Applying to Federal Agencies?

[ASUsundevil5]

I have heard many mix feelings and opinions from many local and federal LEO's...

From what I have been told, working as a Police Officer is not the way to go if your main goal is to work on a federal level/agency. Many have said that the hiring board/application stage will classify you as a "cop" and put you in a pool of applicants, just like you. Thus, it makes the hiring process even longer or basically limits your chances to getting into a federal agency.

On the other side, many have told me it's the way to go for an initial job experience, or career, and even to gain credit/respect. I personally think it's a great addition/career to have under your belt. Not only do you develop key skills, investigative/LE experience, it will make your application look that much better. If you already possess key degrees/experience, I do not see local PD experience hindering your application. I would think they would even respect you more, as you know and have been in the light of real "patrol/street" work.

I just wanted to get an idea what others think/have experienced?

[Switchback]

From what I have been told, working as a Police Officer is not the way to go if your main goal is to work on a federal level/agency. Many have said that the hiring board/application stage will classify you as a "cop" and put you in a pool of applicants, just like you. Thus, it makes the hiring process even longer or basically limits your chances to getting into a federal agency.

I would have to call bull on this one! I don't know of any category for "cops" that would put them in some category separate from everyone else. It's merely experience and/or special skills in your package. The lenght of your hiring process does not matter on anything other than the hiring status of the agency and the strength of your application package.

On the other side, many have told me it's the way to go for an initial job experience, or career, and even to gain credit/respect. I personally think it's a great addition/career to have under your belt. Not only do you develop key skills, investigative/LE experience, it will make your application look that much better. If you already possess key degrees/experience, I do not see local PD experience hindering your application. I would think they would even respect you more, as you know and have been in the light of real "patrol/street" work.

Yeah, this closer to the way I feel about things.

[Big Sexy]

I'd have to agree 100% with Switch's post.

[chewy]

As always I have to agree with Switch and B.S. (ha ha your initials are BS!!). How are things Switch?

[fed_cop911]

The only thing that being a "Local Cop" will do for you is to add more info on your experience section of your application. Just like switch said, there are no special sections for anyone, just experienced and inexperienced. Good Luck.

[DeltaV]

Most of the federal agents I know were local or state cops at one point.

[Nole795]

In 2003, I went federal. In my academy class, out of the 24 students, 16 were prior law enforcement.

All the federal agents that are in my social group, DEA, OIG, ATF, and USSS are all prior LEO's.

[ASUsundevil5]

Thanks everyone for the advice/comments, I appreciate it..

I figured the first statement was complete BS...

[Valor55]

The closest I've heard to that kind of hiring practice is the FBI who advertises what they are looking for. You can see from their website at FBIJOBS.com what their critical skills needs are but it's generalized enough to cover just about anyone looking to be a feebie.

[Group9]

When I look at the last five or six people that my federal agency has hired out of my area, including one who starts the academy November 7, all were state or local police. When I look around at the agents who are assigned here, I see the exact same thing.

State or local experience is still the best way to get on, at least in my shop.

[Denny]

Experience is experience. Some law enforcement is helpful but so is a college degree in Criminal Justice, Computers etc. They are looking at the total package trust me. Good luck to you.

[eff-bee-eye]

The closest I've heard to that kind of hiring practice is the FBI who advertises what they are looking for. You can see from their website at FBIJOBS.com what their critical skills needs are but it's generalized enough to cover just about anyone looking to be a feebie.

Since law enforcement is a designated "Critical Skill" with the FBI, it does greatly affect how you are processed. Hiring trends shift from time to time, and sometimes prior LE or military folks are put on a "freeze" if the FBI needs to bring on more foreign language speakers, IT/CS, Intel, etc. For example, the last 6 months or so the FBI put prior LE/military on hold for this reason, and only recently re-opened the floodgates and started giving prior LE/military folks Academy dates.

Local/State LE can be great experience, or a great career in general. But the bottom line is you have to do what interests you the most. There are PLENTY of 1811's I know that are prior LE, plenty that aren't. I know a lot of feds that started with Customs (CBP) and used that experience to jump to an 1811 position. Some people do it with degrees, or even corporate experience. Really all depends...