I received an email, with the subject: "Career Opportunities with the CIA."
At first I thought it was spam; perhaps a "cheep Vioxxxxxx" ad disguised as a job-recruitment email. Upon reading it I realized the sender was in earnest.
The body of the email had a graphic consisting of a sphere patchworked from the faces of many people. Next to it was the banner: NATIONAL CLANDESTINE SERVICE CAREERS. CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY. THE WORK OF A NATION. THE CENTER OF INTELLIGENCE."
Oh dear. They mean business.
Then it asked:
"Are you a person of purpose, patriotism and professionalism?"Ooh, look. Alliteration.
"If so, the National Clandestine Service of the US Central Intelligence Agency invites you to learn about sharing a vital mission that’s larger than all of us."Larger than us? Like morbidly obese? But even more so?
"Look inside yourself. Are you ready for a world of challenge, a world of possibilities, a world of ambiguity and adventure?"Ambiguity? Really? That's supposed to be enticing to a job applicant? I can see it now:
Applicant: "So, um, what will some of my duties be?"
Recruiter: "Oh, this and that."
Applicant: "Can you be more specific?"
Recruiter: "Various functions necessary for the functioning of your functional unit."
Applicant: "So that means I do what?"
Recruiter: "It's ambiguous."
Applicant: "Ambiguous? Wow, really? That's great!"
If one of the selling points for joining the CIA is "ambiguity" I think we're in trouble.
"Why work for a company when you can serve your nation?"
Hey, why settle for a salary when you can have ambiguity, too?
Labels: ambiguity, CIA, job recruitment, spam
