Administrative Officer - MI5 (London)

Other Jobs To Apply

Flexible working: due to the nature of this role, we are unable to offer home working but full-time, part-time and compressed hours will all be considered. 

MI5 keeps the country safe from serious threats like terrorism and attempts by states to harm the UK, its people and way of life. We carry out investigations by obtaining, analysing and assessing intelligence, and then work with a range of partners, including MI6 and GCHQ to disrupt these threats. Through our protective security arm, we provide advice and guidance to government, businesses and other organisations about how to keep themselves safe. A role in MI5 means you’ll do unique and challenging work in a supportive and encouraging environment, making a real difference to UK national security.  

As an Administrative Officer, you’ll be allocated to a department depending on business need at the time of appointment, and therefore you won’t know which area you will be working in until you join the organisation. It’s all an exciting part of the unknown.

To give you an idea of potential first postings, they can include (but are not limited to) the following: 

  • Finance
  • Recruitment
  • Post Room
  • Pass Office
  • Investigative Information Management Hub

Regardless of the department you are placed in, each position offers a range of tasks, diverse challenges and interesting insights.  Each day will look a bit different but typically you’ll be managing email inboxes, organising meetings, managing information and records, booking travel, looking after visitors and providing essential support to our business. It’s all about helping us to run smoothly.

You’ll bring attention to detail and enjoy working as part of a team, and be comfortable talking to a range of people to understand their needs. Importantly, you’ll be keen to learn new skills and make a positive impact. This is a great opportunity for someone looking to start their career in an organisation with a culture of support and encouragement. 

After your first role with us, you’ll be able to shape your career the way you want. You could stay in an admin role, or take everything you’ve learned with you as you explore new opportunities within our organisation – or even with one of our partner agencies. 

We’re committed to helping our people unlock their potential, which is why we offer a range of personal development and job-specific training throughout your career. Plus, you’ll be part of a community of Admin Officers with their own peer support group, meaning you’ll learn on-the-job, share ideas and build long-lasting connections. 

To join, you’ll need a minimum of two GCSEs in Maths and English at grade C/4 or above. Whether you’ve just finished school or graduated, your insights and experiences will be welcomed. You’ll receive great benefits including 25 days’ annual leave (rising to 30 after 5 years), paid parental and adoption leave, access to our on-site facilities including a gym, restaurant and coffee bars and flexible working options including part-time and compressed hours, subject to business need. 

In our welcoming and inclusive culture, you’ll discover a range of sports, social and interest groups to join, as well as a range of affinity networks. There’s no ‘type’ of person we look for; different insights, perspectives and experiences are welcomed – and you’ll always be encouraged to be yourself.

To find out more and apply for the Administrative Officer role, please visit our website. 

At MI5 diversity and inclusion are critical to our mission. We therefore welcome and encourage applications from everyone, including those from groups that are under-represented in our workforce such as women, those from an ethnic minority background, people with disabilities and those from low socio-economic backgrounds. Find out more about our culture, working environment and diversity on our website. 

To be eligible to apply, you must be a British Citizen. If you hold dual nationality, of which one component is British, you will nonetheless be considered. Candidates must normally have been resident in the UK for seven out of the last ten years. This is particularly important if you were born outside the UK. You can apply at the age of 17 years, if successful you will not be offered a start date prior to your 18th birthday. Full eligibility details can be found on our website.

Back to blog
Ads

Common Interview Questions And Answers

1. HOW DO YOU PLAN YOUR DAY?

This is what this question poses: When do you focus and start working seriously? What are the hours you work optimally? Are you a night owl? A morning bird? Remote teams can be made up of people working on different shifts and around the world, so you won't necessarily be stuck in the 9-5 schedule if it's not for you...

2. HOW DO YOU USE THE DIFFERENT COMMUNICATION TOOLS IN DIFFERENT SITUATIONS?

When you're working on a remote team, there's no way to chat in the hallway between meetings or catch up on the latest project during an office carpool. Therefore, virtual communication will be absolutely essential to get your work done...

3. WHAT IS "WORKING REMOTE" REALLY FOR YOU?

Many people want to work remotely because of the flexibility it allows. You can work anywhere and at any time of the day...

4. WHAT DO YOU NEED IN YOUR PHYSICAL WORKSPACE TO SUCCEED IN YOUR WORK?

With this question, companies are looking to see what equipment they may need to provide you with and to verify how aware you are of what remote working could mean for you physically and logistically...

5. HOW DO YOU PROCESS INFORMATION?

Several years ago, I was working in a team to plan a big event. My supervisor made us all work as a team before the big day. One of our activities has been to find out how each of us processes information...

6. HOW DO YOU MANAGE THE CALENDAR AND THE PROGRAM? WHICH APPLICATIONS / SYSTEM DO YOU USE?

Or you may receive even more specific questions, such as: What's on your calendar? Do you plan blocks of time to do certain types of work? Do you have an open calendar that everyone can see?...

7. HOW DO YOU ORGANIZE FILES, LINKS, AND TABS ON YOUR COMPUTER?

Just like your schedule, how you track files and other information is very important. After all, everything is digital!...

8. HOW TO PRIORITIZE WORK?

The day I watched Marie Forleo's film separating the important from the urgent, my life changed. Not all remote jobs start fast, but most of them are...

9. HOW DO YOU PREPARE FOR A MEETING AND PREPARE A MEETING? WHAT DO YOU SEE HAPPENING DURING THE MEETING?

Just as communication is essential when working remotely, so is organization. Because you won't have those opportunities in the elevator or a casual conversation in the lunchroom, you should take advantage of the little time you have in a video or phone conference...

10. HOW DO YOU USE TECHNOLOGY ON A DAILY BASIS, IN YOUR WORK AND FOR YOUR PLEASURE?

This is a great question because it shows your comfort level with technology, which is very important for a remote worker because you will be working with technology over time...