Exploring Careers with the CIA
UNOs School of Criminology and Criminal has recently forged a new relationship with a contact in the United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). As a result, UNO students on the Omaha and Lincoln campus now have an opportunity to engage in a career consultation with a CIA recruiter.
According to UNO SCCJ Internship Coordinator Professor Retzlaff, these career consultations take place as 20-minute phone conversations with an actual CIA recruiter. They are designed to give those students interested in working at the Agency a deeper glimpse into career opportunities, work environment, and culture. The goal of the CIA is to keep our nation safe in an ever-changing global landscape, and the Agency offers hundreds of different jobs that aid in that mission.
Opportunities exist for students within the Agency to work while also finishing their degree, with the possibility of full-time employment after graduation. Both students and graduates work alongside experts in the field as they gain real-world experience within the Intelligence Community.
According to Retzlaff, career consultations are open to all UNO students, not just those majoring in criminology and criminal justice. The CIA hires people from a broad range of backgrounds, interests, experiences, and perspectives. This is the first- time career consultations with the CIA have been made available to students through the UNO SCCJ.
Students interested in a career consultation with a CIA recruiter should email Retzlaff at kretzlaff@unomaha.edu to obtain a consultation appointment. “I am setting appointments for Wednesday, February 17 and Thursday, February 18,” Retzlaff said. She explained that in order for students to truly benefit from the experience they should explore job positions found on the cia.gov website ahead of time, come to the consultation with a list of prepared questions and a general understanding of the hiring process, including cover letter and resume requirements and the background check.
“By familiarizing themselves with this basic information provided on the CIA website ahead of their appointment, students will be able to best utilize their consultation time expanding on the knowledge they already have, as opposed to just getting the same basic information that’s available to everyone on the internet,” Retzlaff explained.
UNO SCCJ continues to facilitate career workshops for students with various criminal justice agencies, including the FBI, the Naval Criminal Investigation Services, Nebraska Probation Services, Nebraska Department of Correction Services, and others.
Kim Retzlaff
Story Published February 2021