Equal Opportunities
At MI5 and MI6 diversity and inclusion are critical to our mission. To protect the UK, we need a truly diverse workforce that reflects the society we serve. This includes diversity in every sense of the word: those with different backgrounds, ages, ethnicities, gender identities, sexual orientations, ways of thinking, and those with disabilities or neurodivergent conditions. We therefore welcome and encourage applications from everyone, including those from groups that are under-represented in our workforce such as women, those from ethnic minority backgrounds, people with disabilities, and those from low socio-economic backgrounds.
Find out more about our culture, working environment and diversity on our website:
https://www.mi5.gov.uk/careers/working-at-mi5/diversity
https://www.sis.gov.uk/working-at-mi6/diversity-and-inclusion
We’re Disability Confident
MI5 and MI6 are proud to have achieved Leader status within the DWP’s Disability Confident scheme. This is aimed at encouraging employers to think differently about disability and take action to improve how they recruit, retain, and develop disabled people. As a Disability Confident Leader, we aim to ensure that a fair and proportionate number of disabled applicants who best meet the essential minimum criteria for this position, will be offered an interview, if it is practical for us to do so. (this is known as Offer of an interview). To secure an interview for this role, the minimum criteria (in order of application process) are:
- Demonstrate a strong motivation and commitment to work for the UK intelligence agencies, assessed at application form sift.
- Demonstrate an interest in IT and new emerging technologies, either through work experience or self-taught, assessed at application form sift.
- Achieve a pass in the online codility aptitude test
There is a wide range of extra support available throughout the recruitment process to enable you to do your best, see our website for information on reasonable adjustments (link) we can offer.
https://www.mi5.gov.uk/careers/applying-for-jobs/application-process
https://www.sis.gov.uk/how-to-apply
What to Expect
Our recruitment process is fair, transparent, and based on merit. Here is a brief overview of each stage, in order:
- Application sift, looking at your technical interests and general motivation for the role and organisation.
- Online codility test, examining your responses to different situations typical to the role.
- Motivational Fit and Competency Based Interview, exploring the skills you can offer and motivations for undertaking the role.
- Technical interview, exploring your aptitude for problem solving and technology.
If successful, you’ll receive a conditional offer of employment, subject to vetting.
Please note, you must successfully pass each stage of the process to progress to the next. Your application may take around 6 to 9 months to process including vetting, so we advise you continue any current employment until you have received your final job offer.
Before You Apply
To work at MI5 and MI6, you need to be a British citizen or hold dual British nationality. You can read our full eligibility criteria here.
https://www.mi5.gov.uk/careers/applying-for-jobs
https://www.sis.gov.uk/how-to-apply/eligibility
This role requires the highest security clearance, known as Developed Vetting (DV). It’s something everyone in the UK Intelligence Community undertakes. You can find out more about the vetting process here.
https://www.mi5.gov.uk/careers/applying-for-jobs/vetting
https://www.sis.gov.uk/how-to-apply/vetting
Please note we have a strict drugs policy, so once you start your application, you can’t take any recreational drugs, and you’ll need to declare your previous drug usage at the relevant stage.
The roles are based in London and Greater Manchester, so you’ll need to live within a commutable distance. Please note that the roles are based in Greater Manchester and NOT Central Manchester. Please consider any financial implications and practicalities before submitting an application. An interest-free loan via our benevolent fund is available to assist with relocating into privately rented accommodation to take up the offer of employment.
Please note, you should only launch your application from within the UK. If you are based overseas, you should wait until you visit the UK to launch an application. Applying from outside the UK will impact our ability to progress your application. You should not discuss your application, other than with your partner or a close family member.
Right to Withdraw Statement:
Please be aware that we reserve the right to bring forward the closing date for this role from the original closing date once a certain number of applications have been received. Please be mindful of this and submit your application at your earliest convenience to avoid disappointment.
Before you apply, we advise you to consider setting up a separate email address for your contact with us, to ensure your personal and application correspondence remain separate. Try to avoid having identifying features in your email address, such as your first and/or surname and date of birth. This is good practice and will help you to manage your application with us more securely.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
