How likely to get hired by FBI?

[mingus]

I'm in the initial stages of aplying to the FBI (among other agencies) and was wondering how likely I am to get hired in light of my qualifications/drawbacks:

Qualifications:
32 years old
fluent in Arabic (including a major dialect)
BA - Summa Cum Laude
lived in Middle East
extremely fit
don't drink or smoke, never used drugs

Drawbacks:
went to college late
mediocre credit record
erratic job history as a young man

In any case, I'm sure I'll find a way to contribute whether or not I'm in the FBI, although it seems like they need specific kinds of help and are facing one of the toughest mandates: protecting the US against terrorism.

Thanks for the advice and comments.

[jcollettusa]

I would call your local FBI recruiting office and speak with them. Most of them would be very helpful in entertaining any of your questions.

[jcv22]

if you pass the Special Agent Phase I exam, they'll give you the language test (Arabic) to see how much you know.......of course, only the top candidates are selected to take the Phase II exam. If you pass the language test (you would qualify under the language program), that would definitely up your chances of getting selected for Phase II. But, for example, if your a poor writer or if you don't do well on the oral interview that could keep you from passing the Phase II exam. In that case, it doesn't matter what your background is. That is just my opinion......I failed the Phase II exam.

[riptide]

JCV, what did you fail in phase II testing?


Thanks

[jcv22]

riptide,

They just told me that I failed. I decided to re-apply for Phase II and got selected to take it 4/19.......found out a few days ago I failed it a second time which means I'm closed out. The FBI Application Coordinator actually told me I passed the written test & oral interview, but overall didn't score enough points to pass the test.

Joe

[riptide]

Do you have any advice or recommendations?

Thanks

[jcv22]

riptide - I copied the following from the FBI website for the Special Agent position............what is your degree in? still in college? I have a BS in Math & 6 years of experience as a computer programmer - that is why I moved along much quicker than others........
www.fbijobs.com/JobDesc.asp?scr=001&requisitionid=368

Critical Skill Needs:
Candidates who otherwise meet entry requirements and possess one or more of the following critical skills are currently deemed essential to address our increasingly complex responsibilities and will be prioritized in the hiring process.
1)Computer Science and other Information Technology specialties
2)Engineering
3)Physical Sciences (Physics, Chemistry, Biology, etc.)
4)Foreign Language Proficiency (Arabic, Farsi, Pashtu, Urdu, Chinese [all dialects], Japanese, Korean, Russian, Spanish, and Vietnamese)
5)Foreign Counterintelligence
6)Counterterrorism
7)Military Intelligence experience
Although the above listing includes the most critical investigative skill needs, the FBI continues to be a diverse agency with employees possessing various experiences. Candidates who possess skills and experience such as accounting, law, business, education, and health care are also encouraged to apply

[Daredevil]

jcv, sorry to hear that. My wife failed out at the panel interview and second written test for Phase II. They told her she could try again in a year, but I think she's done. Some of the people she tested with have said they've been involved in the hiring process for three years, with the hiring freezes and what not. She doesn't want to put her life on hold that long.

One guy she was testing with had already been offered a position with both the DEA and Secret Service. He was delaying answering them because he was still trying one more time for the FBI.

They said they had 100,000 applications for around 800 new agent positions. The fact that you got that far puts you in the top 5%. Nothing to be ashamed of there.

[jcv22]

thanks, Daredevil........very fun ride, though.

[Xdeth]

This continues to confirm what I've heard from others, the hiring process sucks big time. I have a friend that graduated about the same time I did who is still waiting to complete the application process after a year. He's Comp Sci grad, former Marine, a real winner. I laugh when I see the recent complaints by the Director of this and that agency about their fucked up information systems. Who are they gonna get to fix them? People who can't find work anyplace else or have a year or more to kill jumping hoops? Consider yourself lucky you didn't get the job, it's a hoop fest.

[Daredevil]

It's unlikely they would use a Field Agent to fix their information sysytems, if that's what your friend was applying for. They'll either hire inhouse technicians or outside contractors to handle that stuff.

[Charlie Cloud]

Originally posted by Xdeth
This continues to confirm what I've heard from others, the hiring process sucks big time. I have a friend that graduated about the same time I did who is still waiting to complete the application process after a year. He's Comp Sci grad, former Marine, a real winner. I laugh when I see the recent complaints by the Director of this and that agency about their fucked up information systems. Who are they gonna get to fix them? People who can't find work anyplace else or have a year or more to kill jumping hoops? Consider yourself lucky you didn't get the job, it's a hoop fest.

I applied after getting my B.A. I was turned down. After the application process, I decided I would never, ever, want to be the kind of person that could successfully fill out the general federal job application form (SR 171???). As it was in the early 80's, I think they were looking for automatons who's brains had shut down. We used to joke about the perfect bureaucrat, the perfect postal person, and how the test was designed to weed out anyone who might in anyway be able to expose a weakness in a given agency.

After getting my J.D. they all of a sudden "needed" me. Too late. I had a life by then. Suckin' the federal tit was not for me anyway. It takes a different kind of person to actually participate in the capitalist, free-market we all talk so much shit about. Once having done that, I could never leave self-employment. :)

[Jimbo]

Nowadays if you only have a Bachelor's, they won't even look at your application until you have 3 years of experience and even then they prefer you have a Masters if not a JD.

I'd like to make another plug for www.usajobs.opm.gov

Click on 'Current Job Openings'

type 'Intelligence' into the search field and see what pops up.

I hear there are lots of cool jobs out there that are not with CIA and FBI.

[jcollettusa]

Or if you are interested in a Criminal Investigator's position type in "1811" in the title series.

[007]

Mingus-

The drawbacks you listed really shouldn't affect your possible employment with the FBI. The question to ask yourself is..."how am I better than all the other candidates who appy?"

-You have a BA....so does every other applicant! Now, where is this BA Summa Cum Laude from? Some local community college? Or a top school like Princeton, Duke, Harvard, Yale? A 3.6 GPA from University of Maine isn't going to impress either.
-Your age isn't good, it isn't bad either.
-Never done drugs, don't smoke or drink? Well, don't expect a pat on the back for not doing what you shouldn't be doing in the first place!
-Lived in the middle east, fluent in Arabic...perhaps your biggest selling point. This is good, but keep in mind there will probably be Arab speaking Ivy League graduates applying as well!
-Extremely fit...on what basis? If you aren't a champion marathoner, ex-Navy SEAL/Special Ops, the FBI aren't going to give a crap.

So well, based on what you told me, you would be in the middle of the pack (a rather large one at that) for getting into the FBI. Now a big factor will be what university you graduated from, and with what degree! If you graduated from Harvard summa cum laude, then yes the FBI will be very interested in you! Good luck!

[mingus]

Thanks for all of the information. FYI, I was picked up by the Feds recently and am on my way.

007,

I think you're under a bit of a misconception about Ivy Leaguers and the ability to speak Arabic. Luckily, most places that have language requirements also have language tests. So, no matter what your academic pedigree, if you don't perform, you don't perform. Also, the best Arabic programs are primarily at public Universities (or non-Ivy private ones).

In any case, thanks for your info/perspective.

[jcollettusa]

You are exactly right. 007 does not know what he is talking about. It don't matter where you get your degree from as long as it is an acredited college and you can pass their entrance exams.

[Kladno]

Dear Mr. ROTC, Black belt Tae Kwon Do, All-State X-Country/Track (a.k.a. 007 (http://www.socnetcentral.com/vb/member.php?s=&action=getinfo&userid=4185)). Just a quick note, Federal Agencies are not part of the Honor Roll Society.

:rolleyes:

[007]

I'm just basing my knowledge on what my parents (over 10 years with the FBI each) and uncle (currently employed by the CIA) told me. I mean I can see how they would tell me an Ivy League degree is better, simply to motivate me to excel...so if I'm wrong, I'm sorry. Just wanted to be helpful.

Kladno, no need to knock my accomplishments...I'm proud of what I've done in my life, and I don't see a problem with putting a few words into my profile. But then again you're extensive experience with the FBI probably gives you all the right to make bad jokes at my expense. :rolleyes:

[Kladno]

I have zero experience with the FBI, and the same goes for any of my cousins, uncles, and parents.

The point I was trying to make, sir, is that such opinionative advice directed at a person like mingus (who is obviously older and more experienced than yourself) coming from a 1983 birthdate, is, well, you get the general drift.

Forget about it--no big deal.

[jcollettusa]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by 007
[B]I'm just basing my knowledge on what my parents (over 10 years with the FBI each) and uncle (currently employed by the CIA) told me. I mean I can see how they would tell me an Ivy League degree is better, simply to motivate me to excel...so if I'm wrong, I'm sorry. Just wanted to be helpful.

Your parents are probably trying to get you to excel and there is nothing wrong with that. Heck, if I have kids someday I might use the same technique. However, when you base what your parents are "trying" to get you to accomplish as fact then you are basically lying to someone who is trying to get some solid information.

When the FBI hires, they do look at things like community service, accomplishments, acknowledgements, GPA, education level, the degree(s) you have, etc. However, I have never seen or heard of any agency that focuses on the college you attended.

[Kladno]

That's 100% on the button.

But who cares--looks like the guy got hired, which is OUTSTANDING! That's really great.

[007]

Ya I'm dumb...I'm gonna stick to the Army Special Operations forum from now on :) Ya, congrats Mingus, that's really a great accomplishment, you're a lucky man.