I agree with many who have already posted info here. As noted, after applying to the CIA, you will most likely receive a packet by email which contains some testing you'll need to complete. Once you have sent in your completed testing packing, you may or may not be asked to come in for an interview, most likely held at CIAU in Chantilly Virginia. If requested to come in for an interview, on arrival you may or may not be finger-printed. I was not but likely because my prints are already on file for past concealed carry permit. A shuttle bus will at some point transport you from the arrival center over to the Main Campus building. Once at the primary building applicants will be broken up into groups according to the position for which they applied. Groups will then proceed to an orientation of sorts in which you'll be told what a great Agency the CIA is. Orientation staff will also tell you that you that those in the room are not competing against each other for the job, "the agency has enough openings to hire everyone in the room." They will further advise you that the only weakness with those conducting the interviews to come is that they often say yes to every candidate. If the latter sounds positive to you thus far, bridle your joy and read on. During the interview phase, applicants will face an interview team consisting of two individuals. You will be asked five or so questions of which none pertain to your skills you bring to the job. The interview proceeds rather quickly and once you have finished, you'll be sent home, at least I was. I did see one young lady out of 15 applicants, return to the waiting area once her interview had taken place. As another poster here noted, perhaps if the agency has a genuine interest in you they may ask you to remain on the premises? I would not know the answer to the latter as I was not asked to stay. Upon completion of the orientation and interview process, I felt good about the way both had went. Applicants were told that those not being hired would receive an email in about two to three weeks, advising them that they would not be hired. All others would be contacted by phone if they were being hired by the agency. On my arrival home, my wife asked how it went, and I informed her of all the prior I have written here. She said so; you felt it went well, and believe you will be receiving a phone call? My response to the latter was "No," I'll be receiving the email. My wife was confused as to my thoughts, so I explained that all the other applicants were not a day over 30 years of age many much younger, I, 54 years of age. Still not understanding my absolute certainty that I would be rejected, my wife began emphasizing my positives. I am a service- connected (60%) U.S. Veteran. I qualify for what is termed A-letter hiring preference. I had applied for an accounting position and had just graduated top of my class, Summa Cum Laude: BS in Accounting. No illegal drug use and have never had a criminal record. ETC. ETC. ETC. As I told my wife though, all of these things are worthless when you are 54 years old. In conclusion, as I had anticipated, two to three weeks after my CIA interview, I received an email advising me that I was not a good fit for the Agency's needs. Perhaps I overdressed given I was the only candidate in a Suit. Perhaps disabled veterans are not a desirable hire. Perhaps they had issues with my being a self-employed federal contractor/vendor for the past 25 plus years. Perhaps at 54, I am too old for their Agency. It could have been any one of many reasons why they do what they do. If you are hired, they will tell you that it may take a year or longer to obtain your security clearance and in that time, you will be advised to remain at your current job or find other employment during the waiting period. The upside with me is there were no taxpayer dollars wasted on my travel to the interview; it was all done on my own dime, given I lived 69 miles from the site.