FBI Special Agent Jobs - The Bureau's Desired Skill Sets

Article information provided by Samuel T., an ex-Special Agent Recruiter for the FBI. Samuel offers his insight as well as facts related to FBI Special Agent Jobs. The following are high priority skill sets that the Bureau is currently looking for to fill Special Agent jobs.

The FBI does not hire people out of college with a bachelor's in criminal justice. The FBI is looking for specific skill sets and these skill sets will change over time as need changes. Having one of these preferred skill sets makes for a much more competitive candidate.

Cyber Crime Related Skill Set

Computer science, computer engineering, cyber crime, computer forensics are all high priority skill set currently sought by the FBI. The way technology has developed, cyber crime has become a major concern and has driven the need for individuals educated and trained in this field. 7 to 8 years ago, nobody was even working cyber-matters at the FBI. The FBI realized that all these technology related crimes were being committed and they had no personnel that knew anything about computer crime, so they developed the Cyber Crime Division.

Cyber Crime, Computer Forensics and Internet Security bachelor's degree program graduates are some of the only individuals that the FBI will consider hiring straight out of college with no work experience.

Find schools offering Cyber/Computer Crime, Computer Forensics and Information Systems Security Bachelor's Degree Programs.

Intelligence Background Skill Set

The FBI has in the past and continues to seek individuals with an intelligence background. The only place people can get an intelligence background is in the military or at another federal agency that does intelligence work, like the CIA or NSA intelligence branches. The FBI's primary intelligence duty is to work foreign counterintelligence. The CIA is the United State's spies in the rest of the world.

Read more about what the FBI's Counterintelligence division does......

The FBI is looking for people that can track and find spies in the United States. International terror investigations are very much intelligence based.

Physical Sciences Skill Set

The FBI has crime labs, crime analysts, crime scene analysts, evidence response teams, and others that require people with science backgrounds. The evidence response teams in each division that go out and process crime scenes. Having a science background to understand what they are finding at a crime scene is essential.

A science background allows agents to go out and recognize toxins and other hazards assessing the safety for other agents and the public. The FBI needs people that can go out and analyze, identify and provide solutions in science related responses or investigations.

A bachelor's degree and a minimum of three years work experience is required of candidates for these positions. Work experience does not have to be in a lab or science related environment since the FBI is primarily interested in the science education received. The FBI finds that having the basic understanding of the sciences is good enough and will train all new hires in the specialty where they need bodies with a science background.

Learn about a Bachelor's Degree in Biology

"You do not have to be an expert in weapons of mass destruction. Just having the biology or physical science background puts you ahead of the curve, than say an accountant trying to get in as a special agent." (Jerry M., an FBI Special Agent)

Law Enforcement Experience

The FBI also frequently hires people with law enforcement backgrounds. This is a current skill set that the FBI is looking for to fill special agent positions.

Law enforcement is often where individuals go to get the three or more years of work experience after they graduate from a bachelor's degree program. They work in state, local or other federal agencies that will hire folks out of college with a criminal justice degree. Find criminal justice bachelor's degree programs. You will need this law enforcement work experience in addition to the bachelor's in criminal justice to be considered for an FBI special agent position.

Military Experience

This is a specific skill set the FBI is currently considering for FBI special agent positions. The FBI has always given preferential treatment to military professionals. An example would be special forces experience, this is similar to SWAT work and a desired skill for special agents. Intelligence training and Special Forces are highly desired. These individuals will receive preferential treatment in the application and hiring process. If it is between two people that meet the minimum requirements and one has military experience, that person will be chosen.