Posted on Jul 11, 2015
What is the best degree for future employment with an alphabet group such as DEA/FBI/CIA?
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I've searched through numerous websites trying to narrow down what exactly is best degree to help increase my odds of being picked up by one of the numerous agencies out there. The only answer, I've generally been able to find says the "requirements change constantly so there isn't a specific degree to being working on".
Does anyone have any personal recommendations or just general advice on procuring a career in any of those agencies?
Does anyone have any personal recommendations or just general advice on procuring a career in any of those agencies?
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 46
Accounting is the best for FBI is what I have seen in the past. I am not positive anymore though but you should look into forensic accounting.
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SSGT, I'm not sure there is a "best degree" but electronics or computer science related are high on the list. However, I would say that these agencies are diverse in their needs and employ people of numerous disciplines. I am not an employee of any of these agencies but have worked with one of them on numerous occasions. My general advice is to follow your heart. What aspect of working with these agencies interests you? Is it cyber technology, law enforcement, psychology, etc Decide that and then look at degree programs that make you an expert. You can also look at their job database and see what specific degrees they require for certain positions.
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I can list simple ones - find contacts in the specific field you're looking into, work toward a degree (if you don't have one yet), continue to improve in the skills you plan to utilize with these organizations, and maybe you could try something more aggressive such as talking with your local police station for further guidance.
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My example is strictly anecdotal, but FWIW, my B.A. was in International Relations, and it reaped the following benefits with the "letter" agencies of the Federal government:
(1) An interview with the CIA in 1997 (but which was apparently unsuccessful, as I didn't advance further in the recruitment process);
(2) An interview with NGA in 2006 (resulted in a job offer, which I turned down for the agency listed in #4);
(3) An interview with DEA in 2006, which was unsuccessful;
(4) An alternate selection with FBI in 2006 as an Operations Security Specialist (a position they ultimately chose to eliminate instead of hiring anybody for the position);
(5) A job offer with CBP as a CBP Officer which I accepted, serving from 2006-2009;
(6) A job offer with ICE as a Special Agent which I accepted, from 2009-2011.
Hope this helps. Best of luck to you, Eric!
(1) An interview with the CIA in 1997 (but which was apparently unsuccessful, as I didn't advance further in the recruitment process);
(2) An interview with NGA in 2006 (resulted in a job offer, which I turned down for the agency listed in #4);
(3) An interview with DEA in 2006, which was unsuccessful;
(4) An alternate selection with FBI in 2006 as an Operations Security Specialist (a position they ultimately chose to eliminate instead of hiring anybody for the position);
(5) A job offer with CBP as a CBP Officer which I accepted, serving from 2006-2009;
(6) A job offer with ICE as a Special Agent which I accepted, from 2009-2011.
Hope this helps. Best of luck to you, Eric!
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Thank you all for your insight. You all really helped provided me with a great deal of information of which I will be utilizing.
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