CIA or State Dept?

[Anonymous]

I always thought that working for the CIA was more prestigious and the benefits were better than working for State. Let's say someone was going for an entry level, post masters degree job. Which one is better?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I always thought that working for the CIA was more prestigious and the benefits were better than working for State. Let's say someone was going for an entry level, post masters degree job. Which one is better?

Two completely different types of jobs. Totally depends on what programs you're going into, and what your type is.

[Anonymous]

Plus folks that are serious CIA ppl say they work for the state department as cover. Hah.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Plus folks that are serious CIA ppl say they work for the state department as cover. Hah.

+1 PP is right--my friend is one of those people. I only know the truth because we were roommates at the time she was going through the application process.

CIA is a more restrictive in terms of what you can say about your work (obviously). If you're looking for prestige, you probably don't want to be working at a place where you can't tell anyone what you do.

There are many different jobs in both agencies, though, so it also depends on what you would be doing.

[Anonymous]

CIA and State are both federal agencies, and both have federal benefits. CIA has a better cafeteria.

[Anonymous]

What's your skill set and what are your natural tendencies? While both have an international focus, how do you like to approach an issue? If you want to make policy and in most cases deal with "what should be", you go State. If you like looking at things to see "what is", you go CIA.

CIA has the edge on support staff. Their support staff actually try to see how to get things done, rather than look for ways to say no. They also have more money, although with sequester all government offices are hurting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What's your skill set and what are your natural tendencies? While both have an international focus, how do you like to approach an issue? If you want to make policy and in most cases deal with "what should be", you go State. If you like looking at things to see "what is", you go CIA.

CIA has the edge on support staff. Their support staff actually try to see how to get things done, rather than look for ways to say no. They also have more money, although with sequester all government offices are hurting.

This is a very interesting answer. I'm not OP but do you mind telling us your background (basis of knowledge)? I always thought I would love working for the CIA (as a romanticizing teen) but I'm way past feasability now. Just curious.

[Anonymous]

I work for State and would agree with 19:22.

[Anonymous]

CIA is way more flexible (in my experience) in terms of what pay they give for income DI analysts post-masters.

State FSO bands are a lot more structured it seemed.

19:22 is spot on.

In one of my interviews at CIA, the analyst on the desk I was interviewing for led of the interview by asking if I had applied to State and then asked if i was more interested in making policy? He was very clear that this was a very different job.

Mind you state has INR but that's a very small unit in relation to the rest of State.

[Anonymous]

as for the OP, State DOES NOT poly whereas CIA poly's everyone and often.

I suggest you think very long and hard about that and if you want to put your clearance and career in the hands of the knuckle-draggers at DD1.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Plus folks that are serious CIA ppl say they work for the state department as cover. Hah.

Depends what you mean by 'serious'.

NOC is way more 'serious' than run of the mill state cover that almost any employee gets when outside country.

[Anonymous]

Are you looking to stay long-term? Most of my friends at state like it but end up leaving after a few years, the CIA people tend to be lifers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's your skill set and what are your natural tendencies? While both have an international focus, how do you like to approach an issue? If you want to make policy and in most cases deal with "what should be", you go State. If you like looking at things to see "what is", you go CIA.

CIA has the edge on support staff. Their support staff actually try to see how to get things done, rather than look for ways to say no. They also have more money, although with sequester all government offices are hurting.

This is a very interesting answer. I'm not OP but do you mind telling us your background (basis of knowledge)? I always thought I would love working for the CIA (as a romanticizing teen) but I'm way past feasability now. Just curious.

OP here -- It wasn't for me, but for my fiance. My father worked CIA in the 80s and always said that, when stationed abroad, CIA had the bigger houses in the consulate, had more leeway in selecting what they wanted to do, better benefits, better workplace, etc. I told fiance this and he doesn't believe it and thinks that it's outdated. It might be! It's totally anecdotal, anyway.

Fiance is trying to secure a job in the intelligence community when he graduates this May. He (and I) wants to work abroad, either with State or the CIA, but is leaning more towards State. I know it's a complete apples-and-oranges question, I was just wondering if anyone had any quick and dirty opinions.

[Anonymous]

worry about getting a job first - both are extremely competitive due to the economy and the federal gov't fiscal situation. Right now your question is like whether you want to go to Bowdoin or Stanford. Don't sweat the small shit - just apply and see what happens

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:as for the OP, State DOES NOT poly whereas CIA poly's everyone and often.

I suggest you think very long and hard about that and if you want to put your clearance and career in the hands of the knuckle-draggers at DD1.

This is true. Took 9 friggin' months to get my high security clearance and I'm vanilla bland.