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

"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.

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.

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.

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.

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!