Spy Shortage: New Hires Want Remote Work

Germany’s intelligence service will no longer offer remote positions in clandestine operations.

“We cannot offer certain conditions that are taken for granted today,” Bruno Kahl, president of the Federal Intelligence Service—or BND—said Monday.

Some potential hires have been spoiled by remote work they acquired as a result of the pandemic. Now they’re not interested in working for the BND, which also prohibits people from bringing their personal cell phones to work.

“Remote work is barely possible at the BND for security reasons, and not being able to take your cell phone to work is asking much from young people looking for a job.”

But other intelligence agencies don’t seem to have the same policy. The careers website of the UK’s MI6 offers, “flexible” work which “means you can work around personal commitments.” The CIA says it offers positions in “several working groups” for those seeking at-home work.

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