Best job experience to become a customs inspector?

[Jason Bourne]

Hello all. I'm new as you can see, and am desperately seeking information on the best kind of job experience to get a job as a custom inspectors? I have a few questions and would greatly appreciate it if current or former custom inspectors could answer:

-Is it hard to get a job as a uniform custom inspector, even with a 2 year degree (associates in art) ?

-If so, what would be the best "get your foot in the door" type of job to do for 3-4 years and then apply for custom inspector? Any kind of entry level GS-2 jobs that would help? What about TSA security, like screeners or something?

Thanks a lot. I've tried googling, but all I get is the "3-4 years experience or a bachelor's degree".

[charlydevo]

"Customs Inspectors" are now called CBP Officers. CBP hires in the typical civil service fashion. As long as you meet the basic qualifications, you can take the test. If you do well on the test, you will be invited to have an interview, take a physical, etc. If you pass all of that, and a background check, you will get hired. I don't really think that you can do anything else to help get hired, other than buying one of the many study guides from Amazon or a similar source. I do recommend, however, that you finish another two years of college before taking a job. It will be tough once you start working, and you might find that you wish you had one.

[Jason Bourne]

Thanks for the reply. I hope more people reply. I have heard that it's easy to become a uniform custom inspector. I was just wondering if my background I could get in.

[Big Sexy]

"Customs Inspectors" are now called CBP Officers. CBP hires in the typical civil service fashion. As long as you meet the basic qualifications, you can take the test. If you do well on the test, you will be invited to have an interview, take a physical, etc. If you pass all of that, and a background check, you will get hired. I don't really think that you can do anything else to help get hired, other than buying one of the many study guides from Amazon or a similar source. I do recommend, however, that you finish another two years of college before taking a job. It will be tough once you start working, and you might find that you wish you had one.

Thanks for the reply. I hope more people reply. I have heard that it's easy to become a uniform custom inspector. I was just wondering if my background I could get in.

Damn man, did you even read Charlydevo's post??!! What part of Customs-Inspectors-are-now-called-CBP Officers, did you not understand??!!:confused:

Is the only reason you're inquiring about the job is because, "you heard it was easy to get into"??

Find the search function on the forum and utilize it.

[Jason Bourne]

Sorry. I'll use CBP officer now, and presumably the job being easy to get into isn't the only reason I'm asking about it. It's a job that I'm interested in, that's all. My father's friend is a CBP officer at the Tampa Intl. Airport. On his off duty days, he cleans up like $300 for the day by checking passports for those that get ships. I'd like to do that and hopefully one day work overseas at embassies.

Thanks.

EDIT- I did search for "custom inspector" earlier, and yielded no results, but since you mentioned CBP officer, I'll try that.

[BP348]

he cleans up like $300 for the day by checking passports

As stated the position is a CBP Officer but back in the day what your father's friend is doing would have been an Immigration Inspector's duty not a Customs Inspector's.

Try CBP.gov or like you said google it. CBP is looking for a lot of people right now.

[K-9MALY]

I have heard that it's easy to become a uniform custom inspector.

I hope you don't think your going to be taking a high school test, because it is a fair to moderate exam. Nothing like some other federal or state exams, but I wouldn't classify it as easy. Many people fail it, and have to study hard to pass it.

[Jason Bourne]

UPDATE

My father just called me and said he ran into the guy who's a CPB officer at the Tampa International Airport. He told my father that your background history is still important, as long as you score VERY high on the test you take, it doesn't really matter. If you score a 100%, you'd be one of the first to get a call.