Central Intelligence Agency Employee Reviews
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Central Intelligence Agency insights
What people like
- Fair pay for job
- Clear sense of purpose
- Ability to learn new things
good place to work
Human Resource Administrative Clerk (Former Employee) - Herndon, VA - July 12, 2012
Indeed Featured review
The most useful review selected by IndeedI would file answer phones make books, The management was good to me the coworkers were fun to work with
Pros
benfits
Cons
stress from filing (self bought on)
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Job security
Special Assistant to the Deputy Director Central Intelligence Agency (Former Employee) - McLean, VA - February 5, 2021
An opportunity to serve your country and provide for your future in great Retirement benefits. The Agency is forward thinking in many ways and strives to advance diversity.
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Don't ever say you can't!!
Senior Mission Support Analyst (Former Employee) - Langley, VA - June 3, 2020
From a small town on the Florida Panhandle to the Nation's capital!! If I can do it, ANYBODY can do it.. It's scary to think about being such a small slice of a HUGE pie but being employed to assist in keeping our nation secure has been the most rewarding job I've done so far.. We'll see what the future holds!!
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Very good place to work
Logistics Specialist (Former Employee) - McLean, VA - February 12, 2020
In the agency you are given the opportunity to learn many different things After being accepted into the agency you are allow to apply for all types of jobs
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Depending on your office/location; environment could be very toxic or enjoyable.
Security Specialist (Former Employee) - McLean, VA - January 3, 2020
The agency is one of the most renowned organizations in the world; as such, I felt proud as a staff employee each time I walked through those halls. However, the culture could be very political and lacked diversity in many areas. While one may have fulfilled all of their requirements to reach a certain level; there still remained a hint of "not belonging", given the lack of diversity.
The agency offers excellent training, travel, and a plethora of opportunity for advancement as long as you apply yourself. However, be careful whom you trust in terms of management and do not make any mistakes, because if you don't fall within a certain click... it may be your last. The old adage certainly applies with this agency; "Its not what you know, but who you know".
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Rewarding place to work.
Watch Officer (Current Employee) - Langley, VA - November 26, 2019
A great work environment overall. Excellent management and plenty of opportunities to work abroad. You can taylor your career to fit your interests.
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Good people and good mission
Officer in the Finance Career Service (Former Employee) - McLean, VA - September 16, 2019
Good to work there. People know the mission and as individuals and as teams, want to get the mission done. Many types of personalities so it's a challenge to make sure you know what type you are working for. Just a learning experience in people as well as the job itself
Pros
Could be a full career for some
Cons
some locations are far so bad commute
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Excellent work place
Customer Service Representative (Current Employee) - McLean, VA - August 11, 2019
Central Intelligence Agency is a nice place to work.
They promote work life balance. I would recommend this
Agency to anyone has a good work ethics’s. I’ve been
With this agency for 12 years and plan on staying until I can
retire.
Pros
Excellent benefits
Cons
N/a
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Amazing place to work.
Mission Support Administrator (Former Employee) - McLean, VA - July 2, 2019
This is an amazing place to work, with talented and dedicated public servants. I would encourage anyone with a desire to work in the intelligence community to consider the CIA.
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Fantastic Agency
Secretary, IS (Intelligence Secretary) (Former Employee) - Langley, VA - June 11, 2019
I enjoyed working all the overtime with diverse employees. It was technically my first job and had to relocate to Long Beach, California. I wish I could work there again!
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Jobs at Central Intelligence Agency
Love it
Independent Contractor (Current Employee) - Langley, VA - May 30, 2019
This is a great agency to work for. I have loved being a part of the family here. The experience I have gained and the connections I have made will not he forgotten.
Pros
Great working environment, with some of the most brilliant minds in the world.
Cons
Too much traffic getting here.
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Great place to work - many opportunities.
Training Coordinator (Former Employee) - McLean, VA - May 17, 2019
Overall, CIA is a great place to work. There are many opportunities to excel, and to use the talents that you bring to the job. There is also the advantage of knowing that you are serving and helping your country every day.
A typical day at work depends on the nature of your job. I was an office worker, and my job was the same as it would be at any large company. However, I won't mention what my work was about.
I will say that I learned a lot, being privileged to travel to several places. In a few of them, my family was allowed to come and visit. This enhanced my daughter's education a great deal, and she and my husband got to sight-see and have quality time together while I was at work.
Workplace culture was mostly good, but does depend upon the nature of one's departmental management.
The hardest part of the job was learning secretarial duties, as I had not previously been one. However, since I don't have any college, it was the job that I had to come into. I was able to catch on quickly, and because of the wonderful people I was assisting, I enjoyed that first assignment a lot. After completing my first year, I was able to move to a higher position. However, I also worked in other secretarial jobs through the years, depending upon my goals at the time.
The most enjoyable part of the job was being able to travel, and to move periodically to different jobs and learn types of work.
Pros
Variable hours, interesting work - I would recommend working at CIA to anyone, the rewards are many.
Cons
Departmental management determines the culture of each office.
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We had the opportunity to change occupations with each position
administrative assistant (Former Employee) - McLean, VA - April 3, 2019
Typical day - go to work, make coffee, open mail, check any phone calls. Update and print calendars and distribute.
The hardest part was not being able to talk about my job with family and friends.
The most enjoyable part was actually being a part of a process and team.
Pros
Opportunities
Cons
n/a
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nice place to work
Catering & Events Manager, Sodexo (Former Employee) - McLean, VA - January 13, 2019
So many years I worked for this company so something must be right about them, lot of different types of events great people that I have became friends with over the years, I really enjoyed my time with the company while there
Pros
benfits
Cons
lack of manager skills there
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Toxic Environment STAY AWAY
Program Manager/Supervisor (Current Employee) - McLean, VA - December 26, 2018
Current employee, have seen a lot of dirty things. Terrible corruption going on in the senior ranks--either your on board or kiss your career good bye. This tribal mentality is often joked about among the working ranks and compared to being voted off the island in the TV series Survivor. Makes it very toxic and causes good people to put their ethics aside and look the other way in order to keep their careers. I joined like most as a patriotic American defending my country against terrorists or hostile adversarial countries. The management cares little about the mission and are solely focus on maintaining their positions/careers or filing their pockets. They frequently hold up the sacrifices of its hard working and patriotic staff as an example of their commitment to country --don't believe it. Go get a good job with Apple, Google, SpaceX, or some good tech firm.
Pros
Good travel, sense of serving your country.
Cons
Corruption, toxic and hostile work environment, sexual harassment.
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Security Protective Service
Police Officer II (Current Employee) - McLean, VA - December 19, 2018
I am a federal police officer. I control access and egress at a gate. I watch CCTV monitors and control access inside access to authorized personel. I am a mobile patrol and ensure the surrounding area is secure.
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Great opportunity
Logistics Service Officer (Former Employee) - Langley, VA - December 9, 2018
Great, unique opportunity to serve the intelligence community and Federal government in various capacities. An opportunity to serve a greater purpose.
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Serving the frontline of your nation
Deputy Team Chief, Directorate of Operations (Current Employee) - Langley, VA - November 26, 2018
An unbelievable place to work with plenty of opportunities to advance the mission of protecting to the United States of America. Everyone is mission focused and has the best interest of the US in mind.
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First job out of college; excellent experience
Security Generalist (Former Employee) - McLean, VA - October 9, 2018
CIA was a real good job as I learned the "tradecraft" of being a Securty generalist. (Personnel, Physical, COMSEC, Training Instructor. Highlight was supporting the DCI's Counterterrorism Center right after the 911 attack.
Pros
Learned IC Security with varied assignments.
Cons
After 17 years, I decided to leave and go contract. After the DCI Counterterrorism role, I took a hard look at career advancement.
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Cia
Special Assistant (Former Employee) - McLean, VA - August 14, 2018
Excellent Job. Many benefits, Team work, the ability to continue your education.
The hardest part of the job was to write a par. It is hard to brag on yourself for some people and I am one of those people. I got to travel with other team mates and to make a difference.
Pros
too many to name
Cons
commute
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after 22 years it was time to go
Chief, Group in the Counterterrorism Center (Former Employee) - Langley VA - May 22, 2018
I did some great things there, and something I didn't support nor prefer. It was time to go. Which is whey I spoke to highly of doing business development for Knowledge systems and helping them grow.
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Ask a question about working or interviewing at Central Intelligence Agency. Our community is ready to answer.Ask a QuestionOverall rating
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Ratings by category
4.1Work/Life Balance
4.2Compensation/Benefits
4.2Job Security/Advancement
3.8Management
4.1Culture
Ratings from women
2.5
InHerSight Score3.8Personal Development
2.0Career Opportunities
1.8Family Support
Women rate the female-friendliness of their workplaces on InHerSight
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Questions about Central Intelligence Agency
- How did you get your first interview at Central Intelligence Agency?6 people answered
- Can I apply if I do not live in Washington?3 people answered
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- Are some of your Special Assistants assigned to HQ only (and never to other, i.e. overseas, posts)?3 people answered
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