The FBI is the top law enforcement agency in the US, dealing with and preventing some of the most serious and detrimental crimes.
The FBI has offices in many cities nationally, and they investigate everything from cyber crime, to public corruption.
Many people strive to work for the FBI, but how hard is it to work for the FBI or get an internship? In this article, we will tell you how difficult it is to get an internship at the FBI, and how to do this.
Table of Contents
- What Does The FBI Do?
- What Are The Goals Of The FBI?
- What Power Does The FBI Have?
- How Hard Is It To Get An FBI Internship?
- How Much Does The FBI Pay Interns?
- What Age Do You Have To Be An Intern At The FBI?
- What Career Paths Does The FBI Offer?
- Does The FBI Hire Straight Out Of College?
- What Is The Best Degree To Get To Work For The FBI?
- How Do I Work For The FBI?
- How Much Does An FBI Agent Make?
- What Disqualifies You From Working For The FBI?
- Does The CIA Have Interns?
- Final Thoughts
What Does The FBI Do?
The FBI is the nation’s leading federal law enforcement. They investigate and prevent acts of severe violence, domestic and international terrorism.
They investigate and prevent attacks that threaten the United States, usually involving chemical, radiological, biological or nuclear weapons.
They also investigate less international incidents, such as homicide, and major crime.
What Are The Goals Of The FBI?
The goals of the FBI are to protect and defend against a wide range of possible threats.
The FBI investigates and prevents major crimes such as counterterrorism, counterintelligence, cybersecurity, corruption, organized crime, and civil rights.
These are just a few of the things that the FBI aims to investigate and prevent. They are there to keep the country safe in an undercover way.
What Power Does The FBI Have?
The FBI has the authority to investigate any federal criminal act that is not assigned exclusively to another federal agency, meaning the CIA or the Department of Homeland Security.
This means that the FBI can investigate alongside the local police departments.
The FBI are a higher force than the police, and they are given permission by the federal government, which decides the laws of the entire country.
How Hard Is It To Get An FBI Internship?
The FBI internships are super competitive, and they run every summer. There are over 12,000 people students that apply for internships every year.
Their internship is called the FBI Honors Internship Program. There are around 150-300 slots to be an intern for the FBI in the United States.
The FBI tends to want people with experience and background in computer science, law, science, and forensic science. They are keen to find people with skills in programming, and speech writing, too.
Due to these numbers, it is generally difficult to get an internship in the FBI, but it is attainable with the more experience and skills you have that would give you a good chance.
You have to be very set on working for the FBI to get an internship there. If you have a strong desire to go into this profession, apply!
How Much Does The FBI Pay Interns?
The typical pay for interns at the FBI is $17 per hour, which is pretty good for an intern! The pay can range anywhere from $16-21.
What Age Do You Have To Be An Intern At The FBI?
To be an intern for the FBI, you have to be at least 23. You must also be younger than 37 to be an intern at the FBI, but this maximum age may change if you are a veteran.
What Career Paths Does The FBI Offer?
The FBI offers a wide range of career paths, with so many purposes. There are roles for every type of person from every background and experience.
The main careers in the FBI are intelligence analysts, financial experts, linguists, security specialists, scientists, and special agents.
Within special agents, the FBI seeks behavioral analysts, and violent crime analysts. To be employed by the FBI, you usually need a background in science, technology, or law.
Does The FBI Hire Straight Out Of College?
The FBI requires their special agents to have a college degree, but they also require at least three years of experience of work before working for the FBI.
So, no, the FBI does not hire straight out of college due to the work experience years they require.
However, there are other positions at the FBI that may be available to you straight out of college. This includes administrative positions or positions working with technology.
What Is The Best Degree To Get To Work For The FBI?
If you are heart-set on joining the FBI out of college, you should have a relevant degree for the ratio of careers. For example, a degree in Creative Writing probably won’t find you a job in the FBI.
Some of the best degrees to have to work for the FBI are criminal justice, computer science, finance, forensic science, cybersecurity, and accounting.
How Do I Work For The FBI?
To work for the FBI, you absolutely need to be a US citizen, and need to be at least 23 years old. You also need a bachelor’s degree, and you should have a few years’ work experience in a relevant field.
Once you have all of this, you can apply for a job within the FBI directly on their website. The FBI accepts fewer than 20% of applicants, so having a lot of experience apart from college will give you a better chance.
Make sure you are physically fit, and you have no underlying health issues, because the job is hard work. Many workers in the FBI already come from professional backgrounds, so you should have an impressive resume, too.
One of the best ways to get a job with the FBI is to have an intern for them, as well as other side experience.
How Much Does An FBI Agent Make?
The salary of an FBI agent differs, but it is between $40,000 and $400,000 annually. This is a big difference, but the average salary for an FBI agent is around $67,000.
What Disqualifies You From Working For The FBI?
To work for the FBI, you should be a law-abiding citizen. You must not have violated the FBI’s drug policy, you must pass a urinalysis test, and you must not have committed any acts or activities intended to throw the United States government by force.
You also must not have committed any general illegal acts, and you must have no criminal record. You must have a higher education, and you must have no felony convictions, or even arrests or fines.
You must have no previous drug history, and you must have stable finances and mental health. There is a thorough background check completed for all applicants due to the seriousness of the role.
Does The CIA Have Interns?
The CIA collects information about other countries and their citizens, whereas the FBI deals with US citizens. The CIA does hire interns, and the program is called the Undergraduate Internship Program.
CIA interns will support operations and will collect human intelligence on international developments. CIA interns are usually freshmen, and come straight from school.
Final Thoughts
To work at the FBI is a lot of people’s dream, but it is hard to get in. To have a better chance of working for the FBI, you should apply to be an intern.
Make sure you have lots of relevant side experience of working for the FBI. To be an intern for the FBI is pretty difficult, but with the relevant skills and experience, you may get in.
It is undoubtedly challenging, but the rewards are immeasurable. The rigorous selection process ensures that those who do get in are among the best and brightest. The experience gained and the network built during an FBI internship open doors to incredible career opportunities in law enforcement and related fields.
Highly competitive, which is a testament to the agency’s commitment to excellence. The competition forces candidates to continually refine their skills, knowledge, and interview strategies. Even if it takes multiple attempts, the pursuit of an FBI internship can lead to personal growth and self-improvement.
The application process alone is a valuable learning experience. Crafting a competitive application forces candidates to reflect on their goals, achievements, and qualifications. Regardless of the outcome, the process often results in personal and professional development.