Analyst applicants have rated the interview process at CIA with 2.8 out of 5 (where 5 is the highest level of difficulty) and assessed their interview experience as 57% positive. To compare, the company-average is 48.7% positive. This is according to Glassdoor user ratings.
Candidates applying for Analyst roles take an average of 51 days to get hired, when considering 9 user submitted interviews for this role. To compare, the hiring process at CIA overall takes an average of 114 days.
Common stages of the interview process at CIA as a Analyst according to 9 Glassdoor interviews include:
IQ intelligence test: 19%
One on one interview: 19%
Personality test: 14%
Background check: 10%
Phone interview: 10%
Drug test: 10%
Skills test: 10%
Group panel interview: 5%
Presentation: 5%
Here are the most commonly searched roles for interview reports -
I applied online. The process took 1 day. I interviewed at CIA (Washington, DC) in Jan 2008
Interview
The interview lasted for about 1 hour. The questions were both about my professional qualifications, along with my personal situation. At one point the interviewer had me explain to him my understanding of the political situation in a region outside the US. I could choose the region I told him about. The interviewer was very interested to know my language skills.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
Tell me, in detail, your understanding of a political situation of a country outside your area of expertise.
I applied in-person. The process took 6 months. I interviewed at CIA (Los Angeles, CA)
Interview
There may be slight variations depending on the type of analysis you are applying to work on but overall they are looking for critical thinking skills and the ability to clearly express yourself.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
Tell me about a time when you had competing priorities, what happened and how did you respond?
It was an hour long phone interview. Pretty basic behavioral stuff to be honest. Most of the evaluation comes from your writing samples, the qualification supplement, your transcript, and the rest. I wouldn't sweat the phone interview. The security clearance though is what's gonna give you nightmares...
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
Tell me about a time you received negative feedback, and how did you respond?
I applied online. The process took 2 months. I interviewed at CIA (Chantilly, VA) in Jan 2018
Interview
After the application, about 2 weeks later I received an invitation to take an online assessment and write some essays. First was an online skills assessment which consisted of mainly logic games, like how would this unrolled six-sided figure look if rolled back up. Then a behavioral test with psychological questions.
After another 2 or 3 weeks, I received an invitation for an in-person interview. They fly you out to DC for an in person interview. Before going, they ask for more essays. You are responsible for booking everything and the perdiem they give you in the form of a gift card is less than the GSA rate so go cheap in your hotel.
At the interview, they group you into pairs of four or five and deliver a presentation initially on why the CIA is great. This takes about 30 minutes. After that there is a group information session about the specific position you are being interviewed for with a higher up from that division of the agency. This takes about 15 minutes. Finally, you go into a two-person panel interview where they trade-off questions. There was only about 6 or 7 questions and they all behavioral, none were technical, mainly focused on people management and "fit". After the interview they send you off home. I'm guessing if they really like you they ask you to stay or not.
I received an email notification about a week later that I didn't get the job. Kind of crazy they fly you out for a touch time of about 45 minutes to an hour. I thought my answers were cogent and got to the heart of the challenges in the government, i.e. the people and the red tape. But I guess with my private sector experience, I didn't make a good fit for a paper pusher.
Interview questions [3]
Question 1
Name a time you manipulated someone to get what you want?