BUT, at an agency the clients come first. Creative agencies can be some of the best employers. The Americans were keen to use him when they learned he had also been recruited by the foreign intelligence arm of the Stasi the renowned Hauptverwaltung (Chief Administration) A, known by its acronym HVA. This operation started in 1987, amid investigations into the 1985 losses the FBI and the CIA had suffered during a wave of arrests among their agents in the USSR. More is known, however, about the frequently tough conditions under which CIA spies must work. Working as a real estate agent is pretty relaxed. Knowing someone else was imprisoned, tortured or killed because you didn't do your job properly is a terrible burden. His wife did not know the details of his spying, but she was aware of the many trips he made behind the Iron Curtain to meet his Stasi handlers. CIA field agents may operate in large cities and small towns or out in harsh countryside or rural environments. In other words, his interrogators seemed to lack proof. As an insurance agent, you may also be able to work from home. At an agency you might get the feeling like youre just a number. He told us: The BVD abandoned me completely after all those years that I had risked my life This document came to play a role in his dealings with the Dutch service after his spying career had ended. Specialized skills officer 7. Protective agent 8. Also make sure to check out the following articles: Advantages and disadvantages of working as a politician, Advantages and disadvantages of working as an air traffic controller, Advantages and disadvantages of working as a painter, https://www.statista.com/statistics/194232/number-of-us-insurance-brokers-and-service-employees/, https://www.statista.com/statistics/422878/annual-median-salary-financial-insurance-real-estate-united-kingdom-uk/, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independent_insurance_agent. Operations officer 2. But you have to balance that out with the buzz of working in the secret world. Consequently, insurance agents dont have a high social standing and you may also get many snarky comments when you tell people about your profession. Our professionals play critical roles in preempting threats and furthering national security objectivesfrom working against terrorism and cyber-attacks to preventing the spread of biological weapons and more. He asked for their assistance in getting treatment from an agency with experience in treating the emotional burdens of a long-time double agent. Depending on your job, agencies are known to be lenient when it comes to dress code. As an insurance agent, you can rather work in a cozy office where you will even have air conditioning or heating to make your time at work as convenient as possible. Is It Easy for a Woman to Become an FBI Agent? As an insurance agent, you can avoid those issues, at least if you are financially responsible and dont waste your money on things you actually dont need instead of investing it in senseful investment projects. In fact, you will consult many different people each day and this means that you will get in touch with many different characters. Everything is organized on customizable boards. When a problem arises, implementing a solution to that problem often takes time. In our current state of the world, the job market changes rather quickly and it is also questionable whether insurance agents will still be needed in the future. The number of CIA assets lost in China rivaled those lost in the Soviet Union and Russia as a result of the betrayals by CIA officer Aldrich Ames and FBI agent Robert Hanssen, who were arrested in . You are left entirely to your own devices. An FBI agent may be shot at, and encounter other life-threatening situations. Actor Roger Moore, who played secret agent James Bond in the '70s and '80s, holds a martini. This lack of cooperation on the part of the AIVD intensified Ms feelings of bitterness. If you like quick organizational change and seeing your ideas rapidly turn into action, you may be unhappy working for the FBI. Situations such as trying to extract an organized crime ringleader from a house or attempting to rescue a kidnapped child put you in volatile positions that could leave you injured or even dead. The CIA instructed M to observe the behaviour of Wolfgang and Heinz because the Stasi and KGB collaborated closely. A typical art director in advertising agency works long hours. Border officials of the German Democratic Republic on the Berlin wall in front of the Brandenburg Gate in 1980. In the end, however, he told us about it in great detail something he had never done before, not even to his wife of many years. Some people may shrug these types of experiences off and go on without missing a beat. As an insurance agent, your level of success will also significantly depend on your trustworthiness. He added: You become totally demoralised. Common areas of investigation include computer hacking, finance and accounting fraud, illegal gambling, terrorism and human trafficking. In my opinion, people often make the mistake to choose their profession solely based on how much money they can earn from it instead of doing what makes them really happy. I can forget people's names two minutes after being introduced to them, but I retain a lot of seemingly unimportant details which can be terribly important when dealing with a mass of paperwork on your desk or when you are out in the field trying to remember what your brief was. I received medals from them, whereas the BVD never gave me a medal or another sign of recognition, not even a ballpoint. Then, during a subsequent meeting, Wolfgang said out of the blue: You dont like brown eyes, do you? M was shocked. In fact, if you are able to get a job at one of the big insurance companies, chances are that you will be able to enjoy plenty of leisure while still making decent money at the same time. I have to assume you mean is there a Disadvantage to being an Military Intelligence Servicemember as opposed to being in the Intelligence business as a civilian. Changes are high youll find the perfect match. Special agents must be open to transfers to different field offices and locations, both domestic and international, at all times. This is quite sad and I just want to give people a more objective picture of how a fulfilling career could look like. Sueddeutsche Zeitung Photo / Alamy Stock Photo, in an episode of The Conversation Weekly podcast, Committee Member - MNF Research Advisory Committee, PhD Scholarship - Uncle Isaac Brown Indigenous Scholarship, Associate Lecturer, Creative Writing and Literature. Thus, you will also not be stuck in your job forever when you first start as normal insurance agent. But throughout this time, his primary loyalty was to the Dutch service and the CIA. CIA operations officers must also be able to obtain security clearances. nibusinessinfo.co.uk The CIA takes the best and the brightest students: CIA officers must have at least a bachelor's degree. He told us: In that world, they just fuck you. Possible income is a major consideration when choosing any career path. He was then taken to another safe house where he was given an award: a Golden Distinguished Service Medal of the National Peoples Army (Verdienstmedaille der Nationalen Volksarmee). It stated that from then on the BVD would no longer bear any responsibility for him. Please note that all the information I provide on this website is to my best knowledge. Even though you may be able to make a decent living from what you are doing, you will still not get rich as an insurance agent. Instead, they have to work outdoors even during periods of rain and snow and this can be quite annoying. Ability to think yourself out of jams. As an insurance agent, you will also have to work in a classical office job. But if you are eager enough to handle all the cons of being a creative in an advertising agency, it might be the perfect place for you. Be on such a high intellectual plane that you forget to bathe, brush your teeth, wash your clothes, etc. The Hohenschnhausen Memorial in Berlin, a former Stasi prison. At a meeting in East Berlin shortly after his marriage, Wolfgang and Heinz asked M if he would appreciate a Frauenbesuch (a female visitor) on a particular evening. The Federal Bureau of Investigation: New Agent Training. You will not have to work on weekends or holidays. A lot of agencies tend to overwork their creatives. He currently owns and operates a vending business. After obtaining a degree in engineering, he fulfilled his military service with the Dutch army and began his career at the large multinational. After all, I went behind the Iron Curtain for them on many occasions. Copyright 2023 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media, All Rights Reserved. M feels the CIA abandoned him after the cold war, when he was no longer useful for them. Whether your goal is to become a senior creative director or become an agency executive, you have potential for great advancement. Advertising is a meritocratic industry. Until then I was engaged in all kinds of geopolitical developments, I was right on top of them. It is also clear, however, that traumatic memories from that period continue to be a considerable burden to him. Some agencies are known for their parties to get their employees together. In fact, most insurance agents will start working between 7 and 9 a.m. and will leave their workplace between 5 and 6 p.m. Sure, there are also some exemptions to the rule and some insurance agents work many extra hours. Extensive knowledge about different insurance products can also greatly benefit you in your own personal life. I didn't even know the difference between MI5 or MI6. It just hadn't come across my radar at all. Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning, I knew the job wasnt going to be James Bond but I was curious to know more. The Federal Bureau of Investigation: Frequently Asked Questions. However, Ive quit pretty soon after that since I havent found true meaning in my job. His two long-time Stasi handlers were known to him as Wolfgang and Heinz. But I can recruit a scientist who is already there. Casually use words like histrionics, viscosity, hegemony, and teleological.. As well as a frequent commentator on espionage, Ferguson is currently helping to promote the hit US TV series The Blacklist, starring James Spader as a master criminal turned FBI informer. Who wouldnt want to work at a place that is known for spectacular ideas, free food and beverages and huge after work parties? Roles that require regular training can negatively affect your family life, particularly if you're gone for long periods of time or have to leave on short notice. All that has changed since the 1990s. We interviewed M extensively between 2019 and 2021 about his career as a spy during the cold war. Ms Dutch handlers correctly interpreted this approach as a recruiting attempt by the Stasi, and encouraged him to respond favourably. In all six of our interviews, M emphasised the distinctive nature of his relationships with the three different services he dealt with. Sometimes M would also exchange messages and material the East Germans were interested in by way of fleeting meetings in hotel lobbies with East German diplomats. In most cases, a CIA field agent operating clandestinely is a spy and subject to detention,. Rather poor since many people will no longer rely on the advice of insurance agents in the future but rather use our modern technology to make decisions in this regard. While you might take this for granted, it is actually a luxury since many other people have to work during those times. After they have taken you in, they examine you. Flexible Schedule. M was from a working-class background. Still in pyjamas, he was taken from the safe house where he was staying for debriefing sessions with his Stasi handlers to a van with darkened windows that transported him, under armed guard, to a prison. If one is unable to meet the sales target, his commissions will take a hit. The Stasi supplied M with Dutch, American, Swiss, British and West German passports that enabled him to travel inconspicuously under different names, especially when he was on his way to a rendezvous with his Stasi handlers. Yet, the majority of insurance agents will have a rather relaxed life and becoming an insurance agent will therefore also be great for you in case leisure is pretty important to you. His shock was even greater because Wolfgang said this in English, in the precise wording M had used in his CIA debriefing. Due to the mass number of projects, account managers need to communicate the needs of the client to the creative. Miksen has written a variety of technical and business articles throughout his writing career. Litigation attorney 5. For professional staff positions, the FBI typically looks for a bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience. You can expect a fast-paced lifestyle filled with deadlines, demanding clients, and confusing projects. The CIA accepts only qualified candidates, and college degrees and foreign language skills are preferred. Professional staff positions, such as those in information technology and business management, generally won't see you in the field or in dangerous situations; however, FBI police, a division that is grouped within professional staff positions, is an obvious exception. We shook hands, M told us. While Special Agent John Jeffries does note that such situations are fairly uncommon, being involved in them is still part of the job. Working for the FBI means dealing with bureaucracy. They taunted him constantly, saying things like You betrayed Marxism-Leninism and You are a CIA agent. This makes the job challenging for the creative and the account manager. I was recruited in that old fashioned way, but of course these days the service has a website and a recruitment team which goes round universities and run open evenings at various places. This episode ushered in a period when both Wolfgang and Heinz became more distant. Real estate agents can set their own schedules. Considered an elite corps of men and women, CIA field agents or operations officers come from many different ethnic, educational and professional backgrounds. Because of their undercover nature, CIA clandestine service officers receive little public recognition for their sometimes heroic service. Finally, in early 1990 less than a year after the fall of the Berlin Wall the HVA cancelled a meeting abruptly, and that concluded his career as a double agent. Salary. Starting late doesnt mean you work less. After seeing the evidence he provided to us, we believe his account of working against the Stasi is credible. Every creative is familiar with the nagging worries about a potential creative block. Not everybody can handle this. When I joined a long time ago, we were encouraged not even to tell your partner. Others are known for their competitive kickball teams. Although working for a government agency such as the FBI can provide many benefits, there may be some disadvantages. This puts a lot of pressure on a creative. The buzz is taking part in a world that nobody else knows about often you are aware of things happening behind world events that other people don't know and possibly will never know. In the end, you should carefully evaluate all the pros and cons of working in the insurance sector so that you can make a profound decision regarding this important topic. Eat, Drink And Be Wary: Ex-CIA Officer Reveals How Eateries Are Key To Spycraft. This means that you can meet up with your friends or spend your leisure on your hobbies. These messages consisted of numbers read out monotonously according to a pre-arranged transmission schedule. I was recruited by the secret service during the cold war. Median annual earnings for real estate agents were 26 percent more than the median wage for all workers, according to 2018 figures from the BLS. While you may take this for granted, there are still many people out there who are not able to enjoy the luxury of working indoors. Agents working for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, for example, make $151,000 annually. He holds a master's degree in management and a bachelor's degree in interdisciplinary studies. In my day, however, you could simply print a passport, hop on a plane and arrive. In turn, if you have contact with those people, you may be able to switch fields in case you are no longer interested in working as an insurance agent. Another downside of working as an insurance agent is that only few mistakes can damage your reputation and ruin your career. He feels the BVD did the same when they handed him over to the CIA in 1981, renouncing any further responsibility towards him. Might get to have a cool job like doctor/astronaut/CIA agent. Might get to have a cool job like doctor/astronaut/CIA agent. Do All Jobs With the CIA Need to Be Kept Secret? However, in 1981, they handed him over to the CIA because his spying activities had become too international for the national orbit of the Dutch security service. Contract - they can be entitled to compensation on termination of the contract even if they breached the agreement. You have the potential to earn good money as an insurance agent. Several times after Ms return from the Eastern Bloc, she was the one who made a phone call to transmit a pre-arranged coded message to the CIA, implying that M had come back safely. One advantage of working as an insurance agent is that you can make pretty good money if you know what you are doing and if you are willing to work hard. Lower overheads - you don't have to pay for the salary, the car or the office of sales agents. New special agents must also undergo a 20-week training course at the FBI academy. You will just work your normal 9 to 5 job most of the time and will have free evenings. Its important to underline just how rare it is for a former secret service agent to open up and talk on the record about their experiences. One problem with being an insurance agent is that you will often have to sell insurance products you actually dont believe in. Once your life is stable and you have done other things you are going to make a much better agent and operational officer. Working in an ad agency can be tough but also beneficial to your career. From the perspective of the East Germans, M was indeed a traitor. In the end, with a bit of luck, M managed to find help at an institution that specialises in the treatment of war veterans. As he put it: I did not consider myself as someone who was deceiving others. However, I will not take any responsibility for incorrect information and will not be liable for any negative consequences that might occur due to the reliance on this information. Joining the bureau can bring multiple benefits, including great job security, prestige and the knowledge that you're helping keep your country safe. Andreas Vogel / Alamy Stock Photo. Either way, the interrogation ended suddenly and bizarrely. M gave us a truly unique insight into the secret workings of three different intelligence agencies. Family Life Many jobs in the FBI require mandatory travel. You can focus a majority of the time working on your creative projects. Agencies pay creatives on average $40,000 to $60,000, which is more than most freelancers earn. As of 2019, pay for CIA operations officers generally ranges from $59,426 to $90,461 annually, though special pay programs can increase those amounts. 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