What are companies looking for?
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That's a great question Michael
I was in that arena for many years and transitioned out in 2016. Like you I was in the Guard which brings its own unique challenges. First, I would say you must be willing to relocate to the areas in which this work is flourishing. Second, you need to currently hold the required clearances the employer needs. Having expired clearances isn't exactly a deal breaker, but it already puts you behind other applicants because it takes forever to get re-briefed. Keep in mind how many thousands of Intel Analysts the military pumps out annually, and you begin to see your competition. Do you specialize in a specific area of need, albeit a region, or a knowledge of a problem set, or language that you can sink your teeth into. Do you have deep knowledge of one of the "INTS"? Humint, sigint, cyber, etc? Those areas are things you can highlight on your resume.
Also look at your years of experience and clearance level, education in this area and recognize that pay and desire to hire you will closely match your years of experience in a given topic.
Put another way, a resume of a person that has 4 years experience (im randomly selecting 4) with a TS/SCI and no poly is baseline for analysts. From my experience (20 years) they look for a full scope poly, and a distinct specialty in something within analysis as stated above. A bachelor degree is also highly desirable. The more bells and whistles you can add to your resume the better. Some here may have a different opinion, thats just my .02.
Hi Michael,
Thank you for your question! I must admit that I am not working in this sector, however, I do work with some folks who are in the field. One of the things that will give you an advantage is a valid security clearance. As you may know, this can be a long and costly process so having that TSI or better clearance will automatically give you a leg up. Also, take a look at this breakdown:
https://study.com/articles/How_to_Become_an_Intelligence_Analyst_Step-by-Step_Career_Guide.html
I think it offers a nice overview! Hope it helps!
Best Regards,
Konstantin
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