Easiest 1811

[Kimble]

ICE is doing a lot of hiring right now, so that does help the odds.

ICE does tend to hire those with experience and straight out of college. We had a girl in CITP who did a co-op through ICE, but being an 1811 is her first full-time job out of college.

[BSmitty]

Other ways to get into the federal system, while gaining experience and waiting for the agency you want, are positions like Bureau of Prisons (correctional officer), Border Patrol Agent, IRS (Revenue Officer), as well as the traditional police officer or military. I know DEA, FBI, ATF, USMS with these backgrounds. Be persistent and apply to several agencies.

[Switchback]

Other ways to get into the federal system, while gaining experience and waiting for the agency you want, are positions like Bureau of Prisons (correctional officer), Border Patrol Agent, IRS (Revenue Officer), as well as the traditional police officer or military. I know DEA, FBI, ATF, USMS with these backgrounds. Be persistent and apply to several agencies.

We really do not have that many BOPers. We have some Border Patrol guys, though. Most of our guys having experience have come from state/local LE.

[Kimble]

I do no want to insult anyone or cause a massive riot, but can I get people's opinion on the easiest and hardest 1811 jobs to get??? I know it probably depends, but looking at sheer numbers and whatnot, what agency do I have the best shot at right out of college. Thanks.

Apply for any agency announcement you're qualified for. I did, and after applying to a dozen or more 1811 jobs, I finally got hired. Granted, it was not right after graduating college (nor grad school, nor my first job out of college), but in going through the process again and again I refined my interviewing skills, fine-tuned my resume and eventually got selected. College graduates getting hired does happen, but it's something of an anomaly, a rare occurrence that happens for those with every impressive college credentials, those who "know someone", or those who did a co-op or internship program that led to a job offer.

Still, if you're qualified (and as a college grad you're at least qualified at GS-05, and perhaps GS-07 if you have a high enough GPA), give it a shot. You will find you won't get hired at all if you don't apply. The worst they can say is "no", and in which case you are no worse off. If that's the case, look at getting on with a local PD/SO or state agency (or even a federal uniformed LE agency, like listed above), and then pursue an 1811 spot down the road.

[LastChance36]

I will agree with ROS. Over the course of the past 5-6 years, I have applied with over 10 fed agencies. Tested with most, interviewed with some, removed myself from 4, BI'd by 3, DQ'd by 2 and offered by 1 and Im still in the hunt by my own accord.

It is a learning process from the time you first apply. You will hear stories from many current 1811's who had been rejected for one reason or another by one or more agencies and finally got picked up and I'll guarantee you most of those, looking back, are thankful things happened the way they did. Same goes for me. Glad I made the decisions as the older I have gotten and the more LE experience I have gained, I realized that I likely would not have been happy at most of the fed agencies I applied with at the get go. As it works out, the agency I am currently awaiting my final step with, USPIS, is the best fit for me. Considering I am very happy where I am now, I can honestly say this is the ONLY fed agency I would leave my current job for and I know this because I have looked into every fed agency out there. This is where it is best to talk with as many field agents from an agency that interests you as possible. They, more than anyone, will give you the unbiased view of the agency from the inside.
To pin your hopes on getting hired straight out of collecge with no or little real world or law enf. experience is a bit unrealistic IMO as well.
As for the easiest app process, IMO it would go to ICE. No poly, no PT and little written other than the TEA was almost too easy to believe compared to others I went through.;)

[Group9]

I do no want to insult anyone or cause a massive riot, but can I get people's opinion on the easiest and hardest 1811 jobs to get??? I know it probably depends, but looking at sheer numbers and whatnot, what agency do I have the best shot at right out of college. Thanks.

Right out of college? That's like winning the lottery. It happens, and I know a few people it has happened to, but you don't want to make it an essential part of your life plan.

[ColtPistols]

Does border patrol at GS-5 require a BA? and what is ICE everyone keeps mentioning?

[RT302]

Does border patrol at GS-5 require a BA? and what is ICE everyone keeps mentioning?

Immigration and Customs Enforcement

htp://www.ice.gov/ (add a "t" for the link to work)

[LastChance36]

Does border patrol at GS-5 require a BA? and what is ICE everyone keeps mentioning?

ICE is the former US Customs Service and Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) merged together. Tons of info on this and other threads about ICE.

From the Border Patrol website:

To qualify at the GL-5 level, you must have a substantial background of experience (paid, voluntary, full or part-time), of which at least one year must have been comparable in level of difficulty and responsibility to grade GL-4 in the federal service. The work experience does not have to be law enforcement related. (You must describe all work experience in your application for employment in order to gain proper consideration.)


or


This type of experience must demonstrate an ability to take charge, make decisions and maintain composure in stressful situations; it must demonstrate an ability to maintain interpersonal relationships with coworkers and the public and it must demonstrate a propensity to learn both on the job and through formal instruction.


If you do not have the work experience described above, a 4-year college degree can be substituted for and is fully qualifying for the GL-5 level. There is no requirement that the degree is in any particular field or that it is a recent degree;


or


You may qualify through a combination of education and work experience (assuming you have not completed your degree). Each year of full-time semester or quarter units equates to three months of general work experience. For example, if you had two (2) years of full-time college education, that would equate to six months of experience with an additional six (6) months of generalized work experience, you could qualify for the GL-5 position.


In other words, it looks like they will accept qualifying experience in lieu of a degree. :cool:

[txinvestigator1]

1811. You begin as an 082 and then make 1811 after something like 3 years.

The only thing that makes it mroe competitive is the reputation of the Service, .

Yeh, but aren't you guys working hard to improve that reputation. :eek::D

[mbrowne]

On the same line of questioning, does anyone know where along the application steps the experience would be judged and dq someone? For example is it in the interview where a college student would get booted, or at the very end or what?

[Kimble]

On the same line of questioning, does anyone know where along the application steps the experience would be judged and dq someone? For example is it in the interview where a college student would get booted, or at the very end or what?

All of the above. With a college degree alone you may qualify to apply, which means you likely can also take any written tests involved. If you pass that, you can go to the interview, but often those who do the interview will be looking at what you bring to the table compared to others they've seen. In essense, they can decide you would be a good fit in regard to personality, ambition and drive, but that you need to go into the work force and develop some skills first. At the end of the process, the hiring officials at HQ look at the slots they have available, what special skills they need, and who they have in their "hiring pool." If it's you - or any other recent college graduate - up against those who were police detectives, agents with other federal agencies, local/state cops, military officers, etc., you're not exactly comparing apples to apples.

Like I said before, if you're qualified, apply. Just don't go out there like the federal government OWES you something. The federal government will select who it sees best for it. If you're not it, go out there and make yourself more marketable by developing skills you don't already have. I did this, and so have countless other former-college graduates who were competative but not "most competative." Don't look for the "easiest" way to become an 1811, just the way that will better yourself and make you a good fit for an 1811 agency.

[smcc360]

I'm not aiming for mediocrity, I just would rather start as a fed 1811 as opposed to a local cop.

Lad, you're FBI material, and no doubt.