Applying for th* FBI, Again

[FBI-Reject]

(Note: All the information I share about the FBI selection process is published openly by the FBI.)

Anyone have any suggestions in passing the FBI Phase II testing? I just found out I failed and I have one more try in at least one year. (Added in edit after initial post: The FBI gives no indication on how I did in any area. Only a pass/fail result is provided.)

The FBI Phase II testing consists of a 90 minute written exercise (25% of the Phase II score) and a one-hour interview (75% of the Phase II score). The interview consists of 15 questions, which somehow probes the following:
-- Ability to communicate orally
-- Ability or organize, plan and prioritize
-- Ability to relate effectively with others
-- Ability to maintain a positive image
-- Ability to evaluate information and make judgement decisions
-- Initiative and motivation
-- Ability to adapt to changing situations
-- Integrity
-- Physical requirements

The written exam tests the following:
-- Ability to communicate in writing
-- Ability to evaluate and make judgement decisions
-- Ability to attend to detail

I am trying to view this positively and take this as an opportunity to get in the best shape of my life and make some improvements in my self. In addition to continuing to exercise six times per week, I am considering the following for the next year:
-- taking a Business Writing course at the local community college to brush up on my writing skills
-- joining a speech club (Toastmasters)
-- going back to Aikido and Judo to get a black and brown belt, respectively.
-- becoming a NRA certified firearms instructor

Less likely considerations:
-- Joining the Army Reserves for a two or three year stint I heard that the military does these types of panel interviews a lot.
-- Joining the Reserve/Volunteer police officers in my jurisdiction and re-applying to the FBI after about 3 years.

(1) Anyone have any suggestions about any of the ideas above? I think my general goal is to try to get into the FBI eventually but I am open to other ideas/jobs also.

(2) Anyone know of any good materials? Anyone try the book, “FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT CAREERS, TESTING & INTERVIEWING GUIDE”. I found it at the following web site:

http://www.policeemployment.com/federal/

Thank you in advance for any assistance.

[sorrel]

If you have detailed info on where you failed the test, perhaps that would be the best area in which to improve.
I do not know if they will give you this info or not. Still, and I am not in law enforcement, anything you can do with your goal in mind will help you.
In my opinion, military service. Testing has a lot to do with rank in goverment service, my older bro is a GS 18. He has been stationed at mercury, the mx site in the dakotas, and several other high security sites around the world.
Service in the military can open a lot of areas for you, take advantage of the training there if you choose that path, not just the good mark on your record.
And, Good Luck to you, whatever path you choose.

[Hawkshaw]

FBI-Reject,

Have you considered applying for an FBI Support Personnel position? It would get you into the FBI and be a great stepping stone if you want to be an S.A.

I am currently in the hiring process for Investigative Specialist (support position). (Interview first week of Feb)

You also might want to consider applying to another Federal agency and once in the system apply to the FBI.

Good luck with your pursuits...

[zander_zye]

The FBI is one of the toughest LE gigs to get into.

I do know a few Special Agents though - the best way to get into the gig is to have an advanced degree. A Masters or a Doctorate in something they can use.

I do know the bureau is actively recuiting computer specialists (not computer repairman) - software engineers, IT experts with industry experience and advanced degrees. They are also recruiting accountants, (CPA's), and as always lawyers.

The FBI is an excellent career choice if you want to be an investigator. According to my friends, it is tedious at times, and rarely glamourous. If you really enjoy going after the bad guy and making a lot of good arrests, go for the US Marshalls Service (they do most of the arresting anyway).

Good luck....

[911]

What is your background? What degree do you hold? Do you have LE experience? Do you have military experience? I wouldn't concern myself with getting black or brown belts, it won't impress them. I don't think people realize how difficult it is to get hired by the FBI. I have heard it is tougher than getting into Harvard. To be honest, the fact that you have already failed will not go well for you Maybe you are setting your sights too high. There are a stack of great federal agencies around, who else have you applied to?

[FBI-Reject]

I have been thinking of joining the military, Sorrel. The recruiters tell me that I am too old to go in as an officer. But army reserves or national guard may take me.

The Investigative Specialist sounds very interesting, Hawkshaw. Thanks for the tip. I will keep that on my list of options. Good luck to you. If you got an interview it means that you have got something they want.

At first I was only interested in being a FBI SA. But I have since really opened up to other SA (1811) positions. I got me DEA panel in a few weeks. Customs is processing my initial application. I am trying to finish my KSA’s for the US Secret Service.

Thanks for the tip on the tedious ness of the FBI, zander_eye. I have noticed this also. Here are two examples: (1) The FBI had to investigate two $50 robberies of pizza delivery men because this fell under some sort of federal inter-state commerce law. (2) Some one/people threw flyers into the property of a Muslim Mosque. It read something about every one of their curry fund-raisers were monitored for funding terrorism. This launched a full-scale FBI investigation because it fell under some sort of federal hate-crime law.

I have a BS in math and about ten years experience in insurance mathematics. I do not have any LE or military experience. My local FBI recruiter said that I was deemed most competitive and thus made the phase II in the first review of the applicants in the phase II pool.

I am taking a business writing course and joined a local Toastmasters club. (I just passed the DEA writing test so the business writing course may have helped.) So far Toastmasters has been good. The people there are very warm and honest. I think I lack the confidence in speaking. My fellow Toastmasters have also pointed this out; and did so in a very positive way. (They are all really, really nice.)

I think they way the FBI works is that if you get to Phase II then, on paper, you are deemed competitive enough. Here, in phase II, the point is being able to write and speak.

Hey, 911, I like your signature line.

Thanks for all of your input. I would appreciate more thoughts if anyone has any.

[Matt-55]

Hello,

I'm new to this board and found it to be very interesting and helpful.

A little about me.... I have about 14 years of investigative experience in the public sector working fraud, theft, and embezzlement cases within corporations. My BS is in Education and I will be starting my MS in Criminal Justice this year. I’m presently enrolled in a Computer Forensics course so I can get my certification in Computer Forensics. Like you I’m also in the hiring process for the FBI’s Special Agent program. I’m waiting for my Phase 2 test date right now. I’ve done extensive research on the FBI that has helped me and I hope to learn more at this web site as well as share what I know. Oh’ and I was in the Air National Guard for 6 years as a Security Police Officer. I have over 20 years of Judo training and I can confirm to you the FBI doesn’t care. Sure it’s gravy, but they really don’t see it as meaningful. One retired agent I talked to said unless I ran a judo school or something that shows leadership they don’t care about my judo awards. Lucky for me I did run a judo school.

I was reading over your ideas about things you need to do to pass the Phase 2 test. Based on my information (feel free to correct me if I’m wrong on something) the fact you made it to the interview process already tells me you have experiences that the FBI is interested in. The full length application is what determines your experience the interview is to discover more about your personality. I don’t think you should be focusing on adding credentials over the next year (however adding something can’t hurt). I think you should focus on presenting yourself in a stronger way during the interview. I’m preparing for my first interview and found the book “Law Enforcement Officer, Test Preparation Guidebook For Oral Tests & Interviews” by Craig A. Zendzian, Ph.D., to be very helpful. Also, I have been applying to jobs just for the interviewing experience.

Make a list of all the different questions you expect to be asked and flesh out good responses to them (don’t just rely on what you think is a good response, talk to people you respect and even other law enforcement agents and see what they think of your response) I wouldn’t try to remember your response word for word or anything like that, just have different life experiences fresh in your mind and go over some mock interviews answering typical questions. You have the advantage of already having the test once so you know what they are looking for more so then most.

Also, an important note is the FBI Director recently made a declaration about new hires. It’s on the FBI web page and I can find it for you if you want to read it word for word. He states because computers are so important in all areas of work the FBI expects all new hires to have good computer skills.

I think these ideas are your best...

taking a Business Writing course at the local community college to brush up on my writing skills
joining a speech club (Toastmasters)


In short, I think your focus should be one of interviewing skills and not credentials. Hope this was helpful.

-Matt

[FBI-Reject]

Mat-55:

Thanks for posting. It has been interesting that the Business Writing class has been very helpful in terms of helping me speak better. I find that this class has been helping me to think more critically and generally communicate more precisely.

www.911jobforums.com is also a good board.

Good luck to. you.

[Elly]

Perhaps this will help:

a. First, Matt is right on with his comments about your standing within the testing system... the FBI likes you, you perhaps just did not do a good job of "selling" yourself to your evaluators. It's always a mixed bag man... the recruitment system is less than scientific and very subjective, depending on who you interview with. Hell, just getting an invite for phase I is a big step. I've heard it's an internal joke about how the FBI hires... no one knows, theirs know logic to it, and know one has to explain their rationale.

b. With regard to applying for the IS job (admin/support). I'd recommend that you not do that unless you're willing to get "stuck" in the system for a while. I have a VERY good friend who followed this same path, only to get stuck in a job he did not intend to stay in. Policies change day to day and you may get stuck doing something you don't want to. Bottom line is this: understand that being an on-board employee in the FBI gets you know special status or points toward the Agent gig. If fact, it may hurt you as it did my friend. The recruiter in his area basically could not see past his current job (some sort of social work for the FBI), although he had been offered phase I testing in the past. Dispite his supervisors (all supervisor special agents) pushing and urging for the FBI to test him, he never got that second chance...all becuase he took an on-board job first... by the way. He ended up having to take another job within the FBI which moved him out of his division so that he could get a chance to test. And, remember, there are still know guarntees. As he told me last time I talked to him: I'm applying for Agents positions at other places because I just don't trust the system".

You can take that for what it's worth I guess. Good luck to ya!

[osupikapp]

The last two posts got it right for you. Getting to Phase II has all to do with you qualifications. The only hitch being that you must remain in the "most competitive" category when it comes time for Phase II again. If you do a web search with the keywords" fbi phase ii questions" you will be able to find interviewing coaches. I didn't personally use one, but any help that you can get, I would take. I know I saw one who seemed to advertise positive feedback from her clients. I think when it comes time for a Phase II interview, one of the best ways to prepare for the interview is to make a list of all of the subject areas in which interview will cover and come up with 2-3 examples of situations in your life which would apply to those areas. I might also encourage you to write down the questions that were asked of you in your first phase II to save for later, or another panel interview for another 1811 position. Of the things that you listed, I don't think you will be able to derive any specific benefit to your phase II re-interview (with the exception of Toastmasters). Best wishes.

[metallicat]

Holy old thread!

[Toeknee112]

You have just entered...The Twilight Zone!

[Hawkshaw]

If you want to be a Special Agent and don't mind working for the military there is the NCIS or the Air Force OSI. The Air Force OSI takes applicants past the age of 37 if there is the letter "B" in the announcement number. It is only the difference in the type of retirement.

Just throwing some options.

Also re: the IS position in the FBI I know of 2 people where they had no problems getting into the SA position from the IS. I think it truly depends on the individual and your qualifications and the "connections" they have too don't hurt.

[unidos]

...

Also re: the IS position in the FBI I know of 2 people where they had no problems getting into the SA position from the IS. I think it truly depends on the individual and your qualifications and the "connections" they have too don't hurt.

Hawkshaw,

Is there any information about the IS positions you could give some information about?

Why people like it or dislike, etc?

[cmras24]

Hawkshaw I am also in the process for IS what do you no about the job, or the job description.