So you watched all your favourite spy movies (Bond, Jack Ryan, Jason Bourne, Austin Powers) and thought: hell yeah, I could do that! Well strap yourself in kiddo, I have some bad news for you.
Espionage as seen on TV doesn’t actually exist. Even the more realistic portrayals condense a bunch of different trades and jobs into one suit-wearing, martini-drinking super stud or studette.
What Hollywood sells as espionage is usually Human Intelligence (HUMINT) collectors working with their peers in other Intelligence disciplines to conduct intelligence collection. Far from saving the world, the job is to answer a commander or decisionmaker’s intelligence question, which can range from the most mundane topic imaginable to issues of critical national security.
Still reading? Ok, let’s continue. I spent most of my professional career as a HUMINT Operator, predominantly in a military context. I can’t speak too much for the civilian side but if you want a career in HUMINT here are some tips and advice for any young aspiring HUMINT Collector.
1. DON’T BE WEIRD
Before you apply for a position in military intelligence, your country’s intelligence service, or law enforcement, just ask yourself: am I weird? Do I make fast friends at social events? Do people think I am an arrogant loser or a shy guy? If you are able to make friends easily, communicate clearly, and listen well, you are actually in a good starting condition for a career in HUMINT.
Most HUMINT training applies the skills and attributes you have as a person to collect intelligence. People judge who they can trust based on social cues: would you trust your secrets with someone who looks like he is about to cry from being shy or someone who won’t stop talking about themselves? Ideally, find what ‘ticks’ you may have such as the cutting off people when they talk, the use of filler words (ums and ahs), and your conversation skills with random people to improve and assess your abilities in communications.
2. You Probably Won’t Get In
HUMINT isn’t for everyone, but not impossible and those who put in the effort generally are successful. The application process is rigorous and requires several levels of approval from psychologists, potential colleagues and supervisors, and security vetting staff. The hiring hurdles can be even more challenging depending on the organisation you want to work for.
If you manage to pass the initial stages, you will face some of the most mentally demanding training you have ever experienced. Then add to that the limited number of vacancies and competing with probably the best and brightest candidates in that pool. A good note to add is that if you are found unsuccessful in your application, there may be other roles in which you can apply yourself in the HUMINT field. These roles can be from analytical support to HUMINT operations, psychological support to the operators or to provide psychological assessments of their sources.
3. No one cares who you used to be
I used to be a Super-ninja-commando-EOD-Sniper therefore I can easily shape and influence people. Sorry man, that’s not the case at all. It doesn’t matter what you used to do in a past life. Personality often matters much more than experience. As I said, if you can communicate, listen well, and have social skills you will do well. Someone with a background stocking shelves can be just as good at this as a former fighter pilot.
4. Your Personal Life Will Take a Hit
Intelligence careers require some level of sacrifice. If you have a security clearance from your government, then you have information and capabilities to protect. For HUMINT Operators especially, you also have people’s lives depending on you. Protecting sources requires good operations security (OPSEC) and personnel security (PERSEC) methods and that usually comes at the cost of your free time. You will be away a lot for work, sometimes no way to keep in touch. You may not be able to tell your family, partner, and friends where and what you are doing. All of this comes at a cost to your social and personal life. Many make it work, but for others, it’s a deal breaker and the reason they look for other positions after a few years.
5. You Will Have to Deal With the Worst of Humanity
HUMINT operators have to establish a rapport with a source to get information. Who generally has the best information? Well, usually the people we are targeting, their supporters, and sympathisers. Whether you are military, civilian, or law enforcement you could easily end up talking to murderers, paedophiles, and terrorists. You don’t need to agree with them or participate in their actions, but you will need to build rapport with them and pretend to like them (sometimes). Nobody shares information with someone who tells them they’re a scumbag. As a HUMINT Operator, rapport is key and you can’t get very far without it.
6. Appearance Matters; Credibility Matters
I have been criticised for this point before but be presentable. You don’t need to be flashy or built like an ‘Adonis’ or a ‘Muscle Mommy,’ but how you present yourself is crucial. It’s not logical, but if you look credible, people tend to trust you more and believe that the information you are being provided is in safe hands. Successful salespeople use the same logic to sell cars and perfume. First impressions are not final but they do count, so dress well for your job interviews, even if they are online! Every hiring committee and source notes how you present yourself, so making an effort holds value in all HUMINT organisations.
7. Humour Can Penetrate All Cultures and Languages
Remember when I said rapport is key? Well so is being funny. You would be surprised how a good sense of humour can permeate through cultures. Jokes will enhance relationships with sources and assist you in tough times, but they also show your human side which is vital when building rapport. You don’t have to be a comedian (that can have downsides) but you don’t have to be a robot either.
It can also get you out of a sticky situation! Nothing disarms people more quickly than humour.
8. Different Levels of HUMINT Operators
There are different levels and qualifications of HUMINT Operations. There are military, civilian, law enforcement and a mix of all three. Also, there are Source Operators, Interrogators, Debriefers, and undercover operatives. This can all also be done in person or virtually. Consider what will be suitable for you and your personality. Someone with young children might prefer to be a debriefer than an undercover, and someone who’s great at (legally!) getting information from an uncooperative person might prefer interrogation over debriefing. The organisation you work for will also shape the role. For instance, the average police station will probably need more people who can interview than people who can go undercover.
9. You Won’t Make a Fortune as An Intelligence Professional
The vast majority of HUMINT roles are for a government organisation or some kind. Government jobs can pay well and have good benefits, but not enough to go out and buy that sweet sports car and the entire Seinfeld complete series box set. Even when you’re on the job, the taxpayer is not going to bankroll an invisible car and a penthouse in Tokyo for you. In some countries, people with HUMINT experience can find roles as contractors that pay better, but your mileage will vary and those opportunities would come years into your career. Ultimately, people pursue this line of work because they are good at it, believe in it, and want a unique experience more than they want cash.
10. When you leave you will be bored and no one will hire you because of what you did.
The job is demanding, it is high paced and it is so easy to get lost in it all. When you decide to leave the capability, you must understand that there is nothing like it on the outside. Nothing will compare to the experiences and you probably won’t be able to share those.
The end of HUMINT doesn’t mean the end of your career though! These skills and experiences are useful in many other roles. HUMINT Operators can make great analysts since they have first-hand experience with the collection side of things. Other roles in journalism and private investigations always benefit from someone skilled at developing rapport and collecting information.
I know I can come across as sarcastic and immature, but trust me, I mean well and I do hope this helps. HUMINT is a very rewarding career but hard to get into and extremely cutthroat. Socially, it will ruin you! You will assess every conversation you have and you won’t be able to stop analysing people’s body language. You will also cease to believe in altruism. Nevertheless, no role on earth compares to being a HUMINT operator, so if you think it fits your personality and lifestyle, don’t hesitate to apply. The worst they can say is no.Â
