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I am NOT an FBI Agent!
Although gratuitously covered by the media & Hollywood, few among the general public are aware that the FBI, although the largest, is only one of many federal law enforcement organizations comprised of 1811 Criminal Investigators. Many of these other federal agencies are much older than the FBI and some even date back to the constitution. The FBI itself is an entity that was reorganized, re-named, publicized and zealously guarded by it mercurial first directer, J. Edgar Hoover (Director 1924-1972); a controversial & politically powerful historical figure. Many applicants become infatuated with the FBI due to no other reason other than their oversized presence in movies and television shows.
In reality, if you are interested becoming a Special Agent for the FBI; then you should also consider similar 1811 Special Agent (Criminal Investigator) positions within the ATF, DEA, DSS, HSI, USPIS, OSI, etc.
Think of it this way, if you were interested in becoming a doctor; would you only apply for a position as a doctor with John Hopkins University? Why wouldn't you apply for the same medical job with Stanford, or UCLA, or the Mayo Clinic? When you limit your knowledge & application to the FBI, you are similarly limiting your choices & chances for success.
Since the FBI gets the most press & is the largest 1811 agency, they also tend to get the most number of applicants. Consequently, your chances of obtaining a special agent position are lower due to the increased amount of competition and resultantly will take longer due to the processing time. Now compare the FBI (which has roughly 14K special agents) with the second largest 1811 agency, HSI or Homeland Security Investigations (which has approx. 8,700 special agents). Although HSI is approx. 62% in size; it receives significantly less applicants in comparison due to their low profile with the public. Not only would your chances of getting selected as an HSI Special Agent be higher but, unknown to most, HSI actually has broader authority than the FBI.
The positives and benefits at each federal agency vary due to a number of factors (i.e. lifestyle, jurisdiction). You should carefully research ALL the 1811 agencies and find out what compliments your skills and personal goals. A career with the Secret Service is very different than a career with the DEA or even ATF. Similarly, you should understand the true career path of an FBI special agent; many new special agents routinely quit within the first 2-5 years due to an unrealistic expectation of the organization (fostered by years hollywood fiction). Some of these lesser known agencies offer exciting opportunities, immense job satisfaction and much more nimble bureaucratic structures.
There are many advantages to being an 1811 with the FBI, name recognition is chief among them, along with resources & funding. However, ATF special agents are proud of their focus on violent street crime and DEA special agents love their subject matter expertise in narcotics. Many law enforcement officers are uninterested in counterintelligence or fraud (which is a big part of the FBI's investigative portfolio) and perhaps may favor DSS or the Secret Service due to their protective service mission.
In a way, being an FBI special agent vs. an ATF special agent is like comparing a helicopter pilot with a fighter pilot; both are indeed pilots but their jobs junctions and perceived status with the public can vary dramatically.
Do not take this post as an attempt to disparage or diminish the important work of my fellow FBI special agents. I have routinely worked cases with and developed close friendships with FBI special agents; and at the end of day, we are all fellow federal law enforcement officers trying to successfully do a tough job. This is simply an attempt to make applicants aware of all the other options available to them and take advantage of fantastic 1811 opportunities that are relatively hidden to the public. That is why I have spent a significant amount of time creating agency profiles and linking relevant content so everyone can learn about the various agencies that are available to you as career options.
