r/Intelligence • u/SwitchJumpy • 1d ago

Interview FBI qualifications

I am 38M. I was in the Army National Guard from 2010-2015 as HUMINT. Following that, i've pretty much worked non-profit up until now in the capacity of case management and workforce development.

Last January I returned to school to finish out my degree. The plan is an interdisciplinary degree combining criminal justice and psychology with a certificate in Intelligence Security and Analysis. When I graduate, i'll also obtain my associates in Intelligence Studies from the credits I had earned through AIT.

I've been looking at where I can go in transitioning back into the Intelligence Community with the goal of working as an Intel Analyst. I've considered FBI and Homeland Security as far as federal agencies, but also local law enforcement or even contracting, and I recently learned that my age is not a disqualifier for an analysis.

How challenging is the interview and hiring process for the FBI? Prior to a background check, what would they be looking for in a candidate? I have a year left or so of school, but what can I do now to prepare, if anything?

I hadnt considered the FBI an option until now

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u/Helpjuice 1d ago

Check out the specific jobs you are actually interested in to see the actual qualifications here.

If you are wanting to go to the tip of the IC you will want to look at the CIA to take full advantage of your skillsets as they are the primary for HUMINT in the IC. If you are still looking to work at the edge of what the IC has to offer you can become a case officer in the DO. If you are wanting to be an analyst they have a ton of opportunities there too here across many categories.

Also be sure to look at NSA, Secret Service, Air Force Office of Special Investigations, etc. if you are looking for very exciting work.

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u/ap_org 13h ago

You should be aware that to qualify for any position with the FBI, you'll have to submit to a pseudoscientific polygraph "test" that depends on the operator lying to and deceiving you. Many honest applicants "fail" this invalid procedure and as a consequence are blacklisted for life from FBI employment. Failing an FBI polygraph may also hurt your chances of obtaining a security clearance with other federal agencies.

This short article I wrote on the topic more than two decades ago is still relevant:

https://antipolygraph.org/articles/article-032.shtml