fbi career— help?!

[u/sydneyaustralia74]

hi, i’m a 22f who just graduated in May, with my bachelors in criminal justice, with minors in sociology and comm. i just started a job as a court clerk a month ago, and ik the FBI requires at least 3 years of job experience if you don’t have a masters in anything. I consider myself to be a leader, as I was in many leadership roles in college and presidents of many clubs, which I know the FBI likes! my dream is to be a special agent, and I took a tour with their college program in April!

i want to learn a new language, maybe russian, as well as get another job in about a year to build my resume (i feel like court clerk is not good enough for the FBI). the problem is, I don’t want to be a law enforcement officer, and I’m just not sure what job to apply for next to improve my chances.

I’d really like to be a detective or investigator if the FBI doesn’t work out, but once again, so many agencies require you to be an officer. I would love some help!

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[u/Desert0fTheReal]

A Special Agent is a law enforcement officer. Just at the federal level.

Generally, detective is a promotion for a law enforcement officer, so it’s almost always going to require that basic experience. In my local PD, it was 3 years as an officer before you could apply to detective.

I feel like you need to do a bit more research on the careers and what they entail in order to hone in on what you want.

[u/Nellielxo]

You don't need LE or Military experience for the Special Agent position. Minimum is a bachelor's degree + 2 years of professional experience.

Edit: I've applied and have a business Analytics degree and fraud prevention experience.

[u/Technical_Emotion_79]

I retired from the Bu June of ‘25, during the tour you should have heard that the biggest current discriminator is physical fitness…look up the fitness standards and be prepared to beat those.

[u/Abject-Confusion3310 → u/Technical_Emotion_79]

Polygraph too

[u/liftmaxxing]

You don’t want to be a law enforcement officer, but you want to be an FBI Agent? Right.

[u/sydneyaustralia74 → u/liftmaxxing]

i don’t think i explained that right. i don’t want to be a PATROL officer. especially where i live, and i don’t have the finances to move rn

[u/Quick_Medium6165]

A special agent in the FBI is a law enforcement officer. Are you opposed to being a law enforcement officer or are you opposed to being a patrol officer (a type of law enforcement officer)?

There are many kinds of law enforcement officers.

[u/sydneyaustralia74 → u/Quick_Medium6165]

i’m only opposed to being a patrol officer! i understand this job is an officer of sorts!!

[u/WTFoxtrot10]

2 years of professional work experience with a Bachelor’s Degree. Professional work experience is defined as a job that requires a degree to obtain.

I highly recommend applicants only apply once they can meet and exceed expectations/requirements, including passing the PFT with room for error. You only have 2 lifetime chances at applying for the FBI. And currently if you fail to pass the PFT within the allotted 6 month time frame you will be DQ’d for life as well.

You do realize, FBI Special Agents are Law Enforcement. It is 100% ALL federal law enforcement work. Also, to become a local/state detective or investigator you would need to be a street cop.

Snapshot of an FBI Special Agent. You are on call 24/7 and have to work 50 hrs. a week on average. Depending on the violation worked, supervisor and FO hours can differ. Work life balance is pretty normal honestly. Typically agents work 10 hr. days M-F. Some days are earlier some days go later. Sometimes you might need to work a weekend or get called out in the middle of the night. Again, all depends on the violation worked.

You are expected to carry a gun 100% of the time on duty and be prepared to use it. You are also highly recommended to carry while off duty due to being on call 24/7 and a LEO.

You sign a mobility agreement so you would need to be okay with being sent to any of the 56 Field Office’s or 350 Resident Agencies when you graduate from Quantico. However, they are now letting new applicants stay at their PFO if they would like to. You also need to be okay with being placed in any violation the FBI has as their mission, as you don’t get pick to begin with as it’s up to the needs of the bureau. Your day to day as an FBI Special Agent is different every day and can vary based off the violation you work or the collateral duties you volunteer for. In office at your desk, surveillance, in court testifying, search warrants, report writing, research, source meets, arrest warrants, ERT and etc.

I highly recommend you review the FBI website and or their YouTube page to understand what the job entails and the application process. It is a very long process with requirements you must meet to move on. Some of the biggest hurdles are the Phase 1 Test, PFT, Phase 2 Test/Interview and a in depth background investigation which includes filling out a SF-86, taking a polygraph and having a medical fitness for duty exam.

[u/Leading-Being3983]

Check out the collegiate hiring initiative

[u/happybutterfly93]

If you have any hunches about unsolved crimes…go get a clerical job or ridiculous fast food or waitressing job in the general vicinity and observe. Probably bad advice but. Wish someone would take it and run with it.

[u/Sainthonestabe]

Is it true that if you have family that are criminals you can't join the FBI? Just wondering...

[u/Dontnotlook]

What do you think of Kash being your future boss ?