Want to be the next James Bond, Fox Mulder or Jack Bauer?

As more students look for jobs at intelligence agencies and more agencies look for students, the Career Center is helping the two groups find each other.

“We know that there is a lot of interest in the student population for jobs within the intelligence community from people with a variety of different majors,” said Anthony Arcieri, assistant director of Career Services.

Last Wednesday the Career Center organized a question-and-answer forum featuring representatives from the Central Intelligence Agency, Defense Intelligence Agency and National Security Administration. The panelists were identified only by their first names and agencies.

The speakers fielded questions from a group of almost 70 students about careers in intelligence and security clearance “secrets.”

Most questions addressed what each agency wanted in new applicants and their resumes.

The panel stressed that intelligence-related jobs are among the most competitive for students. Qualified applicants have strong academic records, and foreign language proficiency, the panelists said.

Katie Easter, a freshman who attended the event, did not have a strong interest in clandestine operations until she attended the forum.

“After listening to the panelists explain the variety of opportunities offered in the intelligence field, I am definitely going to reconsider,” she said.

“Both lectures really detailed the process of how to get the jobs they described,” Easter said.

The Career Center also stresses that starting early is very important for those interested in building a career in the intelligence community.

The CIA’s representative noted that as many as 75 percent of those who do the CIA’s student internship program are offered jobs.

“We encourage students to get in early because their internship experience facilitates a full-time job,” Arcieri added. “If you want to make a career with them, it helps to get your foot in the door right away.”

The Career Center can help students interested in working in one of D.C.’s many intelligence agencies.

“We can walk applicants through the entire process and cater it with the agency that they are interested in,” Arcieri said. “Each one is a little different and we can help them prepare their resumes appropriately.”

He said the Career Center staff can also help students prepare for their interviews with each intelligence service.