GCHQ is recruiting for trainee hackers to join its Computer Network Exploitation team – at a starting salary of £25,856 that led at least one commentator to opine “we should kick you out of Five Eyes for that sh*t.”
Public sector IT job salaries in the UK regularly attract howls of derision from both seasoned veterans at home – and younger developers in the US where starting salaries are comfortably double the above ($32,000.)
But the role is a trainee one targeting those with qualifications as rudimentary as just two GCSEs – applicants can apply at 17, although they will need to be 18 before they start, the agency’s entry criteria shows.
It is more akin to a paid University or college placement.
(GCHQ has persistently struggled to recruit enough new staff, Intelligence and Security Committee reports show. The most recent public data reveals that in 2021-2022 it recruited 386 staff out of a target of 588; the previous year it managed 377 against a target of 859. Both of these sets of figures are likely to have been heavily influenced by the challenges of the pandemic.)
GCHQ trainee programme: Simulations, lectures...
“On this 18-month programme, you’ll get all the training, experience, and support you need to launch an exciting career in cyber security. Based at a set Lancashire place of study and paid for by GCHQ, you’ll be equipped with the cybersecurity skills and knowledge you’ll need to join our Computer Network Exploitation (CNE) team. And once the programme ends, you’ll get the chance to join us full time” GCHQ’s advert shows.
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“You’ll attend lectures and seminars, carry out self-study, join supervised lab sessions, and experience real-world simulations. Alongside the course, you’ll spend time at the Samlesbury location with the CNE team, getting to know your colleagues, exploring specialist tools and systems, and experiencing life at our organisation. You’ll grow in confidence too, as you discover how your genuine interest in tech can lead to a fascinating career as a cyber specialist capable of securing our digital borders.”
After 18 months the salary is bumped to £34,663 ($42,000).
The role is likely to be rewarding and involve working on unique challenges with some of the sharpest people in the industry.
But with a starting salary less than that of an assistant manager at McDonalds and a tough vetting process, GCHQ’s recruitment may continue to be challenging. (In a bid to help broaden its talent pool in late 2022 removed a requirement that applicants have one British parent.)
GCHQ meanwhile joins the growing number of organisations that do not require a university degree for important trainee roles.
