While older generations perceive the secret services rather as "something bad", due to an inevitable reference to Securitate, the former Department of State Security, for young people from Generation Z, intelligence services mean more of "something mysterious", writes Ziarul de Iași.

The publication asked several students what they think about the Romanian secret services and if they would like to work for them, and the answers are surprising.

"I really don't know anything, I don't have an opinion. I think I wasn't interested at all or I always looked at it as something that exists, but there in the shadows. I don't think I would want to work there, I think my life wouldn't be the same", said Cristina, a first-year student.

Another student expressed the opinion that the SRI, for example, "does its job perfectly and promptly", but showed no inclination towards a career in the secret services.

"The fear of failure has always turned me back"

The way the spy work radically changes life compared to that of ordinary people is also an obstacle for Silviu, a master's student who confessed that he would not join the SRI simply out of fear.

"If I liked to work in this field? Definitely. But I don't know if I can handle the pressure and changes that this profession certainly brings into the lives of new employees. There were times when I thought very seriously about taking this path, but the fear of failure has always turned me back.

Perhaps this fear is also given by the fact that the field is a mysterious one, about which the public opinion doesn't know much. I think it's a mistake to compare it with the former Department of State Security, which is the label of the secret services, and today's Romanian intelligence services. In my view, it's inappropriate to draw comparisons because working for 'party' values is different from advocating for the safeguarding of democratic principles", said Silviu.