Updating Results

Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO)

  • 1,000 - 50,000 employees

Sarah

I enjoy working on tasks that have a direct impact on ASIO and ASIO’s ability to carry out its functions.

What is your name and job title?

Sarah – Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) legal graduate.

What did you study? When did you graduate?

A Bachelor of Laws. I graduated in 2016.

How did you get to your current job position?

I applied as part of an internal recruitment round and have been in the role since June 2018.

How did you choose your specialisation? Were you weighing up any other alternatives before choosing this specialisation?

The Graduate Program exposes you to a number of different legal areas within the organisation, but I have not chosen a specialisation yet.

What was your interview process like?

It was a competitive recruitment process.

What does your employer do?

ASIO protects Australia, its people and its interests from threats to security through intelligence collection and assessment, and the provision of advice to the Australian Government.

What are your areas of responsibility?

Providing in-house legal advice.

Can you describe a typical work day? What was the last thing you worked on?

The great thing about the Graduate Legal Program is the variety of work that you are exposed to. However, similar to other legal positions, on a typical day you might attend meetings, conduct legal research, provide advice and work on legislative reform.

What are the career prospects with your job? Where could you or others in your position go from here?

There are a number of opportunities for advancement within the Legal division and more broadly within ASIO. I believe the skills I have developed through the program will give me a competitive advantage in progressing my career.

Could someone with a different background do your job?

Absolutely. ASIO values diversity and welcomes people from all backgrounds.

What do you love most about your job?

The variety and challenging nature of the work. I enjoy working on tasks that have a direct impact on ASIO and ASIO’s ability to carry out its functions.

What’s the biggest limitation of your job?

Working in the national security environment, I am unable to discuss the details of where I work and what I am working on.

Do you bear a lot of responsibility? Do you have to work on weekends?

Given the complex nature of the work at ASIO there is a higher degree of responsibility, however, there is good support from supervisors and colleagues. Generally I am not expected to work on weekends.

What advice would you give to a current university student?

I would tell a current university student that if they are looking for a challenging, interesting and rewarding career, then they should consider a job with ASIO.