Realistic "applicants vs. hires" stats

[StartingOut]

I read somewhere that for every FBI position, there are 10,000 applicants. Assuming there are 1,000 new agents hired each year, that's 120,000 applications. Those are some tough odds.

But can I get some insight into how many of those 120,000 applicants:

- fail to meet the basic qualifications
- have the minimum qualifications
- have questionable backgrounds
- are too fat
- are just dreamers hoping to get lucky, even though they are totally unsuitable for some reason (drugs, etc.)

That is, obviously not every one of the 120,000 applicants per year is qualified. What portion of those 120,000 applicants are actually serious FBI material that exceeds the minimum hiring standards?

I get that it's a ridiculously competitive (and sometimes luck-driven) hiring process, but what would be some real life estimate of how many qualified applicants actually end up being hired, once the unqualified applicants (e.g. no degree, no military or LE experience etc.) are cut out of the equation?

And what are the applicants vs. hires stats for some other federal LE agencies?

Just trying to get a realistic outlook on my career choice. I don't want to get over enthusiastic because it's obvious that the odds are stacked against me in terms of sheer numbers of applicants. But I don't want to be put off by the idea that there's 10,000 applicants for each position - common sense says that the number of "solid" applications for each position is far less.

[Kimble]

I don't know if there are any active FBI agents on this board to give you any feedback about their agency. There are plenty of agents from other federal agencies on this forum, though, but I know I can't speak intelligently about the hiring for the Bureau.

[steve1568]

It seems with hiring in the Bureau that it falls into a 1 for every 10 scale. There really doesnt seem to be one concentrated area where people fail out from but it does seem that a good number of applicants fail the polygraph.

[Redman]

Just trying to get a realistic outlook on my career choice. I don't want to get over enthusiastic because it's obvious that the odds are stacked against me in terms of sheer numbers of applicants. But I don't want to be put off by the idea that there's 10,000 applicants for each position - common sense says that the number of "solid" applications for each position is far less.

Why should that have any bearing on anything? If you really want an 1811 job as bad as most of us do, ignore the stats. If you go into this with a negative "there's no way I'll make it" outlook, you probably won't be working at your full potential during testing. If you go into the application process with a positive outlook and a confident mindset, it will show.

Of course it's competitive, but don't let that psych you out. If you do apply and get turned down, besides a little pride, what have you lost? Simply apply to another one of the dozens of agencies that employ 1811s.

[StartingOut]

Why should that have any bearing on anything? If you really want an 1811 job as bad as most of us do, ignore the stats.

That's good advice. I shouldn't get so worked up about the odds - I should have the confidence in myself that I'm qualified and have just as good a chance at getting hired as everyone else.

[Kimble]

That's good advice. I shouldn't get so worked up about the odds - I should have the confidence in myself that I'm qualified and have just as good a chance at getting hired as everyone else.

I could probably wallpaper a bedroom wall with all the "Thanks, but no thanks" letters I received back when I was applying for any and all 1811 job on USAjobs.com. The competition is fierce, but if you let it, it will become more of a worry than it has to be. If you're qualified, apply and give it your best shot.

[Group9]

The person who knows the answer to your quesiton is probably not a LEO, but rather a clerk, at least in federal agencies.

We have rather low level people go through our initial background packages and I have heard of some qualifed people being thrown out for lack of general knowledge of law enforcement by our clerks.

For example, I know one female U.S. Deputy Marshal who was rejected because she had no law enforcement experience, and another applicant who was had listed a Master's Degree as his highest level of education who was thrown out for not having a four year degree as his highest level, and many similiar stories. I've also seen qualified applicants who threw in something like their totally unecessary 2+ score on Spanish, get thrown out because they didn't have the required 3, because the clerk saw that and assumed they were applying under the language program. Using big words on your application to describe your duties can also be the kiss of death (use the fifth grade rule if you want to get hired).

I alway say, the persistent get hire as federal agents as if I had just sat back and let things go with my second federal agency, instead of doing some checking myself, I would probably have never been hired.

Don't assume anybody in the process is not going to screw up.

[Switchback]

First of all, I am VERY glad that I had no idea about the hiring process or competition of for being hired as an 1811. I am not sure I would have put in, knowing that. I'm lucky enough to get the 1 1811 that I applied for.

As the others have said, it is hard to speak for a specifica agency, outside of our own. I will say that when just BSing with an HR lady, she said that a lot of the people who apply jsut aren't qualified, so a huge chunk of applicants are thrown out of the race at the starting line.

Of course, that is not to say that those in the race are not going to give you a run for the money..

[StartingOut]

I will say that when just BSing with an HR lady, she said that a lot of the people who apply jsut aren't qualified, so a huge chunk of applicants are thrown out of the race at the starting line.

I just can't understand why unqualified people even bother applying. The minimum qualifications are listed on the web site of each agency (and people either meet them or the don't - there's little or no gray area in between), and it's common knowledge that these jobs are highly competitive. Do that many people think that such agencies will bend the rules for them and look past the fact that they have no degree or experience, particularly in light of the fact that they can't even follow basic instructions? Jeez, I've got a decade of work experience, a grad degree and fit into two critical skill categories, and I'm already half-thinking that even shooting off an application to the FBI is a waste of paper...

Oh well, I guess the more totally unqualified people apply, the better the chances are for the highly-qualified, dedicated folks I see posting on this board every day.

The info's always appreciated, guys. Thanks.

[Group9]

Here is a truth that I see demonstrated so often that I never cease to be amazed by the frequency of it.

I am constantly encountering people who are sure they are qualifed to get an 1811 job, who clearly are not, and people who are sure they are not qualifed to get an 1811 job, who clearly are. Go figure.

[Switchback]

...and then there was me, who had no clue what I was getting into. LOL

[Nole795]

When you find the method to the madness on hiring, let me know. I have recommended so many great detectives to my agency during hiring, yet none have been picked up.

I guess it is what it is.

[Grift]

Jeez, I've got a decade of work experience, a grad degree and fit into two critical skill categories, and I'm already half-thinking that even shooting off an application to the FBI is a waste of paper...

Nothing is done by paper, so none gets wasted, ergo you're all out of excuses.

:D

[BSmitty]

I agree with Nole 795. I tried to recruit several and saw them ignored in favor of less-qualified candidates, ex: a State Trooper, 8 years experience, hundreds of arrests, finance degree, big impressive looking guy, passed TEA exam. He was rejected by Secret Service in favor of a Wal-Mart employee and we wouldn't even give him an interview- hired a co-op instead. He wound up with FBI a year later and, last I heard, was happily working bank robberies. My advice- apply to several and be mobile and persistent.