What’s a poor unemployed recent MBA grad supposed to do in this terrible job market? They need to think outside the box and look for jobs outside of the usual banking, consulting or brand management path!
Earlier this year, I started looking at careers off the MBA beaten path and one cool job that I found (and applied to) was working as a Special Agent for the FBI!
There are four main steps to the application process:
- Phase I Written Testing (like an easy LSAT + personality test)
- Phase II Testing (interview and more written tests)
- Physical Fitness Test
- Final Screening (Polygraph, Drug test, Background Check)
Going in for the Phase I test was pretty similar to that scene from “Men In Black” where Will Smith goes in for the interview and everyone else is from the military or law enforcement and looking real serious and wearing suits. Anyway, I ended up passing the Phase I test (Yay! I’m smart enough to be a Special Agent! Nothing like some ego boosting.) and I think I’m technically still in their application pool because it takes 6-12 months to complete the whole application process.
**It is important to note that if you have smoked pot in the last 3 years, you are automatically disqualified **(yes, that one puff you took at that house party during orientation week will come back to haunt you). And they WILL catch you if you lie about smoking pot because you’ll be subjected to a hardcore polygraph test and they’ll probably water board you too (they are the FBI after all).
Here is a summary of the Pros & Cons of working as a Special Agent:
PROS
- “Special Agent” is a pretty cool job title. You are like a real life James Bond. How can the ladies not be turned on?
- Job stability. The War on Terror never ends!
- You get to carry a gun at all times. How badass is that?
CONS
- There is a reason why you are supposed to carry a gun. (Bad guys might try to kill you)
- Your salary starts at $70K (not exactly MBA money) but it increases to $90K (not bad) after 3 years.
- You will probably be assigned to Podunk, North Dakota for a few years after finishing the FBI academy.
For more information, please visit the FBI Special Agent website:
