The Life of an FBI Agent
Media Coordinator Beth Anne Steele
recently sat down with Special Agent John Jeffries, the applicant coordinator
for FBI Portland. In this interview, he discusses his experiences as an FBI
agent and offers advice to those looking to pursue the same path.
Beth Anne: Let’s talk about your life,
John. What did you do before joining the FBI?
John: I came from the world of corporate
finance. My days included analyzing profit-loss statements and working with
customers on solutions for off-balance sheet acquisitions. One day, I was
talking with the chief financial officer of my company. He said something about
the moral characteristics of FBI employees, and it piqued my interest. The
interest became more than just a passing thought, and I began to pursue a
career.
Beth Anne: How long have you been an
agent, and what do you enjoy most about your career?
John: While it may sound old-fashioned,
it has been a privilege to serve the citizens of our country as an agent for
more than 16 years. I have had so many incredible experiences as an agent.
However, the stories of those times are really wrapped in the people who
experienced those moments with me. The most enjoyable part my career is and has
always been the people who I work with every day.
Beth Anne: When you think of these
co-workers, what is it that makes them so special to you?
John: The culture of the FBI is we are a
family. A family takes care of each other and is there when help is needed.
Within the tactical setting, we must rely upon each other and that can be a
strong bond, but the day-to-day, more common examples are what define the FBI
culture. For instance, if a co-worker who is pregnant develops complications
resulting in physician-prescribed bed rest, she may not have enough sick or
vacation time to cover the extended absence. Co-workers can donate their
vacation time so she never misses a paycheck. It is just one of the many ways
we take care of each other.
Beth Anne: What advice would you give to
prospective agents?
John: Be honest. In the private sector,
taking credit for anything you barely touched is sadly the norm. When you apply
to the Bureau, be absolutely honest. We will conduct lengthy interviews,
polygraph exams, and a background investigation prior to allowing you to become
an agent. We lose large numbers of people because they omit pertinent
information or “stretch the truth.” For that, you will be discontinued and
never be given a second chance.
Beth Anne: What do you think are the
biggest misconceptions about a career as an FBI special agent?
John: First, my life is not what you
might see from Hollywood…not even close. I don’t think I have ever seen “Jack
Bauer” type anything documenting his actions. Our careers as FBI agents require
detailed attention to everything we do—details that are often tedious and
anything but exciting. Think of a jigsaw puzzle that has thousands of pieces
that must be carefully examined and put together. It is the detail that allows
the FBI to put together large cases that end with placing handcuffs on the
subject. Yes, there are times when we are in the forest on the trail of someone
who just shot or abducted someone, but do not make the mistake of thinking you
will be doing that every day.
Secondly, most people wrongly assume we
are only looking for employees who were formerly in law enforcement. One of the
strengths of the Bureau is that we have varied backgrounds. If the Bureau were
comprised of nothing but finance people like me, we would be a weaker
organization. In general, we like people who have jobs that require attention
to detail. That includes all kinds of professionals from software engineers to
lawyers to foreign language specialists.
For details on becoming an FBI special
agent, please go to www.fbijobs.gov. The special agent application period is
currently open until August 15, 2012.
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