My previous employment was a classified position at a Government defense contractor where I was not at liberty to speak about what I did, as much as you'd think that joke would get old I still gathered a fair amount of amusement from telling people that. Incidentally, I still work for a different Government defense contractor, but not the FBI.
From my limited experience with encountering people that work in the intelligence community and it's ancillary wings. If you meet someone (especially if they're from MD, VA, DC) and they say they "work for the government" or "I'm a contractor" in kind of a deliberately vague way, there's a pretty good chance they're working in intelligence in some capacity.
Being 'over the pond' does my MI6 employment count? Find it tough to get my Tri-bike in my Aston-Martin plus my addiction to martini's ('shaken not stirred' of course!) doesn't help with the training plan............
I was an east coast Intel weeie for a while, but that was a while ago. Carly is totally right, in the fact that I always told people that I "worked for the governement".
Back before medical school, i applied as a field operative in the CIA Clandestine service. Ie, spy. I never thought I would hear anything back, but low and behold, I got this random phone call one day from "Recruiting in Washington." I was stunned. They cut to the chase and asked me to discuss current political topics. After a 15 minute interview, they asked me to come to an information session. I showed up in some non descript building with a whole lot of security in DC with about about 50 other people. Thats when they laid out the process. Three interviews total. The first 2 hours long. The second 4 hours long. The third, 8 hours of intelligence testing. It was surreal enough already, so when they said 1% of everyone gets to the final interview, I was like "well this was fun."
So I show up at the interview and they put me through "scenarios." Then they called me back to the second interview, when they put me through a ton of scenarios for 4 hours straight. Like, "how would you find a Islamic extremist in Venuzuela?" Then the third interview I get quoted a salary (which is nominally low by the way) and sit through testing, including an interview by a shrink.
Now mind you, I was 22 years old then, and pretty immature still. The CIA said it is often "lack of full maturity" that causes them to bail on a candidate at the last minute. Well, as you guessed it, since Im telling you this, they bailed on me at the last minute, and I can say humbly that it was the maturity issue. In retrospect, I was no where ready for that kind of responsibility.
I am glad after the fact. This was in 2000, and I can remember saying to myself , "Hey, the US is the superpower, what could go wrong." Lucky me Im not stuck in some hut in Southern Thailand posing as a Al Queda operative.
Greg that's awesome! I also applied to be a spy (because I wanted to be the next Dana Scully of course!). Was equally shocked and excited through the interviews but I think the reason for them hitting the eject button for me was that I was afraid of the dark.
Yeah, the reason I was asking is because I MAY have an opportunity to go to work for the FBI as a special agent and I comtemplating what life would look like; what to expect; and anything else that someone working there might suggest I ought to know before stepping up to the plate...
That is a funny story about your CIA experience...really funny and sounds about on par with what I might expect!
My brother in law became a Special Agent when he finished the FBI academy at Quantico - interestingly while he was there they were filming Silence of the Lambs.
Expect it to much more boring that you would think, I did some work with the FBI, I am a local cop. Same circus different tent. You can get stationed anywhere, and be prepared to get a hard time when you do have to work with the locals, genenal mistrust there. I have a story about them, which is why unless it was one of the people I worked with on a case I would not give them the time of day. I will tell you offline if you like
@ Thomas - I have a favor to ask...is your brother STILL a special agent? Do you think you could ask him if a 'guy from your triathlon team' who is currently a phase 2 applicant could give him quick shout just to chat about the career for a few minutes one day?
And, yes, when you finish the 16-20 week school in Quantico, you are sworn in as a Special Agent...though, I am sure there are some that fit that title and some that don't!
Expect it to much more boring that you would think, I did some work with the FBI, I am a local cop. Same circus different tent. You can get stationed anywhere, and be prepared to get a hard time when you do have to work with the locals, genenal mistrust there. I have a story about them, which is why unless it was one of the people I worked with on a case I would not give them the time of day. I will tell you offline if you like
I've heard that story, and yes, you need to find Steve to tell it to you. Steve, I'm still in shock
Greg, you crack me up! I"m not FBI, but had a very good friend a few years ago who is. She did mention that some of the locals do not trust/like the FBI. Seems to me there is some rivalry or something. Not certain what the deal was. Of course, there were some locals with whom she did get along very well.
Comments
Sorry no FBI
Want to hear a cool story?
Back before medical school, i applied as a field operative in the CIA Clandestine service. Ie, spy.
I never thought I would hear anything back, but low and behold, I got this random phone call one day from "Recruiting in Washington." I was stunned. They cut to the chase and asked me to discuss current political topics. After a 15 minute interview, they asked me to come to an information session. I showed up in some non descript building with a whole lot of security in DC with about about 50 other people. Thats when they laid out the process. Three interviews total. The first 2 hours long. The second 4 hours long. The third, 8 hours of intelligence testing. It was surreal enough already, so when they said 1% of everyone gets to the final interview, I was like "well this was fun."
So I show up at the interview and they put me through "scenarios." Then they called me back to the second interview, when they put me through a ton of scenarios for 4 hours straight. Like, "how would you find a Islamic extremist in Venuzuela?" Then the third interview I get quoted a salary (which is nominally low by the way) and sit through testing, including an interview by a shrink.
Now mind you, I was 22 years old then, and pretty immature still. The CIA said it is often "lack of full maturity" that causes them to bail on a candidate at the last minute. Well, as you guessed it, since Im telling you this, they bailed on me at the last minute, and I can say humbly that it was the maturity issue. In retrospect, I was no where ready for that kind of responsibility.
I am glad after the fact. This was in 2000, and I can remember saying to myself , "Hey, the US is the superpower, what could go wrong." Lucky me Im not stuck in some hut in Southern Thailand posing as a Al Queda operative.
Hmmm, why is there a heliopter out my window...
By the way. I have to kill you all now. Sorry. Its just business.
And things really haven't changed all that much since then either, huh? :-) Just kidding!
I'm hacking your power tap now, how's a new FTP of 3 sound?
Aaaaah, suddenly things are making a lot of sense!
Greg that's awesome! I also applied to be a spy (because I wanted to be the next Dana Scully of course!). Was equally shocked and excited through the interviews but I think the reason for them hitting the eject button for me was that I was afraid of the dark.
Yeah, the reason I was asking is because I MAY have an opportunity to go to work for the FBI as a special agent and I comtemplating what life would look like; what to expect; and anything else that someone working there might suggest I ought to know before stepping up to the plate...
That is a funny story about your CIA experience...really funny and sounds about on par with what I might expect!
Are all FBI Agents "Special Agents", or do you work your way up from 'normal' agent to 'special' agent?
My brother in law became a Special Agent when he finished the FBI academy at Quantico - interestingly while he was there they were filming Silence of the Lambs.
Expect it to much more boring that you would think, I did some work with the FBI, I am a local cop. Same circus different tent. You can get stationed anywhere, and be prepared to get a hard time when you do have to work with the locals, genenal mistrust there. I have a story about them, which is why unless it was one of the people I worked with on a case I would not give them the time of day. I will tell you offline if you like
@ Thomas - I have a favor to ask...is your brother STILL a special agent? Do you think you could ask him if a 'guy from your triathlon team' who is currently a phase 2 applicant could give him quick shout just to chat about the career for a few minutes one day?
And, yes, when you finish the 16-20 week school in Quantico, you are sworn in as a Special Agent...though, I am sure there are some that fit that title and some that don't!
I've heard that story, and yes, you need to find Steve to tell it to you. Steve, I'm still in shock
Mike
Heres the more important question. Do all female agents look like Scully?