John Douglas's Guide to Careers in the FBI (Paperback)

by John E. Douglas (Author), Kaplan (Author) "You're going to get a lot of just-the-facts-ma'am information in this book..." (more)
Key Phrases: applicant coordinator, female llama, male hippo, New York, United States, Special Agents (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

The FBI is more selective than Harvard. Overcome the odds with the help of this comprehensive guide from John Douglas, a former FBI profiler. Drawing on 25 years of solid FBI experience, Douglas gives you the inside track on everything you need to know to be a competitive FBI candidate, including:

details on the academic fields, professional skills, volunteer experiences, and personal attributes most highly regarded by FBI recruiters

former Special Agents' experiences and insights on the front lines

a detailed description of the application process from the written tests to the background check

About the Author
During 25 years with the FBI, John Douglas became a leading expert on criminal personality profiling. Early in his career, he served as a recruiter for the Bureau; later, he conducted the first organized study into the methods and motivations of serial criminals, and became known as the pioneer of modern criminal investigative analysis. As a consultant, he continues assisting in criminal investigations and prosecutions throughout the world. An Air Force veteran, Douglas holds a doctorate in adult education, and is the author of numerous articles and presentations on criminology. He coauthored two landmark criminology text: Sexual Homicide: Patterns and Motives and the Crime Classification Manual. With Mark Olshaker, he's coauthored several best-selling nonfiction books: Mindhunter: Inside the FBI's Elite Serial Crime Unit; Unabomber: On the Trail of America's Most-Wanted Serial Killer; Journey into Darkness: The FBI's Premier Investigator Penetrates the Minds and Motives of the Most Terrifying Serial Killers; and Obsession: The FBI's Legendary Profiler Probes the Psyches of Killers, Rapists and Stalkers, and Their Victims, and Tells How to Fight Back. He lives in the Washington, D.C., area.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Kaplan Publishing; 684th edition (November 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0684855046
• ISBN-13: 978-0684855042
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #911,440 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

66 of 67 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not a realistic career guide  I've seen better., January 23, 2000

By A Customer

If you want the history of the FBI you might be satisfied with this book, but for a career guide it's a big disappointment. Federal law enforcement aspirants need to know that the FBI isn't the only game in town, and that it's nearly impossible to compete with the countless thousands who apply each year. An outstanding book that covers 225 careers with more than 130 agencies - including the FBI - is "Guide to Careers in Federal Law Enforcement" by Thomas H. Ackerman. This book not only has details on FBI Special Agents, but also on FBI Fingerprint Examiners, Intelligence Specialists, Biologists, Chemists, Forensic Specialists, Document Analysts, and others. Ackerman even includes details on FBI Police Officers, who patrol the FBI Academy and Headquarters building, a position many job-seekers don't know exists. Most important, Ackerman's book covers prestigious careers with more than 130 other agencies that are virtually unknown to most job-seekers. If you need details on the history of the FBI and major cases solved, I recommend "The FBI" by Ronald Kessler. If you really want to serve in federal law enforcement as a special agent, police officer, intelligence specialist, communications technician, corrections officer, or in some other capacity, I recommend Ackerman's book.

39 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good but I've seen better, December 26, 1998

By	Mike Hoeflich ([e-mail]) (Cincinnati, Ohio) - See all my reviews

I've read many books written about the FBI, but this doesn't impress me at all. For a John Douglas book, this is very disappointing. It gives you the basic knowledge that one might need to know for writing a paper on the topic but by no means is it worth the price. I've been able to obtain the same information that is in the book from official FBI publications including recruiting material and information found in the government section at your local library. I recommend "The FBI" by Ronald Kessler, not only does it tell you the entrance requirements for FBI Special Agents but also great stories about past cases and life at the FBI Academy. If you have money to burn than buy "The FBI". Otherwise just go to your closest FBI field office at talk with the Recruit Coordinator; he or she should be able to answer any questions you might have plus give you the material that you'll need.

35 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars John Douglas's Guide to Careers in the FBI, February 5, 2000

By A Customer

I found the book informative in regards to history and examples from former and current agents. However, it did not prepare me for the application process. I actually think it hindered me, in that, I went into certain phases of the process with preconceived notions of what to expect. My expectations were WRONG. I did make it to Phase II before I floundered in the Bureau's eyes. I wish I had found something more informative in detail regarding each phase of the selection process.