Karen Schaefer, Former CIA

Being in the CIA has to be one of the most challenging career paths out there. What do people need to know about the organizations, qualifications, and job requirements if they think that might be something they’d like to do? In today’s episode, you’ll hear from Karen Schaefer, formerly of the CIA. Listen to the episode to learn more about how Karen ended up in the CIA, what young people need to know about whether or not they would succeed in a CIA career, and how to protect their mental health when working that kind of job. 

Topics Discussed in Today’s Episode:

• Karen’s transition to her second career
• Karen’s path to the CIA
• Whether Karen knew immediately which roles she was interested in
• The fear of not being well-informed or knowing the qualifications
• How to compartmentalize when you can’t really talk about your career
• How to protect your mental health when working for the CIA
• The fulfillment in tying your work to serving your country
• Characteristics that served Karen well in her career

Resources: 

Karen Schaefer