/// LIFE AT GCHQ Careers WITH PURPOSE TOGETHER TOGETHER /// LIFE AT GCHQ 3

And we constantly develop new techniques. And we constantly WHAT WE DO WE WHAT We’re made up of different backgrounds, skills and personalities. backgrounds, different made up of We’re We protect the UK from cyber-attacks, terrorism and espionage. and espionage. terrorism cyber-attacks, the UK from protect We It’s how we stay ahead of ever-evolving threats and keep the UK safe. the UK safe. and keep threats ever-evolving It’s how we stay ahead of But we’re all proud to collaborate, and even prouder to work with purpose. and even prouder to collaborate, all proud But we’re It means we use unique tech in creative ways, coming up with unusual solutions. ways, coming unique tech in creative It means we use and online. to keep the to keep UK safe – at – at UK safe Our work helps home, overseas experts. we’re the we’re Tasked by Tasked cyber security UK government, WHO WE ARE WHO WE as GCHQ. as GCHQ. Headquarters – otherwise known Communications Communications We’re the Government We’re 2 /// LIFE AT GCHQ 5

National Cyber Cyber National and work online. the safest place to live the safest It aims to make the UK It aims to make research and advice on research Security Centre (NCSC) quickly to cyber incidents. The NCSC is part of GCHQ. GCHQ. The NCSC is part of Based in London, it provides Based in London, it provides cyber security, and responds and responds cyber security, WHO WE WORK WITH WE WORK WHO MI6 is the UK’s foreign contacts, gather contacts, gather foreign conflicts and prevent the and prevent conflicts intelligence, and navigate intelligence, and navigate MI6 protects the UK from the UK from MI6 protects spread of illegal weapons. of spread secret intelligence service. any risks to the UK’s national to the UK’s national any risks They also resolve international international They also resolve overseas threats. They develop overseas threats. security, economy and military. economy and military. security, BETTER the same goal – keeping the UK safe. the UK safe. keeping the same goal – TOGETHER Keeping the UK safe is a joint effort. We work really closely with the closely with really We work effort. is a joint safe the UK Keeping known and SIS (otherwise (NCSC), MI5 Security Centre Cyber National espionage. and terrorism cyber-attacks, tackle we Together, MI6). as able to share we’re perspectives, skills and different With different we all work towards But each other. and learn from knowledge mass destruction. cyber threats, and the cyber threats, MI5 is the UK’s national MI5 is the UK’s national MI5 protects the UK from the UK from MI5 protects within the UK. Made up of within the UK. Made up of proliferation of weapons of of weapons of proliferation work against threats such as work against threats security intelligence agency. around 4,000 individuals, MI5 4,000 around terrorism, espionage, sabotage, terrorism,

there’s there’s when they visit. the happiest place free Wi-Fi  Wi-Fi free

5.5 million tourists 5.5 Scarborough sea. It even offers it’s sea. It even offers At the top end of the the top end of At offers rolling hills and rolling hills and offers country, Scarborough  Scarborough country, calming sounds of the calming sounds of town after work. town after Harrogate to  even a free bus to take you bus to take even a free to live in the UK. Plus,  to live in the UK. Plus, This north Yorkshire spa town is spa Yorkshire This north often listed as  often

to Manchester, to Manchester, We’re fairly new We’re buzz to this site! is the place to be. Manchester and innovative, the and innovative, but there’s a definite but there’s Collaborative, creative creative Collaborative, Manchester tech scene

Cheltenham It’s also cash points to a Greggs. cash points to a Greggs. which has everything from from which has everything Cheltenham boasts plenty ofCheltenham class horse racing. But it’s alsoclass horse racing. But site is one home to the GCHQ ‘doughnut’, historic architecture and world- and historic architecture London Cyber Security  Cyber Centre is based. Centre London  your doorstep, the With the capital on where our National our National where of the most exciting the most exciting of places to be. 

you are in the UK, we won’t be too far away. in the UK, we won’t be too far away. you are got loads THE COUNTRY Our HQ is in Cheltenham, but we actually have offices offices actually have Our HQ is in Cheltenham, but we where So no matter dotted up and down the country. TALENT THAT COVERS THAT TALENT Bude 21 satellite antennae! 21 satellite to offer. This site even has  to offer. digital revolution. Lincolnshire of history. In fact, it history. of buildings and plenty was the birthplace of was the birthplace of sweeping coastlines and plenty sweeping coastlines and Known for its beautiful scenery, its beautiful scenery, Known for the foundations of the of the foundations cobbled streets, grand cobbled streets, George Boole who laid George Lincolnshire is all about Lincolnshire of good food, Bude has  good food, of WHERE WE ARE WE WHERE 4 /// LIFE AT GCHQ 7 OUR BENEFITS OUR even several shops. a gym, restaurant and a gym, restaurant Depending which site you join, you can take you join, you can take advantage of things like things like advantage of is pregnancy or adoption. or adoption. is pregnancy If you’re eligible, you could receive receive eligible, you could If you’re along your journey – no matter if this no matter along your journey – up to 6 months’ full maternity pay, and pay, up to 6 months’ full maternity shared parental leave and will support you and leave parental shared 2 weeks’ paternity pay. We also encourage We pay. paternity 2 weeks’ that time back. that easily be able to take Plus, you’ll be able to end up doing extra, you’ll So you’ll usually have a say So you’ll usually have take advantage of flexi-time. advantage of take in when you work. And if you Depending on your role, you might even have a few more. more. a few you might even have Depending on your role, your future. your future. public and privilege holidays. public and privilege holidays. We know you’ll work really hard, so that’s why we’ll give you so that’s hard, know you’ll work really We We offer a rather lovely 25 days’ a rather offer We Plus, you’ll have 10.5 extra days for for extra days 10.5 Plus, you’ll have lots of perks. Here are just some of the benefits you can expect. the benefits just some of are Here perks. lots of UK HAS ITS PERKS UK HAS ITS PROTECTING THE PROTECTING annual holiday (pro rata). This rises to rata). annual holiday (pro You’ll also get a really a really also get You’ll your career, you’ll secure you’ll secure your career, so you won’t just develop 30 days once you’ve been here for 5 years. for here 30 days once you’ve been competitive pension plan –

And without you, there’s no us. And without you, there’s THE PART a step ahead of ever-evolving threats. threats. ever-evolving a step ahead of YOU CAN PLAY YOU Whether you’ve just finished school or you have some experience, some school or you have Whether you’ve just finished and support to being you. With the freedom you’ll be valued for in your you won’t just play a vital role come up with your own ideas, while we’re the UK. Because in protecting play a vital role team. You’ll one purpose. as individuals, we work together for all celebrated To protect the UK, we need to constantly challenge ourselves. challenge to constantly the UK, we need protect To That’s why we need people with different talents and interests to join talents and interests with different we need people why That’s everyone’s where atmosphere, a collaborative helps to create us. It all problems we can solve unusual And it means opinion is heard. us and keep boundaries will push your ideas In fact, ways. in creative 6 /// LIFE AT GCHQ 9 of getting to of know people. It’s a great way It’s a great Whether you’re Whether you’re be something for you. into sports or puzzles, films or books, there’ll films or books, there’ll has a huge range has a huge to get involved in. of societies for you of We want you, for you. want you, We OUR CULTURE OUR individuality. Every site Every individuality. So we’ll celebrate your So we’ll celebrate And we also have everyone is heard. INDIVIDUAL ideas and make sure sure ideas and make everyone GCHQ. across We get together to share get together to share We are groups that represent represent that groups are our affinity groups. These our affinity CURIOUS But we know development. projects. that you still need to that on personal why we offer so much why we offer In some roles, In some roles, time put aside to remain curious. That’s curious. That’s to remain you’ll even have so you can focus personal, and professional, personal, and professional, purpose. love what you do. You need you do. You love what important We all work We an incredibly an incredibly That’s because That’s incredibly hard. incredibly what we do has what advantage of advantage of Plus, you’ll take Plus, you’ll take some say in the hours you’ll work. flexi-time and have Our sites RELAXED for you to use. your best work. also have lots of also have lots of have 5. Some even have 5. you can wear what what you can wear We’re not all suited not all suited We’re you can just go and That’s how you’ll do how you’ll That’s you can do your job, you can do have religious spaces have religious breakout areas where where areas breakout you’re comfortable in. comfortable you’re and booted. As long as and booted. ? as possible. Everyone here here Everyone make it as easy it as easy make Anyone will be job, so we just want to job, so we just want to hierarchy here. hierarchy We all understand how We genuinely wants to help. genuinely wants to help. happy to give you a hand. There’s no a hand. There’s daunting it is to start a new daunting it is to start When you join, around the site. around and to show you SUPPORTIVE someone is there to someone is there you’ll be matched up you’ll be matched answer any questions with a ‘buddy’. It means COLLABORATIVE from each other. from While there will be While there This way, we all learn This way, and go to other sites. certain things you’ll do work across the business work across independently, it’s largely independently, a team effort. Plus, we often a team effort. Plus, we

No matter the No matter Our work is serious. But our is serious. But Our work all here for the all here same reason – same reason one person. not what you’d expect at all. all. you’d expect at not what There’s a real a real There’s

to protect the UK. to protect team or role, we’re we’re team or role, never falls to just the responsibility the responsibility culture isn’t. In fact, it’s probably isn’t. In fact, it’s probably culture together. It means together. sense of being in it sense of TO BE YOU BE TO THE FREEDOM THE 8 T OUR TEAMS /// OUR CAREERS

ANALYSIS APPLIED COMPUTER CORPORATE Being an analyst is all about solving problems. Curious and logical, our analysts get to grips with RESEARCH NETWORK SERVICES lots of data, make things easier to understand We spend a lot of time researching threats. So We couldn’t protect the country without and produce insightful reports. These reports we also take the time to understand the tech OPERATIONS some support. It takes all sorts of networks to often shape foreign policy and national security. behind them. Our researchers constantly take We protect the UK from cyber-attacks. Working keep us up and running. So, there are lots of And because the threats we face are constantly systems apart, test different theories and assess under strict legal guidelines, our specialists get opportunities to develop your skills – from changing, there’s always something new to pick new ideas. They make data easier for people creative. They disrupt terrorists’ computers and admin, finance and legal, to security and HR. up. So if you have great communication skills and to use and reduce any risks. There are lots of defend our cyber world. There are lots of roles But these aren’t your usual corporate services. are keen to learn, we can teach you the rest. applied research groups across GCHQ, but we within this area, and not all of them rely on tech. In these roles, you’ll tackle lots of different work together and share our learnings. It all It’s also about understanding what makes people challenges – things that you wouldn’t come comes down to combining great research with tick and analysing the way people communicate. across anywhere else. a curiosity for tech. As long as you love solving interesting problems, you’ll fit right in.

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INFORMATION IT SERVICES KNOWLEDGE & LANGUAGE We use a lot of tech across GCHQ, so it’s vital we ASSURANCE keep the IT running smoothly. That’s where our INFORMATION ANALYSTS We want to make sure that everyone can protect IT Services comes in. Designing, implementing Not all of our insights come from within the UK. That’s where our cyber security specialists and maintaining our IT infrastructure, we MANAGEMENT the UK, so we have to stay on top of what’s come in. We provide helpful advice on how to support every individual, team and operation. We deal with a lot of data and information, happening around the world. Most foreign use tech in the best way possible. And we do this But we don’t do it alone. We work closely so it’s really important that we manage and intelligence needs translating, interpreting and alongside the National Cyber Security Centre with the IT industry and other agencies. So protect it properly. Working closely with contextualising. Our language analysts help us (NCSC). It’s the part of GCHQ that keeps the UK’s if you want to develop a unique IT career, technology, security and policy, we make sure do just that. We constantly work with unusual critical national infrastructure safe. You’ll help us this is the place for you. all information is dealt with correctly. Often, materials, providing reports with real impact. make the UK one of the safest places to live and we use pioneering approaches that have never It means we need to stay ahead of linguistic do business online. been used before. And we sometimes choose trends. So, when you join us, the learning to focus on a specialism or take on more varied really never stops. projects. No matter the route you choose, we’ll support you along the way.

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you’ll quickly settle in. ENGINEERING ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY & TECHNOLOGY Our work revolves around tech. So it’s no surprise it’s So tech. around work revolves Our such a our technologists and engineers have software, Using sophisticated huge impact. IT systems, we help and brand-new hardware other teams to carry We’re out their operations. complex risk, security cyber across specialists but also across analysis and programmes, data While and infrastructure. networks platforms, operations, on-going support to there we’re world events. to critical respond we also If you’re curious about the potential of tech, the potential of curious about If you’re

the way we work. PROJECT PROJECT MANAGEMENT Across GCHQ, we work on a massive number of of number a massive on we work GCHQ, Across management team project It means our projects. twice. project the same kind of look after rarely technical requirements managing Whether you’re solution, we’ll help you to develop or a bespoke Plus, you’ll be your skills and earn qualifications. won’t new Agile deliveries. You of the forefront at improve you’ll projects, unusual manage just agencies and have an even bigger impact. agencies and have an even bigger impact. PROCUREMENT PROCUREMENT We often need to find unique goods and services need to find unique often We That’s us run operations. help - the things that build We in procurement. we do exactly what manage with suppliers, relationships great costs. Plus, we work contracts and negotiate customers and manage closely with our really support the whole lifecycle. But you won’t just multiple intelligence look after GCHQ. You’ll MATHS & MATHS influence government decisions. government influence CRYPTOGRAPHY CRYPTOGRAPHY Our mathematicians shape everything Our mathematicians from cyber security to mobile communications. complex with projects, on complex work We techniques a variety of So we use problems. Plus, we work in high many disciplines. across specialised Using environments. performance able to write highly- we’re architecture, out of optimised algorithms and get the most mindset, you’ll learn computing. With a creative new capabilities and new concepts, produce OUR TEAMS OUR 14 /// OUR CAREERS 17

inspired to join us. inspired Hugh, HR Director I really hope you found this brochure informative and useful. informative this brochure hope you found I really To stay world-leaders in cyber security, we have to find the very we have stay world-leaders in cyber security, To a hugely diverse on having rely the UK. We across best talent from GCHQ who we can support and develop. people across mix of and ingenuity creativity, of full become teams our how That’s most the provide We UK. the protect we how that’s and agility, purposeful work you could possibly find. I hope you’re interesting, ONE LASTONE THING... 3 your start date. you a conditional offer. contact your referees. On contact your referees. completion, you’ll receive completion, you’ll receive During this stage, you’ll meet During this stage, you’ll your Vetting Officer and we’ll your Vetting you’ll be invited to attend an you’ll be invited to attend 4 If successful, we’ll then make If successful, we’ll then make If you meet our requirements, If you meet our requirements, interview or assessment centre. interview or assessment centre. We’ll then start our security checks. start our security checks. then We’ll Then we’ll ask you application form and form application you could be asked to you could be asked to complete an online complete an online test. 2 OUR RECRUITMENT Our recruitment process is fairly lengthy is fairly lengthy process Our recruitment something that But it’s and thorough. and we don’t goes through everyone it. It helps to of sake the for just do it most importantly, But, us safe. keep safe. you it helps to keep PROCESS experience. your skills and our website and let us know a little more about know a little more You’ll need to register on need to register You’ll 1 16 gchq-careers.co.uk twitter.com/gchq instagram/gchq