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Map Your Career Path

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Career Director

A guide for your career at CIA.

The Career Director will help define your strengths relating to work preferences, personality, experience and talents. There are no right or wrong answers, so base your answers on how you actually are, not what you think the answer is supposed to be. This will allow the results to best fit your strengths. Based on your responses, Career Director will point you toward CIA career paths that you may wish to explore.

Identify Work Preferences

Please choose one answer from each section below that best describes your work preferences.

Team Orientation
   I prefer to work independently, on my own.
   I prefer to work independently, but will work in a group if required.
   I can work independently or as part of a team; I have no real preference.
   I can work on my own, but prefer the opportunity to be part of a team effort.
   I prefer to work as a member or part of a team.

Decision Making
   I would prefer to work in a support role, helping the people who make the decisions.
   I prefer to study and analyze a problem before I make any decisions.
   I am able to make quick and accurate decisions.
   I am very comfortable making important decisions, even in new and unfamiliar situations.
   I am very comfortable in relying on my good "gut" instincts in making decisions.

Travel
   I am not interested in a position that requires international travel.
   I would be willing to work in a position that requires occasional, short-duration, overseas travel (two to three weeks, several times per year).
   I would be willing to work in a position that requires occasional, extended tours overseas (two to three months, several times per year).
   I am eager to live and work overseas, depending on the location.
   I am eager to spend much of my career living and working overseas and have virtually no restriction on the location.

Languages
   I have no interest in learning to speak or write a foreign language.
   I would study and learn a foreign language only if required.
   I would like to learn a foreign language.
   I possess at least conversational skill in one or more foreign languages.
   I enjoy the study of language and I am fluent in one or more foreign languages.

Are you a Native speaker of any the following languages:
  • Farsi
  • Arabic language other than Farsi
  • Simplified Chinese
  • Mandarin Chinese
  • Korean
  • A Native American Indian Language
  • Dari
  • Pashtu
  • Turkman
  • Urdu
  yes no
Indicate your highest degree:
I have conducted research in one or more of the following areas:
  • Economics
  • Foreign Policy
  • International Studies
  • Political Science
  • National Security Studies
  • Other Policy/Foreign Study Area
  yes no
I have work experience in the area of emerging technology.  yes no
I hold certification or expertise in one or more of the following computer applications:
  • Lotus Notes
  • Microsoft, NT Environment
  • Cisco Technology
  • Information Security
  • Enterprise Network Management
  • Global Network Management
  yes no
Other than vacations or touring, have you ever lived overseas?  yes no
Have you ever worked overseas?  yes no
Have you ever lived and worked in one of the following countries or regions?
  • China
  • Middle East
  • South Pacific
  • India
  • Native American Indian Nation
  yes no

GENERAL VOCATIONAL INTEREST IDENTIFICATION

Please check all that apply for each section. You may choose more than one answer.

Hands-On/Technical

In my free time, I typically choose to…
   Build things
   Repair things
   Work with my hands
   Work with tools
   Work with my computer
   None of the above

I have studied and have a strong interest in…
   Engineering (electrical, mechanical, other)
   Computer Science
   Communication Technology
   None of the above

I have work experience in…
   Engineering (electrical, mechanical, other)
   Computer Science
   Communication Technology
   None of the above

Scientific/Analytical

In my free time, I typically choose to…
   Read about politics or foreign affairs
   Read about science
   Play challenging intellectual games
   Solve puzzles
   Read about economics
   None of the above

I have studied and have a strong interest in…
   International Affairs, Political Science
   Applied Mathematics or Statistics
   Biology, Chemistry
   None of the above

I have work experience in…
   International Affairs or Political Science
   Research and Analysis
   Biology, Chemistry
   None of the above

Creative/Expressive

In my free time, I typically choose to…
   Listen to music
   Read classic literature
   Write stories
   Play a musical instrument
   Learn about other cultures
   None of the above

I have studied and have a strong interest in…
   Creative writing
   Languages and language arts
   Applied arts (advertising, journalism, graphics)
   None of the above

I have work experience in…
   Translation or interpreter services
   Writing or editing
   Applied arts (advertising, journalism, graphics)
   None of the above

Social/Training

In my free time, I typically choose to…
   Talk with all kinds of people
   Do volunteer work in my community
   Entertain others
   Study foreign languages
   Read anthropology or psychology books
   None of the above

I have studied and have a strong interest in…
   Learning foreign languages
   Teaching or training others
   Studying other cultures
   None of the above

I have work experience in…
   Applied social science (psychology, sociology, etc.)
   Education or training
   Interpretation or translation of languages
   None of the above

Leading/Influencing

In my free time, I typically choose to…
   Network with others in my area of expertise
   Pursue self-improvement studies
   Serve as an officer in a community or volunteer group
   Seek out new and challenging activities
   Compete with others in sports or games
   None of the above

I have studied and have a strong interest in…
   Business
   Law
   Politics
   None of the above

I have work experience in…
   Sales
   Business or management
   Domestic or foreign politics
   None of the above

Administrative/Support

In my free time, I typically choose to…
   Keep my home orderly
   Follow a routine set of activities
   Plan ahead for trips, vacations or events
   Be the "detail person" for projects or activities
   Track my finances and/or investments
   None of the above

I have studied and have a strong interest in…
   Finance, budgeting
   Logistics or cost estimating
   Information technology
   None of the above

I have work experience in…
   Information technology
   Accounting, auditing
   Administration, Admin. Assistant
   None of the above

Upon Completion:

When you click the "Submit" button, your results will be automatically calculated. They should be used as a guide to explore CIA career areas that may be a good match for your strengths.

  

The CIA does not record or retain any of the information obtained in the Career Director. The results are for your information only.

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