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Comment by jgrahamc | Hacker News Reader

Nobody at Cheltenham is particularly well paid, compared to the private sector at least – a junior analyst might earn £25,000. "We can offer a fantastic mission but we can’t compete with [private sector] salaries," one briefing note lamented.

Yep. That was a big part of why when I talked to a GCHQ recruiter when I was finishing my doctorate that I didn't bother going any further.

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I had a friend who started work there about 3 years ago. Once you're there, you're also 100% unemployable in the private sector immediately thereafter. He tried to get a job outside the place for nearly a year after realising on week two it was a bad move.

I actually ended up writing him a reference from my company for some private work to cover the time he was there and he said he was unemployed for the entire period.

I'm curious as to why you think they're unemployable? Simply because they can't talk about what they've been doing, and you can't ask for a reference - or is it something about the job itself?

Its about the public sector. Once you've done public sector work in the UK, you are tarnished. This isn't a real barrier, but one put up by management.

I'd imagine not being able to tell prospective employers about any of the experience you gained or achievements you made in the course of your employment there would also be an issue?

I will say I used to work for a private sector defence company. It wasn't a great problem as I could demonstrate my skills.

Not that I did anything interesting unfortunately :(

This is complete nonsense. I know two people who worked at GCHQ who are now employed in the private sector.

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