How hard is it to get a job at the FBI?

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IamElectro

Golden Member
Jul 15, 2003
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The FBI fingerprint center is just down the road from here in Clarksburg, WV. I have several friends who work there and It was definitely a hiring experience they said they would never forget. It took about 3 months after filing out the 27 page application to get the first interview. The application wanted to know things like who your closet 3-4 friends were along with thier address and phone numbers. They would contact these people, and your family asking questions about the applicant.

My best friends father installed the elevators in the facility when they where still building the place. Myself and several of our friends at the time were called by people at the FBI asking us what kind of person Robert was, and such before he could start work.

I had a roommate that had an internship there while in school, and he was making $16 and hour to switch tapes in a machine that was tranferring data to optical disks. He worked one machine and would change about 9-10 tapes per shift. The rest of the time he used to work crosswords, no web surfing here. He had to fill out the same type of application the semester before he started to work..
 

fw3308

Member
Dec 12, 2003
168
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I just went through the application process for a job with the FBI for a tech position. Man it was rough just to fill the application out. The application, mind you, was not so tough but the required KSA questions were tough. I spent about a week and a half getting my resume in a fderal format as well as answering the questions in the correct format. I also checked out about 6 reference books on how to do the process correctly. I don't know where in the process they are but once I started I had to complete the process as a personal goal. Very tough and time consuming but if I get called for an interview it will be well worth it.
 

Babbles

Diamond Member
Jan 4, 2001
8,253
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They start out at GS10-1 which is like ~$40, however after training all agents get an additional 25% pay differential for every grade/step as well as COLA. I forgot how the pay scale went, however I do remember being told that starting year number 6 the pay is in the mid $80k. Not too bad really, however if you are looking to do this just for the money then you are doing it for the wrong reasons. Also Special Agents must retire by the age of 57; so you are looking at your pension and all of that fun stuff by age 57, which is better than other jobs. Unless you get into the upper echelons of the FBI, but then you are no longer a Special Agent.
 

TSDible

Golden Member
Nov 4, 1999
1,697
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76
Originally posted by: fw3308
I just went through the application process for a job with the FBI for a tech position. Man it was rough just to fill the application out. The application, mind you, was not so tough but the required KSA questions were tough. I spent about a week and a half getting my resume in a fderal format as well as answering the questions in the correct format. I also checked out about 6 reference books on how to do the process correctly. I don't know where in the process they are but once I started I had to complete the process as a personal goal. Very tough and time consuming but if I get called for an interview it will be well worth it.

KSAs SUCK! *shudder*

I spent quite some time writing my resume and KSAs for my job as well. Although I'm just an analytical chemist for the Government...
 

fw3308

Member
Dec 12, 2003
168
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Yea, those damn KSA's were the whole sticking point for the process taking so long. I look at it this way. No other job application will ever, and I mean ever be that hard.
 

gourmettea

Senior member
Aug 11, 2003
381
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0
Originally posted by: TSDible
Originally posted by: fw3308
I just went through the application process for a job with the FBI for a tech position. Man it was rough just to fill the application out. The application, mind you, was not so tough but the required KSA questions were tough. I spent about a week and a half getting my resume in a fderal format as well as answering the questions in the correct format. I also checked out about 6 reference books on how to do the process correctly. I don't know where in the process they are but once I started I had to complete the process as a personal goal. Very tough and time consuming but if I get called for an interview it will be well worth it.

KSAs SUCK! *shudder*

I spent quite some time writing my resume and KSAs for my job as well. Although I'm just an analytical chemist for the Government...


Besides the complicated application, the background check and process of hiring takes about~2 years.
Well atleast that how long it took for my neighbor and his roommate to get in. Yes, I live next door to two flatfoots.
They did show me their sweet ass looking SWAT Squad guns tho. I didn't show them my sweet ass looking bong.
ahahhaha.....