Question about education and hiring for LE - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source!

bunyfofu69 · 01-11-2007, 12:33 AM

I've seen questions in the past about hiring standards and the process.

Hopefully im in the right place!

I just recently graduated from SDSU w/ a BA in psychology, and i'm not really ahead of the pack in terms of candidate status for a Federal Agency.

So I've decided to go back to school and get my Masters in Psychology, but then I heard about the brand new major of Information Security and Safety at USC (Homeland Security major).

I was wondering if anyone knows if this will help me bump my status (obviously a MA will, but want the best bang for the buck)

I have Veteran preferance points, and prior Top Secret.

Any clue? My Advisors dont have the slightest idea.

Thanks

danp · 01-11-2007, 08:10 AM

No matter what your advisors and others at school tell you, education isn't the only thing employers look at. Take your degree and go to work for a local department and get some LE experiance. Then if you still want to go Fed. re-apply with LE experiance + what you've got going for you now. As a veteran with a degree you should have no problem at all getting hired locally and (at least in CA) you'll be making more $$ than the Feds.

nhill0408 · 01-11-2007, 10:54 AM

Perhaps you could give us a bit more insight into what you're trying for. Which Federal Agency are you applying to? FBI? If so, unless you speak arabic or are a CPA, they most likely won't hire you off the street. What type of LE work are you hoping for? Patrol type stuff? Investigations? FBI HRT Door Kicker?

bunyfofu69 · 01-11-2007, 11:59 AM

Ideally i'd like DSS or USSS or Marshals. The FBI from what I have heard is way competitive.

When I was declaring my major I initially wanted CJ, but was told by my family (whom are LE) to diversify myself and select a major other than CJ. Hence psychology.

I'm just wondering if a graduate degree in Homeland Security would make me more attractive then Psychology?

I've looked into local PD here in San Diego and northern california bay area, which pay well, but don't offer any extra incentives for a graduate degree except at the federal level.

FBI HRT Door Kicker maybe alittle too much for me...lol

nhill0408 · 01-11-2007, 12:03 PM

Well, in that case, I'll just send you in the direction I've gone, and recommend the USBP. At the moment, there are more vacancies than qualified applicants, but the qualifications are not that bad. In fact, I'm 99% sure you already qualify.

I suggest this, because it's MUCH easier to get into those more "presitigious" agencies transferring from another one. If you're willing to spend a few years in the southwest getting your hands dirty, you'll be MUCH farther ahead as a candidate for other Federal Opportunities then you would be with a BS or MS and no experience to speak of. If you're interested, send me a PM and I can give you a bunch of resources to look at. In any case, good luck with your decision.

Nemesis · 01-11-2007, 12:10 PM

The above posts are correct, you are going to need to get some experience before getting in with the Feds. However, its seems your gearing yourself more towards investigations...no? In that case I would try applying with DA's or Prosecutors office investigation unit, they will send you to the accademy and you'll be an entry level investigator when you grad. This way you wont have to start out in patrol like you will with a PD or SD. Also try Parole and Probation depts.

retired · 01-11-2007, 02:01 PM

I think Nemesis is correct if you are, in fact gearing yourself toward investigations and don't want to do the patrol thing. Be aware also, if you hire on with a Sheriff's dept., you will more than likely do anywhere from 2-5yrs. in custody first. That is one reason my former dept. (LASD) is down 1000 deputies. It is a real morale buster to spend 4-5yrs. around those dirtbags.

A couple of classmates left the dept. while we were working custody at the beginning of our career and went to the DA's office as investigators. They kept their seniority and county time and were paid more.

I thought about doing the same thing one or twice, but never acted upon it. I wish in retrospect that I had, if for no other reason than I probably would not have had 4 back surgeries since I wouldn't have been in fights in custody, sat in a patrol car for 15yrs, worn a 23lb gunbelt, etc.

If Nemesis guessed right, you should seriously think about his suggestion.

Mercmar · 01-14-2007, 07:36 AM

I believe your family gave you excellent advice, regarding CJ. Considering that you'd really like to wind up with one of the more "prestigious" agencies, you're better off without wasting time on a REALLY easy major such as CJ. CJ, for example, is considered one of the worst majors for those applying to law school.

Do a little work on your grammar and composition. Little things like that do make a difference. Good luck in your quest!

01-11-2007, 12:33 AM	#1
bunyfofu69 XDTalk Newbie Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 6	Question about education and hiring for LE I've seen questions in the past about hiring standards and the process. Hopefully im in the right place! I just recently graduated from SDSU w/ a BA in psychology, and i'm not really ahead of the pack in terms of candidate status for a Federal Agency. So I've decided to go back to school and get my Masters in Psychology, but then I heard about the brand new major of Information Security and Safety at USC (Homeland Security major). I was wondering if anyone knows if this will help me bump my status (obviously a MA will, but want the best bang for the buck) I have Veteran preferance points, and prior Top Secret. Any clue? My Advisors dont have the slightest idea. Thanks

01-11-2007, 08:10 AM	#2
danp XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Sacramento, California Posts: 1,313	No matter what your advisors and others at school tell you, education isn't the only thing employers look at. Take your degree and go to work for a local department and get some LE experiance. Then if you still want to go Fed. re-apply with LE experiance + what you've got going for you now. As a veteran with a degree you should have no problem at all getting hired locally and (at least in CA) you'll be making more $$ than the Feds. __________________ God made cops so that firefighters could have heros too. "He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you." - Nietzche

01-11-2007, 12:10 PM	#6
Nemesis XDTalk Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: GA Posts: 43	The above posts are correct, you are going to need to get some experience before getting in with the Feds. However, its seems your gearing yourself more towards investigations...no? In that case I would try applying with DA's or Prosecutors office investigation unit, they will send you to the accademy and you'll be an entry level investigator when you grad. This way you wont have to start out in patrol like you will with a PD or SD. Also try Parole and Probation depts. __________________ Do you know what "nemesis" means? A righteous infliction of retribution manifested by an appropriate agent. Personified in this case by an 'orrible cunt... me.

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01-11-2007, 10:54 AM	#3
nhill0408 XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Southern Texas Posts: 336	Perhaps you could give us a bit more insight into what you're trying for. Which Federal Agency are you applying to? FBI? If so, unless you speak arabic or are a CPA, they most likely won't hire you off the street. What type of LE work are you hoping for? Patrol type stuff? Investigations? FBI HRT Door Kicker?

01-11-2007, 11:59 AM	#4
bunyfofu69 XDTalk Newbie Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 6	Ideally i'd like DSS or USSS or Marshals. The FBI from what I have heard is way competitive. When I was declaring my major I initially wanted CJ, but was told by my family (whom are LE) to diversify myself and select a major other than CJ. Hence psychology. I'm just wondering if a graduate degree in Homeland Security would make me more attractive then Psychology? I've looked into local PD here in San Diego and northern california bay area, which pay well, but don't offer any extra incentives for a graduate degree except at the federal level. FBI HRT Door Kicker maybe alittle too much for me...lol

01-11-2007, 12:03 PM	#5
nhill0408 XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Southern Texas Posts: 336	Well, in that case, I'll just send you in the direction I've gone, and recommend the USBP. At the moment, there are more vacancies than qualified applicants, but the qualifications are not that bad. In fact, I'm 99% sure you already qualify. I suggest this, because it's MUCH easier to get into those more "presitigious" agencies transferring from another one. If you're willing to spend a few years in the southwest getting your hands dirty, you'll be MUCH farther ahead as a candidate for other Federal Opportunities then you would be with a BS or MS and no experience to speak of. If you're interested, send me a PM and I can give you a bunch of resources to look at. In any case, good luck with your decision.

01-11-2007, 02:01 PM	#7
retired XDTalk 5K Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: S. Calif. Posts: 5,404	I think Nemesis is correct if you are, in fact gearing yourself toward investigations and don't want to do the patrol thing. Be aware also, if you hire on with a Sheriff's dept., you will more than likely do anywhere from 2-5yrs. in custody first. That is one reason my former dept. (LASD) is down 1000 deputies. It is a real morale buster to spend 4-5yrs. around those dirtbags. A couple of classmates left the dept. while we were working custody at the beginning of our career and went to the DA's office as investigators. They kept their seniority and county time and were paid more. I thought about doing the same thing one or twice, but never acted upon it. I wish in retrospect that I had, if for no other reason than I probably would not have had 4 back surgeries since I wouldn't have been in fights in custody, sat in a patrol car for 15yrs, worn a 23lb gunbelt, etc. If Nemesis guessed right, you should seriously think about his suggestion.

01-14-2007, 07:36 AM	#8
Mercmar XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 1,761	I believe your family gave you excellent advice, regarding CJ. Considering that you'd really like to wind up with one of the more "prestigious" agencies, you're better off without wasting time on a REALLY easy major such as CJ. CJ, for example, is considered one of the worst majors for those applying to law school. Do a little work on your grammar and composition. Little things like that do make a difference. Good luck in your quest!