Hello,

This is my first time here.  I just recently applied for a CIA analyst position online about a month ago, and have not yet heard anything back.  

I consider myself a good candidate (went to a top college, military experience, etc...), so I am curious as to why I haven't heard anything back.

Has anyone here at least received some kind of rejection letter after applying online, so at least you know they rejected you, and your application wasn't simply lost in the system?

Thanks,
JimmyDean

T.M. Cullen wrote on Feb 17^th, 2008 at 7:18pm:


I suspect the CIA (and other well-known federal agencies like the FBI) employs the pre-employment polygraph to quickly thin the pool of applicants.  Much cheaper and faster to eliminate the bulk of the applicants at the beginning of the process using screening polygraphs than to conduct detailed background investigations.

Previous postings suggest a ratio of 50 applicants per opening for the coveted job of FBI Special Agent (SA).  I can sympathize with the FBI for using the polygraph at the beginning of the process.  Even with a failure rate of 50% (quoted on this website), that still leaves 25 applicants per opening, a daunting task for the FBI employment office.

Jimmy Dean...try to determine the number of applicants per opening for the particular CIA position you are applying.  Ask yourself if it is worth the trouble and possible risk to your job prospects in the federal government if you fail the CIA polygraph (should you be lucky enough to get that far).

Regards,
Evan S

I think you should not be afraid to apply more than once.  I applied several times.  The last time I applied I only wrote three sentences in the about me section and got a response.  Prior times I wrote a page and didn't get anything.  Show them your interested and not just a UFO fan applying once.