Criminology, completely useless?

BIGeastBEAST
Wed, 09 Jun 2010 21:50:55 +0000

As mentioned above, I am definitely more interested in a desk position and would rather steer away of a field operative position whichever that may be. Does the FBI, DEA, CIA ext, not have a need for someone like myself who has expertise and experience in Law & Security training as well as a Bachelors and soon to be Masters degree in Criminology and all of it’s related Sociological and Psychological understandings of why people commit crimes and there reasons? I would think that there would be some sort of need of a person with this sort of background?



I’m going to brutally honest with you, so please do not take offense.

The short answer is no, they don’t have a need for the background you described.

First, you don’t have expertise. Expertise comes from work experience or years and years of study (PHD level research) on a single focuses issue that is currently in need. All the “expertise” you mentioned is less than the real world knowledge that any state trooper already has or any local police officer worth their salt.

You may have computer skills, but I assure you that you are no expert. They want people with MS in computer sciences combined with work experience doing computer forensics and other specialized work. Sorry.

The skills they want are are as follows, and classroom work doesn’t not count. They want people who have done the work, in the field, on the street. Intelligence (former military), Computer skills, language (fluent only), Special Operations/Forces, Accounting, and former experience working in specialized LE units such as narcotics, homicide, vice, forensics, ect.

You need to accept the fact that you do not have a skill set. There are literally thousands of CJ majors out there just like you, unfortunately you aren’t unique and don’t bring anything to the table at this time.

Also, anyone in federal LE (CIA is no a LE agency) is an AGEN FIRST, meaning you are expected to be in the filed if necessary. If you want a desk job, you picked the wrong career. Sorry if I sound rude, but I get college kids all the time wanting to have the badge and be able to say, “I’m an FBI agent”, but aren’t willing to put their time in the trenches as a cop or soldier. If you want to work at a desk - go into business. Yes, many agents have desk related jobs (esp FBI), but they don’t just walk in as an unproven college grad and expect a comfy office job with no nights, weekends or holidays.

You may be able to become an analyst some where, but not in the USA. The fact that you are a foreign citizen would prevent you from gaining a security clearance. So focus in Canada. One of the first things an application ask is if you are a US citizen and if you registered for the selective service - which you aren’t/haven’t.

Like I said, just giving you the brutal truth.

As for as threat assessment - not a chance, at least not in the US. Once again, those jobs are provided to agents/detectives who have years of experience in a given field and make a shift into that line of work within the agency. Ditto Security Advisor (whatever that is).

Private sectors don’t really have a counterpart because you need a security clearance to perform the work, that you only gain from the government and military. Some private companies that do government contracts will hire you with no security clearance, but thats tough. It’s much easier for them to hire someone with a current clearance, or a person who formerly held one. Maybe in Canada it will be different, but doubtful.

I must ask, why don’t you want to be a cop or join the military? THATS WHAT YOU NEED TO DO! That’s were careers like this start! You don’t start at the top, you start as a patrol officer, soldier, grunt and earn your respect.

I’m happy to answer any questions, so please feel free too.

P.S. Some police departs hire crime analysts (not very often) that doesn’t require you to have a security clearance or be a cop first. However, you do need previous work as an analyst - so I’m not sure if that helps.

Most of the training you want is all found in the LE/Military world, sorry.