2015 FBI Special Agent Application READ BEFORE APPLYING

THIS INFORMATION IS NOT ON THE CURRENT FBIJOBS.GOV WEBSITE.

The FBI is in the process of updating its website. This packet provides updates on Eligibility, Current FBI Needs, the Special Agent Selection System, your Online Application and more.

1 Last updated: 7/31/2014

SPECIAL AGENT

FIDELITY – BRAVERY - INTEGRITY The strength of the FBI is its people –

Individuals from different backgrounds, each possessing a myriad of skills, working together to ensure the safety of our communities and the nation.

A unique, challenging and life-changing experience - The Special Agent position is more than a job – it is a calling to protect and defend our country against

terrorists and foreign intelligence threats, to uphold and enforce the criminal laws of the United States, and to render assistance to federal, state, municipal, and international

law enforcement and intelligence partners worldwide.

The FBI seeks talented and motivated individuals to accept the challenging and rewarding role of Special Agent.

Specific skills/backgrounds being sought for Fiscal Year 2014

Cyber Security Computer Engineering Scientists

Computer Science Electrical Engineering Certified Public Accountants

Information Technology Military Bar Certified Attorneys

Computer Forensics Intelligence Detectives

Network Administration Pilots Foreign Language Speakers

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SPECIAL AGENT

Special Agent Preliminary Requirements • U.S. citizen

• Between 23 and 361/2 years of age – Federal law requires FBI Special Agents be hired by their 37th birthday. The Special Agent hiring process may

take six months to a year or more. Therefore, applicants who are 36 1/2 years old may be discontinued at any time if it is found they will not be hired by their 37th birthday.

– Exceptions to Age Requirement: • Current federal law enforcement officers (1811s) • Preference-eligible veterans

• Minimum of a bachelor’s degree from a college or university accredited and recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education

• U.S. residency for three out of the last five years unless directly employed or deployed [overseas] by the US government and/or military (includes spouses of deployed military)

• Valid driver's license and at least six months of driving experience • At least three years of full-time professional work experience

– Full time is defined as 36+ hours per week – Professional Work Experience is defined as specialized work of a high level of difficulty and responsibility – Exceptions to the three-year work experience requirement:

• Applicants with Masters and/or Doctorate degrees require only two years work experience • Applicants with JDs require waives the work experience requirement • Applicants with CS/IT backgrounds waives the work experience requirement • Applicants fluent in a foreign language who score 3 or more on an FBI language test waives the work experience

requirement • Former FBI Honors or Volunteer Interns with a 3.0 GPA waives the work experience requirement

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SPECIAL AGENT

Special Agent Willingness and Ability • If hired, Special Agents must be willing and able to:

– Transfer to any of the FBI’s 56 field offices, including San Juan, PR and remote Resident Agencies, based on the FBI’s current staffing needs

– Serve the FBI for a minimum of three years in order to meet the FBI’s Special

Agent service agreement – Successfully complete approximately 18 weeks of New Agent Training at the FBI

Academy in Quantico, VA – Carry a firearm 24/7 and be willing to use deadly force when necessary

– Engage in strenuous and potentially dangerous activities and potentially witness

disturbing crime scenes

– Work an average of ten hours per day, to include overtime and/or irregular work shifts

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SPECIAL AGENT

Special Agent Selection System (SASS) In order to meet minimum qualifications, applicants must complete and pass every stage of the SASS, which includes: 1. Online Application: Resume, application and supporting documents are reviewed to ensure

applicants meet the SA preliminary requirements (SEE SLIDE #3) 2. Phase I: Everyone who meets preliminary requirements will be invited to a 3-hour automated

exam that measures Cognitive, Behavioral, and Logical Reasoning abilities. Testing is held at local testing centers throughout the country

3. Meet and Greet: Those applicants who pass Phase I, and conduct a qualifying self-PFT, will be invited to your local field office to meet Special Agents and learn about New Agent Training, FBI’s policies, and the Special Agent position

4. Language Test: Applicants who are claiming to have a language skill must take an FBI-approved language test

5. Headquarter Review: Resume packages from across the country are submitted for FBI Headquarters Review. Candidates will be reviewed and will be ranked into one of three categories: Most Competitive, Competitive or Least Competitive. Only those candidates deemed “Most Competitive” will continue through the process.

Steps 6 through 9 are afforded only to those applicants deemed “Most Competitive.” 6. Phase II - Written and Oral Exams : A 90-minute written exam and a 1-hour panel interview 7. Physical Fitness Test (PFT): A minimum of two PFTs 8. Polygraph /Background: A security background investigation & polygraph 9. Medical Exam: Thorough medical review to ensure you are fit for duty

Completion of the SASS can take anywhere from six (6) months to a year or more.

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SPECIAL AGENT

Preferred Degrees Preferred Work Experiences Applied & Computational

Mathematics Digital Investigations

Management Computer Programming Network Security Auditing

Computer & Digital Forensics Enterprise Computing Computer Network Design Network Traffic Analysis

Computer and Information Security

Information Assurance and Security

Computer or Network Penetration Testing

Non-Introductory teaching of the aforementioned at the college level or in industry

Computer Forensics and/or Digital Investigations

Information Science Computer Security Operating Systems Enterprise Administration

Computer Information Systems Information Management Computer Software Development

Working with SCADA/ICS Systems

Computer Information Technology Education

Information Security Cyber Investigations

Computer Security Information Technology Management

Database Development

Computer Science Management Information Systems

Digital Forensics

Computer, Electrical, or Software Engineering

Mathematics Ethical Hacking

Computer Technician Network and Telecommunications

Management

Internetworking Technologies (Routers/Bridges/Gateways/Fi

rewalls/Hubs/LANS/WANS)

Cyber Security Programming/Networking Malware Analysis

Database Development Web Development Network Administration 6

Applicants with Cyber Backgrounds In the FY2014 hiring year, the FBI’s top priority is Special Agent applicants with degrees and/or experiences in one of

the following fields: Computer Science, Computer Forensics, Cyber Investigations, Information Assurance, Information Technology, Ethical Hacking, Cyber Security, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering,

Mathematics, and/or Network Administration

SPECIAL AGENT

Applicants With Military Backgrounds

• Preference eligible veterans beyond the age of 37 may be eligible for an age waiver to comply with federal mandatory retirement laws

• Entitlement to Veterans’ Preference will be verified by DD-214 Member 4 Copy, SF-15, VA letter, receipt of Purple Heart, expeditionary medals, and other various documents and forms

• All applicants, including preference-eligible veterans, will be assessed to determine individual competitiveness (i.e., critical skills) and their ability to meet the current needs of the Bureau

• Preference eligible veterans are given preference over non-veterans, both in hiring from competitive lists of eligible applicants and in retention during reductions in force

OPM Vet Guide 7

SPECIAL AGENT

Applicants With Foreign Language Abilities Proof of proficiency in any foreign language is an asset to your application

Languages most sought for FY2014: Spanish, Somali Chinese (all dialects), Korean, Arabic, Urdu, Pashto, Punjabi, Russian

and Farsi

• Requirements for applicants with foreign language(s) proficiency:

– The three-year work experience requirement is waived for applicants who score a 3 or higher on their FBI language test

– Language applicants must still meet all other requirements of the Special Agent position

• If a language is your only critical skill, you must have a passing score on both the listening and reading portions of the Defense Language Proficiency Test (DLPT) plus a three (3) or higher score on the Speaking Proficiency Test (SPT) are required

• If you possess other critical skills in addition to speaking a foreign language, you can qualify for

the foreign language critical skill enhancement by passing the listening portion of the DLPT and obtaining a score of “2” or higher on the SPT in a critical foreign language.

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SPECIAL AGENT

Your Resume and Additional Documents In drafting your resume: • Include whether your position(s) were full-time, part-time (include the number of hours), or in a

volunteer capacity (full-time often includes benefits and/or designation as a full-time employee)

• Include the location(s) in which you worked, ex., Juneau, Alaska, or Qandahar Province, Afghanistan

• Do not list responsibilities of your position, but rather, what you specifically did [accomplished] in those positions.

• Be sure that your experiences explain your mastery of the Special Agent Core competencies:

– Leadership – Oral Communication – Initiative and Motivation – Adaptability and Flexibility – Organizing, Planning and Prioritizing – Interpersonal Skills – Evaluating Information and Making Decisions – Writing

Additional documents required – Your college transcripts (unofficial copy), military documents (DD-214 Member 4 Copy, SF-

15, VA letter, etc.), degree evaluation (if necessary), SF-50, etc., should be uploaded to your USAJOBS.gov profile and submitted with your resume/application

– Onboard FBI applicants must submit a letter of recommendation from their Department Head or SAC via their Field Office Applicant Coordinator

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SPECIAL AGENT

Things to Note • Applications will be evaluated solely on the information provided by the applicant

through the resume, application, and supporting documents • All information submitted in the Special Agent application must be as accurate and

supported in your resume. All information provided, i.e., cover letter, resume, USAJOBS.gov resume, unofficial transcripts, military records [copies], etc., will be verified for accuracy. Applicants providing false or embellished information on their resumes will be discontinued.

• Phase I Candidates who meet the preliminary standard requirements of the Special Agent

position, may be eligible to take the Phase I test. Your invitation will arrive by email from the Performance Assessment Network (pan).

– Be sure to check your junk email regularly to ensure you don’t miss the invitation

– You will have 21 days from receipt of your invitation to Phase I test – Failure to Phase I test in the aforementioned timeframe may result in the

deactivation of your application for a minimum of six (6) months

• Only the Most Competitive applicants will be afforded an interview • If you have already taken Phase I and/or Phase II, do not reapply online; contact your

local field office applicant coordinator regarding eligibility for reactivation. 10

SPECIAL AGENT

Thank You for your interest

in the Special Agent position with the FBI

Should you require additional information, please contact the Applicant Coordinator or Recruiter

in your local FBI office

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