Even James Bond had to start someplace

Looking for a new job? Maybe you should consider a career in espionage.

Canada's spy agency is undertaking a major recruitment drive for the first time in almost two decades.

And in an unusual move for a top-secret organization, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) recently launched a year-long ad campaign in the career sections of leading Canadian newspapers.

They're looking to sign up men and women to fill a slew of positions.

But the initial push is to hire new intelligence officers to conduct investigations and analyze information on national security matters -- what most people probably call secret agents.

Starting salary: $41,520 per year, rising to $66,810 over a five-year probationary period.

CSIS recently warned that a terrorist attack on Canadian soil is "now probable" by al-Qaeda and its affiliated extremist groups.

But CSIS spokesperson Barbara Campion says retiring baby boomers, not the threat of terrorism, are behind the recruiting campaign.

"It's mostly due to attrition." said Campion.

Older baby boomers are already leaving CSIS and they expect the numbers to swell with each passing year, creating job openings and opportunities.

"We're trying to be proactive and fill the gaps before they become gaps," Campion said.

She couldn't say how many new intelligence officers are needed but the numbers are "fairly significant."

The advertising campaign is something of a departure.

CSIS traditionally draws recruits from a core of people who are naturally interested in working for the spy agency.

The goal of the public campaign is to reach a wider audience and attract candidates who might otherwise not have considered becoming secret agents.

Campion said CSIS is hoping people who see the ads while flipping through newspapers will think, "'Oh, that looks kind of interesting. Something different.'"

The text of one recent ad was generic enough. It talked about looking for "self-motivated people with outstanding interpersonal skills; people who are sensitive to Canadians' cultural diversity, are adaptable and embrace new experiences with confidence."

But the accompanying photo of a willowy young woman looking like an Indian Ocean princess and a young man looking like a Tom Cruise stand-in may have blown the agency's cover.

Youth is clearly a big asset.

Campion said the target market is generally people who are in or just finishing university.

"In general, our demographic of new hires is sort of 23 to 35 -- about ... people who have or are just finishing their BAs, and people who maybe haven't got fully established in a career and want to switch.

"That's not to say we won't hire older people. And we've hired younger people, too.

"As long as you've got the requirements and meet all the other criteria then you would be a suitable candidate."

To be considered for an intelligence officer, you must be a Canadian citizen who has lived in the country for the past 10 years, possess a university degree, have a driver's licence, obtain a top secret security clearance, and agree to relocate to any major Canadian city. Language and computer skills are assets.

The exact work can vary, but it includes investigating, researching, analyzing, and preparing clear and concise reports.

Campion compares it to the same skill sets journalists have.

"It's just that we don't share the information with the world; we just share our information with the government."

CSIS has an annual operating budget of $346 million and employs about 2,400 people across the country.

The organization, established 22 years ago, was largely ignored through the early 1990s. Then increased funding began after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the U.S. mainland.

Though CSIS does some overseas work, it's primarily a domestic security service.

The Conservative government has promised to increase Canada's intelligence gathering role abroad, but it's still unclear if that will be through CSIS or a new agency.

CSIS started its recruitment campaign with intelligence officers because that's the greatest need, but the intention is to expand to a variety of other occupations.

Those include surveillants (salary range $48,100 to $60,080), threat management analysts ($53,470 to $66,810), and maintenance and janitorial workers ($32,010 to $39,010).

Besides protecting Canada in an increasingly volatile world, successful job candidates can avail themselves of three weeks paid vacation per year, 15 sick days, health and dental plans, and a fully indexed pension.

All of which is doubtless infinitely more attractive to most Canadians than a mere licence to kill.

Andrew Dreschel's commentary appears Monday, Wednesday and Friday. adreschel@thespec.com or 905-526-3495.