Customer Reviews

FBI Careers: The Ultimate Guide to Landing a Job as One of America's Finest, 2nd Edition

5 star:		(35)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

I bought this book before I submitted my application to the FBI on-line and it was the smartest investment I could have made. Thomas Ackerman explains much more about FBI careers and the hiring process than you'll find on the FBI web site or anywhere else, and he guides you through the application forms, the exams, the interviews, and the background investigation in a straightforward no-nonsense manner. Every position, every form, and every step in the hiring process is broken down and analyzed in detail, which is precisely what you need to know whether you're interested in a career as a special agent or in any other position with the FBI. This book has given me the information and the confidence I needed to put my best foot forward.

If you visit the FBI website you'll find only basic and carefully screened information. No surprise there. Although the internet and Ackerman's book both list requirements for the special agent position and other jobs (even though Ackerman's book has more), this is where the similarities end. For example, the FBI will never suggest ways to best describe your educational achievements, employment history, volunteer work, accomplishments, or other aspects of your background on the FD-140 application form or in KSA statements. Ackerman does, and if you've applied for an FBI job you know this can make or break your application because it's the first step in the screening process. The FBI also doesn't tell you how to prepare for and respond to specific types of questions you'll be asked during the structured interview. No surprise there, either. I can tell you from firsthand experience that Ackerman's characterization of the interviewing process is right on the money, and the same can be said for his guidance on the written exams. His description of the background investigation process, including the areas of emphasis that detrmine whether a security clearance is granted, is another example (of many) that you will not find on the FBI website. If basic and carefully screened information is all you need, stick with the internet and you'll be fine. If you want more than public relations material, this book is for you.

"Totally inaccurate," another reviewer wrote. This is absolutely absurd. I recently completed the special agent hiring process and I am waiting for an academy date. I found the flow of the hiring process to be EXACTLY as it was characterized in Thomas Ackerman's book. What the reviewer does not realize is that the FBI is a large bureaucracy and there are bound to be some variations in applicant processing from one field office to another. Applicants must be flexible if the road takes an unexpected turn.

It's true that some of the material in the book is also included in the Special Agent Handbook -- AS IT SHOULD BE! If the author had left this material out, he would also have left his readers in the dark. In reality, Ackerman's book includes MUCH MORE material than the Special Agent Handbook, not only about the hiring process, but also about the job, training, squad assignments, relocating, internships, etc.

I attribute much of my success in the hiring process to the fact that I did not settle for the free Internet material published by the FBI. My grandfather was right when he said "don't be penny-wise and pound foolish." I was more than happy to compete with applicants who learned about the FBI hiring process only from the Internet. This is where their loss can be your gain.

Without question, the FBI hiring process identifies intelligent, mature, flexible, well adjusted applicants who can accurately evaluate information and use it to their advantage. I used Ackerman's book to my advantage, and I'll be moving in at Quantico soon.

This book is a goldmine full of valuable information. All of the guidance on the Special Agent testing process is very helpful, and the author's advice on getting through the Phase II interview and writing exercise is priceless. Chapter 7, "Standing Out From the Crowd," shows exactly why Mr. Ackerman is the nation's leading expert on federal law enforcement careers. What a great book!

FBI Careers has all of the info an applicant could possibly need to succeed in the hiring process. I recently completed Phase I and Phase II, and can attest that FBI Careers has hit the nail on the head in terms of accuracy and timeliness of the material. The author's explanation of the written exam is outstanding, and he presents interviewing analysis and strategies that you will NOT find on the FBI's web site or in any FBI publications.

Let's face it - the FBI will only tell you so much about getting hired. Luckily for us outsiders, Ackerman's book picks up where the FBI leaves off. "FBI Careers" gives you a remarkably thorough picture of the FBI's hiring process and how to approach every phase, test, form, interview, and communication. FBI Careers also tells you what to expect after you've been hired, from the FBI Acedemy to the functions of the divisions and squads you could be assigned to.

This is the book to buy if you'd like a detailed roadmap to land just about any job in the FBI. You couldn't ask for more than a step by step manual that lays it all on the line for you, including every twist and turn along the route, which is what you'll find in this book. It covers every aspect of applicant processing and has specific recommendations on how to capitalize on your education, training, military service, employment experience, and other skills to score above other applicants.

"FBI Careers" really is the ultimate guide to landing a job with the FBI. Unlike the John Douglas book, "FBI Careers" is not loaded with stories by retired agents and other useless or outdated information. It is very helpful, if not critical, to understand how things work before and after you are appointed. You will have a complete grasp of things after reading "FBI Careers."

This is a wonderful book for anyone interested in a career with the FBI. It is very current, but I would watch for even newer developments. Though this book has been printed post-9/11, there still are other changes the Bureau has undergone that are not reflected in the book. For example, quite recently the Bureau added a 5th program under which applicants for the SA position can enter the Bureau: Computer Science. Traditionally, there were 4 programs: Law, Language, Accounting and Diversified. So don't rely solely on the book. Be sure to check with local recruiters and fbi.gov. This book is very exciting to read and follow for anyone who is actually going through the process. It's almost like a checklist of what needs to be done, and it introduces you to all the exciting things that the Bureau has yet to offer as a career.

Compiled and prepared by FBI Special Agent Thomas H. Ackerman, FBI Careers: The Ultimate Guide To Landing A Job As One Of America's Finest is a solid, reliable, step-by-step guide to preparing for and securing a job with the American Federal Bureau of Investigation. Individual chapters address the history of the FBI, salary and benefits, the hiring process, what the FBI looks for in candidates, test-taking tips, training, FBI internship programs and much more. Interest in joining the Bureau is at an all time high since the September 11th attack on America and our current world-wide engagement with anti-American terrorists organizations. FBI Careers is a solid, meticulously researched, and extremely useful guide that is a "must" for young men and women seriously considering the FBI as a law enforcement career.