Do you have what it takes to become a spy?

US intelligence views North Korea, Iran, and China as "hard targets" for intelligence gathering due to the severe surveillance measures these countries implement.

"I can't remember any sort of recruitment effort like this, using YouTube or social media in this way, at least in Korean," said Mason Richey, associate professor of international politics at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies in Seoul.

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Reality check - While movies might give you a glimpse of the job, you most likely won't spend your days killing people, driving fast cars, and drinking martinis.

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Background check -

A numbers of checks are performed by intelligence agencies. There is a basic eligibility criteria you must meet, followed by a background check and the application process itself.

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Vetting process -

You will be vete in all aspects of your life. To become a spy you will need to be reliable, show integrity, and be able to make the right decisions under pressure.

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Interviews - In addition to written and psychological assessments, you will also be subject to a thorough interview process, including a polygraph examination.

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Citizenship -

You must be a citizen of your country to apply for the job. Some agencies even require applicants to have been living in the country for a number of consecutive years.

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Education - Although not a deal-breaker for some agencies, a Bachelor's degree might work in your favor during the application process. Higher education is expected in some intelligence agencies.

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Political views - Are you a passionate socialist or a firm believer in right-wing politics? This may or may not work in your favor, depending on your country. But your political views and ideologies will be taken into consideration during the vetting process.

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Be fit - You're expected to have a reasonable level of fitness to become a spy. Remember, you might have to literally run for your life at some point!

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Criminal record - You should not have a criminal record. Although if you have something minimal from a long time ago, it might not be the end of your application.

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Drug tests - Be prepared to be drug tested. Needless to say, if you test positive for drugs, it will be the end of your application process.

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People skills - You must have strong interpersonal skills. You must be able to easily interact with people from different backgrounds, cultures, and values.

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Influence - Persuasion skills and a commitment to diplomacy are also key if you dream of becoming a spy.

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Psychology - Former CIA operative J.C. Carleson told in a 2020 interview that CIA techniques boil down to basic human psychology and an understanding of what motivates people.

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Be a leader -

Leadership can help you land a job as spy. Also, if you have a military background, it might work in your advantage.

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Demonstrate commitment and discipline - Ideally your résumé will show that you are a committed person, able to work for long hours and adapt to change easily. If you're looking for a 9 to 5, this is not the job for you.

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Intelligence - Decision making, logical thinking, and a strong memory are key if you're looking to pursue a career in the intelligence services.

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Resilience - You must have an outstanding capacity to endure mental stress and still be able to perform to the best of your ability. Think sleep deprivation, working long hours, and being ready for hostile situations.

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Second language - This is a very useful skill to have if you want to enter the world of espionage. If you happen to speak a foreign language that is spoken by your country's "enemies," that's a big plus in your application process.

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International affairs - It will be helpful if you can demonstrate an interest in international affairs. As a spy, you must be on top of what's going on around the world and how it affects your country.

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Financially responsible -

Make sure you don't have a track record of making poor financial decisions, such as having excessive debt. This might make you more vulnerable to bribery and blackmail, and that's a no-no for a spy.

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Mental health -

You will be assessed on your mental health. If you have any mental health problems, these should be disclosed during the application process.

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Travel - You will most likely travel to other countries. It's just part of the job. In fact, if you have experience in travelling and living abroad, that might be helpful when applying for a job as a spy.

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Surveillance - Good observation skills are a must. It is not unusual for spies to spend very long hours observing their subjects. Plus, they have to do so undetected.

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Hide in plain sight -

Spies must have the ability to assume false identities. Working undercover means that their true identity must remain unknown at all times.

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Keep it low key - Not posting on social media that you're applying to become a spy seems like common sense. But don't tell your friends or family either. It's good practice to keep things secret if you actually want to become a secret agent.

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Training -

Former MI6 agent Matthew Dunn told CNN about an exercise where recruits would have to meet a supposedly drunk KGB agent. The twist was that they had to drink vodka with the agent and still manage to memorize all information.

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No claim to fame -

Your performance will not be publicly recognized or rewarded, nor will you make a fortune working as a spy. If you're in it for the money and status, this is not the career for you.

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Recruitment - While many intelligence agencies have open applications, some countries still choose to actively recruit their own spies.

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How long does it take to actually start working? -

It can take a long time from the date of the application to actually start working. The entire application process can take up to a year or more to be completed, depending on the agency.