If you’ve got a love for law enforcement and a penchant for waiting until the last minute, take note – tomorrow is the last day to apply for the FBI’s 2015/2016 Special Agent program. FBI special agents come from a variety of backgrounds. It’s a position that requires a physical fitness test, and the career is a great fit for veterans looking for a civilian job that will put their military training to use.
The FBI is the law enforcement arm of the Department of Justice. The duties of the FBI are diverse, and that’s reflected in the diversity of candidates considered for current openings. Missions range from cybersecurity and online crime to counterintelligence and interstate crime. If you want a job where no day is the same, an FBI career may be a great fit for you.
Specific skills sought include:
- Cybersecurity
- Intelligence
- Network Administration
- Forensics
- Military pilots
- Attorneys
To qualify, applicants must:
- Be a U.S. citizen
- Be at least 23 years of age but younger than 37 at the time of hiring [exceptions include: federal law enforcement officers (1811s) and veterans’ preference-eligible veterans
- Have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university
- Have lived in the U.S. for three of the last five years unless directly deployed overseas by the U.S. government or military
- Have a valid driver’s license and at least six months of driving experience
Applicants should also have three years of full-time (at least 36 hours per week) professional work experience. Exceptions to this requirement include:
- Applicants with computer science or IT backgrounds
- Foreign language speakers who score 3 or higher on an FBI language test
- Former FBI Honors Interns with at least a 3.0 GPA
- Applicants with a Juris Doctor
- Applicants with a master’s and/or doctoral degree only require two years work experience
If you’re reading this and kicking yourself that you’ve missed the deadline to apply, take heart. Outside of the agency’s special agent program, other positions are available. Learn more at www.fbi.gov. If you’re interested in considering a civilian career in law enforcement and personal security, check out openings here.
