Ice Sa

[newbisan]

I let you know if I learn something different. One of my friends is calling the Dallas office today to see if they can shed some light on the situation.

Thanks glockpacker, the effort is much appreciated!

[EndlessEcko]

hey guys got a question for ya. What are the steps in the process for an ICE SA applicant?

[winforever]

jan '07 tester, in t&s since march.

[ElGuapo]

Application Manager did not show any apps for me. Looks like it only works for those who had created an account prior to applying for ICE.

Congrats to all those who have passed, and for those that didn't, keep at it and don't give up.

Glad to see we are getting a lot more involvement on this forum!

Have a great Arbor Day everybody! (From an employee of the Arbor Day State who has the day off!).

[Big Sexy]

After speaking with a recruiter today, BIG became aware of some interesting facts of which he was unaware.

Hiring Freeze. Really no such thing. The pool of eligible applicants is constantly being refreshed. Hiring may slow to almost glacier proportions, but it never just stops.

Allotments. Each office has an allotment of new hires it may bring on. Now the office to which you hope to be employed may reach it's allotment, thereby they are unable to hire anyone else. But another office may not have reached it's allotment and therefore continues to hire.

Which may explain why those hoping to be hired only in Miami for example, may have a longer wait than someone who is willing to go anywhere.

The List. The SAC's are presented with a list of eligible folks from whom they may hire. If upon looking at this list, the SAC doesn't like what he/she see's, they don't have to hire from that list. By what they see BIG is referring to qualifications and backgrounds. The SAC may be looking to bring on a certain skill set that that particular SAC may be lacking. I.e. foreign language capabilities, financial backgrounds, investigative backgrounds etc, etc, etc.

Which brings BIG to this question. How many of you are utilizing the shotgun method? BIG notices that a few of you have applied to ICE, ATF, DEA andthe USSS. Applying for any and all agencies, in attempt to be brought on, regardless of the duties of that particular agency. Seems like a hell of a dice to be rolling. Getting a job you can't stand in a place you don't want to be. All in an effort to reach that 1811 brass ring.

Mind you BIG SEXY is not criticizing this particular method. It has worked for those bigger and better than BIG. It just isn't something that BIG ever did. Then again, BIG's particular career path probaby wouldn't be for a lot of people either, so to each their own.

Just be aware that that 'brass ring' has both pros and cons. Some unseen, some right in your face.

Which brings BIG to the pros and cons of his own agency, ICE/OI.

PRO: ICE/OI has vast authorities and holds and multitude of enforcement missions.

CON: ICE/OI has vast authorities and holds and multitude of enforcement missions.

ICE

The good, since the program areas are so many, once you get tired of one thing, you can always move on to something else. The bad, once you find something you really like doing, you can always be moved to something else. It's a double edged sword, to say the least.

DEA

The good, you know what you're doing on the first day, narcotics. The bad, you also know what you're doing twenty years down the road, narcotics. If variety is your spice of life, this may just burn you out quite quickly. Despite the t.v. show, there is alot of investigations that leads those guys to those particular doors. Not the sexiest part of an investigation, hence why you never see that part.

USSS

The good, traveling the world, meeting world leaders, seeing history being made. The bad, guarding that manhole cover in the alley behind the hotel at 3AM in the rain in 33 degree weather. No one and BIG means no one ever thinks of that part.

BIG just wants to emphasis that make sure that the agencies you're applying to is actually something you may want to do. Now if the fit isn't for you, you can obviously go to another agency.

But despite what some on the outside may think, jumping between isn't really any easier just because you're already in the system. There are enough fellow applicants in these threads who are already federal employees who will attest to that.

Some of us, BIG included, have been fortunate enough to agency jump seemingly at will, without nary a problem. But trust BIG, we are the exceptions, not the rule.

Sorry for the rambling, BIG just kind of got away from himself. Good luck to all in the various processes.

[Grift]

This post looks familiar, Big... should we infer your forum preference by which one you posted in first ;) ?

Good info, thanks.

[rix031]

After speaking with a recruiter today, BIG became aware of some interesting facts of which he was unaware.

Hiring Freeze. Really no such thing. The pool of eligible applicants is constantly being refreshed. Hiring may slow to almost glacier proportions, but it never just stops.

Allotments. Each office has an allotment of new hires it may bring on. Now the office to which you hope to be employed may reach it's allotment, thereby they are unable to hire anyone else. But another office may not have reached it's allotment and therefore continues to hire.

Which may explain why those hoping to be hired only in Miami for example, may have a longer wait than someone who is willing to go anywhere.

The List. The SAC's are presented with a list of eligible folks from whom they may hire. If upon looking at this list, the SAC doesn't like what he/she see's, they don't have to hire from that list. By what they see BIG is referring to qualifications and backgrounds. The SAC may be looking to bring on a certain skill set that that particular SAC may be lacking. I.e. foreign language capabilities, financial backgrounds, investigative backgrounds etc, etc, etc.

Which brings BIG to this question. How many of you are utilizing the shotgun method? BIG notices that a few of you have applied to ICE, ATF, DEA andthe USSS. Applying for any and all agencies, in attempt to be brought on, regardless of the duties of that particular agency. Seems like a hell of a dice to be rolling. Getting a job you can't stand in a place you don't want to be. All in an effort to reach that 1811 brass ring.

Mind you BIG SEXY is not criticizing this particular method. It has worked for those bigger and better than BIG. It just isn't something that BIG ever did. Then again, BIG's particular career path probaby wouldn't be for a lot of people either, so to each their own.

Just be aware that that 'brass ring' has both pros and cons. Some unseen, some right in your face.

Which brings BIG to the pros and cons of his own agency, ICE/OI.

PRO: ICE/OI has vast authorities and holds and multitude of enforcement missions.

CON: ICE/OI has vast authorities and holds and multitude of enforcement missions.

ICE

The good, since the program areas are so many, once you get tired of one thing, you can always move on to something else. The bad, once you find something you really like doing, you can always be moved to something else. It's a double edged sword, to say the least.

DEA

The good, you know what you're doing on the first day, narcotics. The bad, you also know what you're doing twenty years down the road, narcotics. If variety is your spice of life, this may just burn you out quite quickly. Despite the t.v. show, there is alot of investigations that leads those guys to those particular doors. Not the sexiest part of an investigation, hence why you never see that part.

USSS

The good, traveling the world, meeting world leaders, seeing history being made. The bad, guarding that manhole cover in the alley behind the hotel at 3AM in the rain in 33 degree weather. No one and BIG means no one ever thinks of that part.

BIG just wants to emphasis that make sure that the agencies you're applying to is actually something you may want to do. Now if the fit isn't for you, you can obviously go to another agency.

But despite what some on the outside may think, jumping between isn't really any easier just because you're already in the system. There are enough fellow applicants in these threads who are already federal employees who will attest to that.

Some of us, BIG included, have been fortunate enough to agency jump seemingly at will, without nary a problem. But trust BIG, we are the exceptions, not the rule.

Sorry for the rambling, BIG just kind of got away from himself. Good luck to all in the various processes.

excellent post and very informative!

one thing that pops out, "Which may explain why those hoping to be hired only in Miami for example, may have a longer wait than someone who is willing to go anywhere." because as you may not know is that we do not have a choice. if they call and offer x and you want y, you are out of luck. if you dont accept it, your out of the process. so, basically, the wait is not dependent on whether the person is willing to move or not.

again, great post and thanks for the info. it makes a lot of sense now.

[Big Sexy]

This post looks familiar, Big... should we infer your forum preference by which one you posted in first ;) ?

Good info, thanks.

BIG SEXY is contractually obligated to post any ICE employment news over there first. But don't tell anyone, let it be our little secret. ;)

Calls are going out. A local officer BIG knows was called and offered a position today. Academy will begin in June.

[glockpacker]

Thanks glockpacker, the effort is much appreciated!

My friend was not able to get a straight answer out of Dallas, about applicationmanager . com however he received his April 10th Test results in the mail on Saturday (and passed so it has nothing to do with test results). Most all the results from this last round of testing should be out in the next week or so. Hope you news is good!

It does seem that only accounts in existence before registration have been linked to the ICE hiring process.

[TXICE]

Seems like alot of people are passing the exam this testing phase. Having said that, I guess the people who fail dont broadcast that fact. Let's do the math, 600 people currently in T&S, thousands of additional individuals passing the test in late 07 and early 08, we are in for a LONGGGGG wait. Good luck.

[2 to the chest]

I am a current CBP
I had to call a S/A today for work purposes.
During the bussiness portion of the call he mentioned that
when the 'new agents' come on board they were going to assign some of his cases....blah blah....
So....
I started to ask what was going on on his side.
Has he heard there was going to be a ramping up of new agents...

He mentoned there was a 'Freeze' at the moment but he would not be surprised if the gates of heaven opened up soon and the flood of apps going through the academy would begin.

Sounds like they need help- he mentioned that they started reassigning his cases to other offices b/c they were short...

I hope this gives us all some hope that things will be moving soon.

[Maverick24]

Seems like alot of people are passing the exam this testing phase. Having said that, I guess the people who fail dont broadcast that fact. Let's do the math, 600 people currently in T&S, thousands of additional individuals passing the test in late 07 and early 08, we are in for a LONGGGGG wait. Good luck.

Very true, unless things change it seems like 18 months at least (if you are one of the lucky ones). Many are still waiting after 2+ years. Things may change though since ICE will now have their own dedicated hiring center in Dallas. We shall see...

[rix031]

i am the bearer of lame news. only 200 or so slots available for this fiscal year. ice only sends 24 at a time to citp. do the math and i think you will see, that doesnt equate to "the floods gates are going open."

as a member of the t&s club, i feel its my duty to present the facts so applicants, not in the club, realize the reality of the situation. if not, here it is:

you have a LOOOOOOOOOOOOONG wait.

lets put it in another perspective. i had my test, interview, medical, physical and background waived, and ive still been in the process 17 months.

[TXICE]

So if you're in the process for over 2 years, does your test score need to be reactivated?

[EndlessEcko]

Why do these agencies keep offering tests when they have hundreds in the pipeline with only a handful of spots to fill?