Experience for Federal Law Enforcement

[tripp81]

I'm going to try and make this as short as possible, so I'll just start with my background:

-26 years old: Currently Adult Probation Officer of a Superior Court with a specialized caseload (homeless) in a large county, with a high amount of field work.
-previously supervised Domestic Violence caseload and a standard caseload.
-BA in Law Enforcement and Psychology
-MA in criminology (graduate in 2008)
-Small internship with a district of U.S. Attorney's Office.
-Experience in Loss Prevention.
-No criminal record

My dream job is to obtain an investigator position within Federal Law Enforcement but I'm not sure of the route I should take to get there. I have previously been offered a "conditional offer of employment" with the DEA in late 2006 but I am assuming that means I am in the selection process. But from what I understand hiring has been put on hold if I'm not mistaken, due to budget reasons. Anyway there is a possiblity that I may be offered another probation officer position within a smaller county. This position would pay a little bit more, allow me to become certified with a sidearm, and a more well-rounded probation officer. The county I am in right now, is just specifically casework, with no sidearm certification; but is a large county and deals with a high quantity of higher felonies and felons. It would also be more field work than the smaller county (2-3 days/week as opposed to 1 day/week). I have been in this county for almost two years as well.

Besides experience in local or state law enforcement, where do you believe I would gain the best experience for an opportunity with a Federal Agency; such as DEA, ATF, ICE, Postal Inspector, or even a Federal Probation Officer position? How well do Federal Agencies take Probation Officer work experience into account when hiring for positions? If you have any other suggestions or tips for experience tips please drop them to me. I do have patience when it comes to hiring for Federal Agencies, I just want to make it hard for them to turn me down.

[ask80]

i'd say you are qualified with experience and education. so i don't think it should be a problem going for any fed 1811 position. the only agency i can think of where you are not as competitive is the FBI. other agencies you have a chance. it depends on what you want to do. dea?atf?ice?uspis?etc...
the only thing i can think of to make you a superior applicant is learning a foreign language (spanish, korean, chinese,farsi, arabic, etc). but it's not easy.

[GB0610]

You would be a great applicant, even for the FBI. You fit their "diversified" category. Its simply up to you to find out which Agency trulu interests you and to find an opening. But with your background, you should not have a problem. Good luck

[ask80]

not sure if FBI is currently hiring or pushing for diversified experience now. i think they are looking for CS language, computers, or accounting

[Kelly828]

tripp81,

I'm a PO as well with the same goal in mind. My opinion is based on conversations I've had with recruiters that I know well enough that I've gotten the real low down on what I needed to be competitive (my contacts are with ATF, ICE, and FBI). I'll agree with other posters that learning another language would benefit you greatly but at the same time this takes time (years) to master it to a true proficiency level. So, ok, toss that since you're ready to move on! You should have no problem with your creds. Your MA will be a plus. US Probation is highly political so if that's something you're interested in, get to know a few. It's not fair but it's the way it works. Also, finally, keep in mind that the process takes 12+ months depending on the agency so don't sit on your haunched all that time waiting. Continue adding to your resume. I, also, used to work in a large county where the only thing I had time to do was paperwork and minimum caseload standards. I transferred to a small county 3 years ago and think it was the best decision ever. I have a smaller caseload, a closer relationship with local, state and fed LE's and have time to actually work REAL supervision including assisting with LE investigations. I suggest taking the transfer to the smaller county and going with the flow while the time ticks by on your fed apps. I definately don't regret it.

[tripp81]

Thanks for the replies! I am all about getting more experience to get where I want to go. There are alot of agencies that I think would be interesting. My plan, when I get a little bit further into my master's degree, is to cast a big net on the federal agencies and go from there. I would be happy with several of them, and once my foot is in the door I can move from one agency to another; if it is something that doesn't seem to work. I definitely know that it takes a while and I have patience for that.

Kelly 828: Thanks for the info/advice on going to a smaller agency. I have still been contemplating small vs. large department and what you talked about are the pros that i would hope to receive. I think that it would be a good choice as well, it would also allow me to get certified for a sidearm. Since Indiana allows each county to decide on whether to carry or not, which I think it is crazy to not be able too, especially with the people that I have had to supervise in the past and still do.

I have heard rumors that the FBI involves a lot of paperwork. Is this true? Is it anymore than any other agencies (ex: DEA, ATF, ICE. . etc)? I know that there will be alot with any agency but is there one that has more than another?

Please keep the advice/opinions/information coming if you have any

[brownj21]

This has been mentioned, but the only thing I would think you might need to make you more competitive is 2nd language. Your stuff looks great though, good luck!

[GB0610]

I have heard rumors that the FBI involves a lot of paperwork. Is this true? Is it anymore than any other agencies (ex: DEA, ATF, ICE. . etc)? I know that there will be alot with any agency but is there one that has more than another?

Please keep the advice/opinions/information coming if you have any

PAPERWORK! I got some bad news for you, every 1811 job has a TON of paper. Get ready for it. Its not all undercover work. And even when it is, there is a lot of paper to get the operation approved and obviously a ton after the arrest is made.

[Bearcat357]

I have heard rumors that the FBI involves a lot of paperwork. Is this true? Is it anymore than any other agencies (ex: DEA, ATF, ICE. . etc)? I know that there will be alot with any agency but is there one that has more than another?




What the hell do you think you will be doing.....kicking in doors every day....?

It's not like TV. Feds (like me) have it worse because we have to do everything by the book.....and that includes a ton of paperwork. There is no way around it....it's a fact of life........

Every agency has a ton of paperwork.....all about the same.

Besides....every Federal LE job is different. Research all the agencies you are interested in, then apply......as the FBI, DEA, ATFE, ICE, NCIS, whoever else all have different missions.......

[tripp81]

I am definitely aware that nothing is what it looks like on TV, it would ignorant (sp?) to have that ideal.

Regarding paperwork, it may have sounded like a dumb question but I have heard a lot of things regarding paperwork and that particular agency and was just curious; and to hear what what other people thought as well. I push paperwork on a daily basis, probably not as much as some, but it is not something new to me.

I have done my research and still doing my research regarding agencies, and that's why I state that there are several that still interest me. As I know, the Secret Service and Air Marshall would not be something that I would want to pursue. I'm definitely not attempting to take anything away from those agencies or have anything against them, just wouldn't be a fit for me right now or in several years.

[GB0610]

I have done my research and still doing my research regarding agencies, and that's why I state that there are several that still interest me. As I know, the Secret Service and Air Marshall would not be something that I would want to pursue. I'm definitely not attempting to take anything away from those agencies or have anything against them, just wouldn't be a fit for me right now or in several years.

That's just fine and good to know. There is nothing wrong with knowing that both of the those Agencies are not right for you. Now its time to continue to narrow down you field. What might help you is that the DEA and ATFE are on a hiring freeze due to budget issues. Ya, that will all change within the year, but it will have an affect on your applications.

There are also always smaller and less know OIG's to look into. They often have entry level spots, but typically go to highly qualified applicants, like yourself in my opinion. There are quite a few on USAJOBS right now.

Good luck, just do your homework so that when you go into the interview, you don't just say, "I want to be a FED 1811". You need to know why you want THEIR agency above the rest........even if its not true. ;)

[UCFJAY]

id say your great for any fed agency, i only have a 4 year degree in criminal justice, LP exp. for 9 months and i am now a pending 1811 for ICE, just waiting on the final call, so i have the job, just waiting for Field office and FLETC date, just go ahead and apply and then get a good job that youll be happy with for about 2 years.
jason

[jmat1980]

Your best experience will be as a state/local police officer.

As far as paperwork, i dont think that there is much more paperwork as an 1811 as there is with being a Police Officer, of course it depends on the Dept., there is paperwork with any LE job, you just learn to live with it (and copy and paste old reports).

Much like being a cop, being an 1811 is different where ever you go. Different locations do different things and some are busier than others. Where i'm at I am pretty busy, I dont think I would want to be somewhere that is slow...

From your initial post you sound like you are not interested in being a cop. Let me tell you that that is the BEST experience you will get and that every 1811 agency needs more (former) cops and less phd's...

[tripp81]

What might help you is that the DEA and ATFE are on a hiring freeze due to budget issues. Ya, that will all change within the year, but it will have an affect on your applications.

I have been offered a "conditional offer of employment" from the DEA and recv'd it about mid october of last year. I knew that they were having issues with the budget at the moment and figured that's why I haven't heard anything since that time. I did notice that on one of my past employment dates that I put down the wrong date in "work experience". Would that disqualify me?

Do you know anything that I can do to better prepare myself for this process?
(especially the interview, besides knowing my research on the agency).

[GB0610]

I have been offered a "conditional offer of employment" from the DEA and recv'd it about mid october of last year. I knew that they were having issues with the budget at the moment and figured that's why I haven't heard anything since that time. I did notice that on one of my past employment dates that I put down the wrong date in "work experience". Would that disqualify me?

Do you know anything that I can do to better prepare myself for this process?
(especially the interview, besides knowing my research on the agency).

That happens to quite a few people. Just send them a letter stating that you got some dates confused. Make sure you are up front and let them know before they find out on their own and think you are lying.

The process for most Agencies is pretty straight forward. Just be prepared to sell yourself and demonstatre how your experience in Parole has prepared you for current application

[tripp81]

Okay great, I thought about calling but it took me 5-6 phone calls in one month to get a hold of the recruiter the first time. A letter would be much better. . thanks.