must be able to memorize lots of information important to the completion of a successful mission. Spies also must be creative and able to adapt to situations that change quickly.
The key attributes of a good spy include strong critical thinking and communication skills, logical thinking skills, and a love of codebreaking puzzles.