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The Federal Bureau Of Investigation (FBI)
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigates violent, white collar, organized, public, and cyber crimes, in addition to civil rights, counterintelligence, and terrorism related activities. The agency is run by highly qualified professionals with a range of expertise. The FBI hires language experts, special agents, hostage rescue team members, and members of professional staffs. Out of these jobs, FBI special agents are the public face of the agency.
FBI Agent Job Description
The agency's special agents not only investigate crimes relating to sensitive national security issues, but also enforce federal laws. They investigate crimes relating to the abovementioned categories; therefore, there is no typical day for FBI agents. All agents abide by the agency's core values, thereby making the FBI one of the most prestigious law enforcement agencies in the world.
FBI Agent Requirements
Only a selected few are given the opportunity to work for the FBI. The following lists some mandatory requirements which all applicants must meet:
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U.S. citizenship
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At least 23 years of age but younger than 37 at the time of appointment as a special agent (eligible veterans may seek age waiver)
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A four-year college degree
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At least three years of professional work experience
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Valid driver's license
Once the applicant meets the eligibility requirements, the next step is to qualify for one of the following five entry programs:
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Law
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Language
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Computer Science/Information Technology
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Accounting
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Diversified
Once the applicant qualifies, he/she is prioritized according to his/her critical skills for which the agency is hiring at that particular time. Presently, the agency is hiring special agents with the following skills (this simply means those with the listed skills will get priority):
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Legal experience
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Intelligence experience
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Foreign language(s) proficiency
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Engineering expertise
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Information technology/computer science expertise
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Finance
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Accounting
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Physical sciences expertise
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Military experience
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Investigative/law enforcement experience
The next step is to pass the rigorous physical tests. Since special agents carry out investigation both on and off-field, they must be physically fit to meet the challenges. The agency's physical requirements include:
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Physical fitness test
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Medical Review
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Hearing test
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Vision test
Once the applicant has cleared these tests successfully, he/she may receive a conditional offer of employment. The employment offer is conditional since it is based on the applicant's passing an intensive background investigation. This will include credit and records checks, illegal drugs test, and a polygraph examination. The applicant's neighbors, colleagues, professors, and friends will also be interviewed. It is only after the applicant has successfully cleared all the tests and requirements that he/she will be considered fit for a job in the agency. Working with the agency is like working for no other organization; it can be both challenging and exciting. Therefore if you decide to apply for a position within the agency, make sure you know what the expectations are.