Government
Agencies
•
Federal Bureau of
Investigation
The FBI needs language professionals in a wide variety of languages both
on a contract and permanent basis. The contract linguist positions
entail interpreting, testing monitoring, and translation skills. These
contracted employees are considered self-employed and do not have the
same benefits as other FBI employees. Language specialists perform the
same types of tasks as the contract linguists, but this is a full-time
salary position. Much higher education background is required for
language specialists, on a variety of levels, with the highest being 6
years of experience and a PhD. All language employees of the FBI must be
fluent in reading, writing, speaking, and listening, complete a battery
of oral and written examinations, and be US citizens.
•
Central Intelligence Agency
One of the core positions with the CIA is foreign area specialist. The
more specific job title in this area is entitled Open Source Officer,
and as an integral part of the Agency's mission, a variety of tasks are
expected. Language ability is, of course, required including ability to
read, write, speak, and translate into a foreign language. Eligible
individuals should also have extensive regional and cultural knowledge
of a specific area of the world, and most of the current foreign
employees have lived in their region of interest.
•
National Security Agency
The NSA needs linguists who would perform a variety of language services
such as translation, transcription, reporting, and analyzing information
that is of national concern and global importance. These language
specialists must be able to take into account current and past political
and cultural factors. Opportunities abound from anything to field
assignments abroad, language teaching and research, or mastery of a new
language.
•
Immigration and Naturalization Service
The INS offers a wide variety of opportunity with their 9 core careers,
and every job requires the knowledge of Spanish. Education level depends
on position entry level, and education in other fields may be required.
Career choices with the INS include Immigration Inspector, Border Patrol
Agent, Deportation Officer, and Immigration Information Officer, for
example.
•
Department of State
This website provides a fairly comprehensive list of employment
opportunities with the UN and other International Organizations. This
list changes monthly, but language specialist positions are often
included.
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