Do you consider yourself a discreet person?
One of the qualities needed to work for the Central Intelligence Agency is being discreet. Depending on the position you are hired for, you may be required to keep your job title a secret from those around you. The CIA does encourage their officers to tell their spouse or domestic partner what they do but advises family members to be very discreet due to the sensitive nature of the job. While CIA officers can tell their family they work for the CIA, they cannot divulge the details of an assignment. The interviewer wants to hear that you consider yourself a discreet person, with an example of how you have been discreet in the past.
When responding to this question, you want to avoid saying that you do not consider yourself discreet. Due to the sensitive nature of the job, CIA officers must be able to keep top-secret information to themselves. The interviewer needs to be assured that if hired, you will be able to follow their requirements of being discreet.
"Yes, I consider myself a very discreet person. I spent 16 years in the military working in top-secret operations and understand the importance of keeping sensitive information to myself. I could not tell my wife where I was or what I was doing and I still have not told her even after retiring."
"Yes, I am very discreet. I have worked as a cybersecurity analyst for the past five years and am privy to confidential and sensitive information. I have passed a security clearance and keep the details of my work to myself."
Community answers are written by other candidates practicing this set. Reading how others frame the same question is one of the fastest ways to sharpen your own.
Anonymous Answer
I do consider myself a very discreet person and due to my previous work experience, I have helped prepare sensitive information that requires utmost privacy and secrecy. I have also signed several NDAs in line with my previous work and am often trusted with private matters due to my trusting and discreet nature. In the simplest of terms, I am good at keeping secrets and understand the necessity for discretion in the world of international security.
Jaymie's Feedback
Great job answering the question and providing supporting context!
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