Many are prepared to settle for second best. To forget their dreams and bury their talents in mundane occupations.

But we're not after the many.

We want the few, who demand to make the most of their skills - facing important new challenges, daily. If you're one of those people, we want to hear from you.

September - June: We usually recruit the following graduate disciplines:

Linguists, Graduate Management Trainees, Mathematicians, Computer Scientists, Electronic Engineers and the two technical fast stream grades (GTPM's and GT's).

Mainstream Intelligence Analysts are recruited infrequently, as and when the need arises.

Supplementary campaigns for linguists and technical/IT staff may be held in the summer if additional vacancies arise. There are 3 undergraduate sponsorship schemes which are also advertised annually.

All graduate vacancies are advertised in the national press and under 'Current Vacancies' on our website.

You can download application forms from our website (in word format) and send it to us as an email attachment. You will need to complete the standard application form and supplementary forms relevant to the campaign for which you are applying. You will also need to complete our Ethnic Monitoring Form and possibly the Nationality Declaration Form and send us those too. Alternatively, you can phone or email for an application pack to be sent by post.

It's important to read the Nationality Rules' before you apply, to ensure you're eligible for employment at GCHQ.

Application forms for the Graduate Management Trainee Scheme are only available from Capita RAS. Details of how to apply are advertised when a campaign is in progress.

Senior level recruitment may be carried out at any time of the year. When this is carried out by the GCHQ Recruitment Office, the application procedure is as above. We also employ an external recruitment agency to undertake certain recruitment campaigns. In these circumstances, candidates are asked to call the agency response line and will be sent application packs by return.

GCHQ is a crucial intelligence environment. That's why all entrants need to undergo both security clearance and a period of probation. We want to ensure things like performance, technical proficiency and suitability for vital tasks.

Once you've passed the interview successfully, our Security Division will carry out enquiries to ensure you're suitable on national security grounds. Presuming these are satisfactorily completed, you will get Developed Vetting (DV) clearance. The process involves paper references and interviews with referees you will have nominated. You will also be interviewed and asked to produce your passport, birth certificate and other relevant documents. We'll need to speak to your current employer. But not till near the end of the process. And never without your permission. At the end of the process, we make a decision.

Because this is such a sensitive area, we can't offer guarantees. But the majority of people are granted DV clearance.

Usually 3-4 months. You can help speed things up by getting referees to reply promptly. You won't normally have much contact with the security division during their enquiries. But if you want progress details, you are free to contact our Recruitment Office at any time. Because of the time the process takes, you shouldn't hand in your notice to your present employer until DV clearance is granted.

Our commitment:
GCHQ values the diversity that individuals bring to the organisation. We therefore particularly welcome applications from ethnic minority groups as they are currently under-represented.

We only select on the basis of ability, qualifications and fitness for the work. Applications are welcome from all suitably qualified individuals irrespective of sex, marital status, race, colour, national or ethnic origin, disability, religion, politics or sexual orientation.

National Security
The need to safeguard national security is paramount in GCHQ. In particular there are nationality rules governing eligibility for employment in the Department.

Outside that constraint, it's GCHQ policy that there shall be no discrimination between members of staff. This policy applies in all areas of recruitment, deployment, training, performance assessment, promotion, career progression, pay, redundancy and retirement.

Part-time staff members

Unless there's a justifiable reason, we won't treat part-time staff differently. We also work on the presumption that all posts are suitable for part-time working and/or job-sharing unless there is a valid reason to the contrary. This doesn't apply to shift-working posts where it is accepted that special considerations apply.

Where the need exists and resources permit, every effort will be made to ensure that part-time members of staff have the same access to training.

We look to your talents, not your disabilities

Any disability you have will not limit your opportunity for recruitment or advancement.

At the recruitment stage, all candidates will be given full consideration for the jobs for which they have applied. And selection will be based solely on your ability to carry out the duties of the grade satisfactorily.

If your ability to carry out particular duties is likely to be affected by a disability, reasonable steps will be taken to identify and implement ways of overcoming such difficulties.

Guaranteed Interview Scheme

GCHQ guarantees to invite all disabled candidates who meet the minimum criteria for appointment to the next stage of the selection process, whether this is written tests or an interview. Final selection for appointment will be on merit and qualification for the work.

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