Overview
Looking for a career that combines your passion for language with the opportunity to make real‑world impact? Our Language Talent Programme (LTP) could be the gateway to that future. On this 11‑week paid programme, you’ll experience a mix of dedicated training and exposure to real operations as you discover what a career with us could involve. And if you like what you see, you could transition straight into a permanent, full‑time role as a Language Specialist at the end (subject to a language test and competency interview).
Program Details
Across the 11 weeks, you’ll analyse, transcribe and translate foreign language materials, learn to use our language tools, and get privileged access to operational intelligence. Plus, with a dedicated mentor and guidance from a collaborative and welcoming team, you’ll develop the skills and experience we’ll be assessing at the end of the programme. Should you be successful, you’ll start immediately in a full‑time role.
Flexible working: this programme is full‑time and office‑based for the duration of the 11 weeks, to ensure you get the most out of your time with us. Full‑time attendance is 36 to 37 hours per week, with some specific hourly attendance required e.g. for training courses. You’ll be notified of these well in advance.
Eligibility and Requirements
You don’t need any previous experience or technical ability to apply. However, you will have, or be expected to obtain, a 2:2 degree or above in Russian or Mandarin. You’ll either be in the final year of your degree in Autumn 2026, or have graduated in Summer 2023 or later. Adaptable, curious and collaborative, you’ll be keen to learn and explore a future with either MI5 or GCHQ. Importantly, you’ll be genuinely interested in a career with us and committed to starting immediately should you decide the role is right for you.
Due to the sensitive nature of our work, there are some eligibility criteria you’ll need to meet (as well as some recommendations we’d make to aid your registration and any future application).
- Be a British citizen or hold dual British nationality.
- Comply with our no drugs policy from the point of application and, if successful at the end of the recruitment process, you will need to undergo Developed Vetting.
- Familiarise yourself with our guidance on the use of AI in applications for GCHQ and MI5.
- Complete your registration, application and all recruitment processes from within the UK.
Background and Culture
GCHQ and MI5 are part of the UK’s Intelligence Services. We work together to safeguard Britain’s people, interests and businesses from various threats at home, overseas, and online, including cyber‑attacks, espionage, terrorism, and organised crime. Working across our vital missions, you’ll deliver impact at the heart of national security, all within a supportive and inclusive environment that allows everyone to thrive.
At GCHQ and MI5 diversity and inclusion are critical to our mission. To protect the UK, we need a truly diverse workforce that reflects the society we serve. This includes diversity in every sense of the word: those with different backgrounds, ages, ethnicities, gender identities, sexual orientations, ways of thinking and those with disabilities or neurodivergent conditions. We therefore welcome and encourage applications from everyone, including those from groups that are under‑represented in our workforce such as women, those from an ethnic minority background, people with disabilities and those from low socio‑economic backgrounds.
#J-18808-Ljbffr…