The FBI is one of the six bureaus of the U.S. Department of Justice and the primary criminal investigative agency of the federal government. The special agents who work for the FBI investigate people and organizations that violate federal statutes. These violations can be related to organized crime, white-collar crime, financial crime, civil rights violations, bank robberies, kidnapping, terrorism, foreign counterintelligence, and fugitive and drug trafficking matters. Special agents also work with other federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. The work performed by special agents has a daily impact on the country's security and the quality of life of all U.S. citizens. The FBI has validated a series of assessment methods for its special agent positions. To effectively utilize the assessments, it uses a combination of multiple hurdles and cut scores to make its hiring decisions:
1. Online Application for the Special Agent Position:
3. Phase II Testing:
4. Physical Fitness Test:
5. FBI Background Investigation:
6. Medical Examination:
1. What are the advantages and disadvantages of the FBI using a multiple hurdles approach to select special agents?
2. Would such a lengthy selection process appeal to you or turn you off to working at the FBI?
3. What might the FBI do to increase the chances that the applicants it wants to hire accept the job offers extended to them?