If you've been retrenched as a banker or hedge fund manager, don't worry. There's plenty of work out there, if you want to become a spook. The CIA is now running a recruitment ad for bankers to come on board and "assess foreign economic policies and foreign financial issues" and "assess illicit financial activities, including networks used by terrorist and criminal groups, financing and procurement of weapons of mass destruction, money laundering and corruption among foreign governments and companies".

"Candidates with a bachelor's or master's degree in economics, finance, business administration, international management, or economic crimes management or a related area, with a strong concentration in international finance, banking, or business, are encouraged to apply. Candidates with a strong macroeconomic background, excellent financial analysis and analytical skills, and foreign area expertise and language skills will also be considered."

Now, of course you mightn't be earning as much as you were when you were high on the hog at a hedge fund. It only past $85,000 to $130,000 a year but then, at least it's work.

Speaking to Reuters, CIA spokesman Ron Patrick concedes it takes a different sort of mindset. "Typically the people that come to the CIA want to serve the government, they want to serve their countries,'' Patrick says. "It's a different mindset perhaps than serving a company or serving profit as a bottom line. As long as they can make that attitude switch from profit being the motivator to serving their country, I think they'll fit in very well with us."

It's hard to imagine any actually making that switch. Going from a hedge fund to the CIA is a massive change. But the these days, it's hard to say which organization is less reputable.