Frequently Asked Questions
Can you send me an application?
We do not have applications. You will have to contact the agency or visit their website to obtain an application.
What is "responsible" experience?
What they are looking for is supervisory type experience. This doesn't mean you have to be called a "supervisor." However, your work history whether administrative, professional or investigative should reflect that you had certain responsibilities. Flipping hamburgers does not count. Managing a fast food restaurant does count. Military experience usually counts as "responsible" experience.
Will marijuana use disqualify me from getting a job?
Usually this is not an automatic disqualification. What they will look for is the amount of usage, frequency and the last time you used it. Small experimental usage that occured years ago is usually accepted. Selling it is never accepted.
Why is there an age restriction for some of the federal careers?
By law, federal criminal investigators have to retire at the age of 57 and they have to have at least 20 years of service in order to retire. That is how they establish the maximum entry age of 37.
Can the age restriction be waived for federal law enforcement?
It can be done but this is very rare. Each agency can petition the Office of Personnel Management to waive the age restriction.
Do you have any information on the C.I.A.?
No. The C.I.A. is not a law enforcement agency. (Although they sometimes function as one!)
Do you have any information on probation and parole officer careers?
No.
What should I major in or what classes should I take while attending college?
Any four year degree in any field will meet the educational / experience requirements for most federal agencies. The FBI gets a little more picky but still you can get in with them with any four year degree plus three years of work experience. There is no measurable advantage in majoring in Criminal Justice or Law Enforcement vs any other major. Everything you need to know will come from the Training Academy, your "on the job training" and common sense. After being on the job, what if you decide that you do not like law enforcement? What will you do with a CJ major? By majoring in something else that you like you are more well rounded and if you decide to change careers you will have something to fall back on.
Will agencies waive the vision requirements?
They usually will not waive it. Some agencies allow for corrective surgery such as Radial Keratotomy or LASIK surgery to correct your vision and others do not.
Are there any police jobs available for non-U.S. citizens?
Most sworn police officer positions require that an applicant be a U.S. citizen. This can be by birth or by naturalization. Even as a city police officer you may have to enforce the laws of the United States. It doesn't make sense that a non-U.S. citizen will have the power to enforce U.S. laws. However, there are a few departments around the country that only require an applicant be legally present in the U.S. and have a working permit. You will find most of these agencies in the western part of the U.S. and probably close to the border.
Do you have any information on internships?
No. You will have to arrange this through an intern coordinator at your school or you can sometimes apply directly with the agency.
How much does a GS-5 and GS-7 make per year?
The starting salary for most federal agencies is a GS-5 or GS-7. For 2007, a GS-5 earns $28,862 and a GS-7 earns $35,752. If you work in a larger city, you may receive locality pay, which is an additional percentage of your base pay. Some agencies receive an extra 25% of their salary in overtime.
We do not have applications. You will have to contact the agency or visit their website to obtain an application.
What is "responsible" experience?
What they are looking for is supervisory type experience. This doesn't mean you have to be called a "supervisor." However, your work history whether administrative, professional or investigative should reflect that you had certain responsibilities. Flipping hamburgers does not count. Managing a fast food restaurant does count. Military experience usually counts as "responsible" experience.
Will marijuana use disqualify me from getting a job?
Usually this is not an automatic disqualification. What they will look for is the amount of usage, frequency and the last time you used it. Small experimental usage that occured years ago is usually accepted. Selling it is never accepted.
Why is there an age restriction for some of the federal careers?
By law, federal criminal investigators have to retire at the age of 57 and they have to have at least 20 years of service in order to retire. That is how they establish the maximum entry age of 37.
Can the age restriction be waived for federal law enforcement?
It can be done but this is very rare. Each agency can petition the Office of Personnel Management to waive the age restriction.
Do you have any information on the C.I.A.?
No. The C.I.A. is not a law enforcement agency. (Although they sometimes function as one!)
Do you have any information on probation and parole officer careers?
No.
What should I major in or what classes should I take while attending college?
Any four year degree in any field will meet the educational / experience requirements for most federal agencies. The FBI gets a little more picky but still you can get in with them with any four year degree plus three years of work experience. There is no measurable advantage in majoring in Criminal Justice or Law Enforcement vs any other major. Everything you need to know will come from the Training Academy, your "on the job training" and common sense. After being on the job, what if you decide that you do not like law enforcement? What will you do with a CJ major? By majoring in something else that you like you are more well rounded and if you decide to change careers you will have something to fall back on.
Will agencies waive the vision requirements?
They usually will not waive it. Some agencies allow for corrective surgery such as Radial Keratotomy or LASIK surgery to correct your vision and others do not.
Are there any police jobs available for non-U.S. citizens?
Most sworn police officer positions require that an applicant be a U.S. citizen. This can be by birth or by naturalization. Even as a city police officer you may have to enforce the laws of the United States. It doesn't make sense that a non-U.S. citizen will have the power to enforce U.S. laws. However, there are a few departments around the country that only require an applicant be legally present in the U.S. and have a working permit. You will find most of these agencies in the western part of the U.S. and probably close to the border.
Do you have any information on internships?
No. You will have to arrange this through an intern coordinator at your school or you can sometimes apply directly with the agency.
How much does a GS-5 and GS-7 make per year?
The starting salary for most federal agencies is a GS-5 or GS-7. For 2007, a GS-5 earns $28,862 and a GS-7 earns $35,752. If you work in a larger city, you may receive locality pay, which is an additional percentage of your base pay. Some agencies receive an extra 25% of their salary in overtime.
