The agency may have shed its cold war pomp and settled into a $700 million glass monolith known as "Lubyanka on the lake", but it insists it is looking for the same type of recruit, albeit with a few more technical skills.

In its latest annual report, the intelligence service revealed an annual spend of $870,000 on recruitment focused on university graduates, who are expected to bolster its ranks by nearly 20 per cent.

The recruitment spend increased from $599,000 a year earlier with the agency expected to welcome close to 325 new staff by 2020, adding to an existing 1715.

"The pitch to universities has not changed," an ASIO spokesman said. "The personal attributes ASIO looks for in recruits has remained consistent."

"ASIO's current focus is on recruiting intelligence officers, analysts, and surveillance officers. [We are] also focused on finding candidates with a range of technical and ICT, including data backgrounds."

The spokesman said the agency was looking for graduates with an ability to learn quickly and with critical thinking, problem solving and communication skills.

The intelligence agency, which has warned Australia was not immune to the possibility of a terrorist attack, has attended 20 university career fairs around the country this year. The agency has also held specific information sessions for targeted disciplines at some universities.

"ASIO employees have varied backgrounds and can hold qualifications in almost any field. [They] are recruited based on a combination of personal attributes and qualification," the spokesman said.

Those joining the agency are expected to begin a year of intense training before being assigned to a three-to-five year posting in a specific role.

"Like taking up all new roles, the first year or two is a steep learning curve, and on-the-job coaching and ongoing training support the development during this period," he said. "The work performed will vary depending on whether it is an analytical or case officer role."

The training model is one component of a development program overhauled in late 2014 to deliver "job ready" outcomes to graduates through classroom training, practical exercises and job placements.

A panel of recruitment agencies was also established during 2014-15 to "further broaden capability and capacity in recruitment".

The number of face-to-face training sessions more than doubled in the past financial year with all staff completing some of the 60 training courses, including safety and security.

The spy agency has also launched a search for managers to oversee spooks gathering information from IT sources under the federal government's new metadata laws.

The spokesman rejected the claim it was difficult to find a job in the private sector after a career in intelligence, with spooks limited in their ability to discuss their former employment.

"ASIO has high calibre staff with highly developed skill sets that are sought after in both public and private sectors," he said.

"ASIO continues to require, on a regular basis, people with a range of skill sets including languages."

The 1715 staff have completed their move into the Ben Chifley building, which was completed two years late and $200 million over budget and was reportedly infiltrated by Chinese spies, although ASIO dismisses the hacking claims.