What sort of job is this for a girl, you probably wondered when you read at the weekend that the Secret Intelligence Service, more commonly known as MI6, has started a recruitment drive to attract women. It's stressed that being married and/or having children need not put anyone off, because MI6 is 'family friendly'; there will be flexible working hours, full maternity pay and your family will be posted with you. Lovely.
Well, here's a secret. When I was 18 I joined the Intelligence Corps of the British Army. There's not a lot I can say, of course, having signed the Official Secrets Act, but I can say that intelligence work is, in a way, an ideal job for women. They are naturally very good at it.
Spies need to multi-task, be many things at different times to different people, be good listeners. And have a great ability to recall  |
