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It is hard to get an FBI internship, but it is not impossible.
The reason it is hard is that there are high standards, and there is a lot of competition.
It is estimated that there are 12,000 applications every year, with only a few hundred positions available.
That means about 1-2% of applicants are accepted for internships, making your chances slim no matter how qualified you are.
FBI Internships
The main internship is called the FBI Honors Internship Program.
It’s a 10-week paid program for college juniors, seniors, and graduate students.
This program gives students hands-on experience to learn about the FBI’s inner workings.
Students explore intelligence analysis, law enforcement, forensics, administration, and cybersecurity.
The internships are at the national headquarters in Washington, D.C., or one of its field offices.
A second program is called the Volunteer Internship Program.
This one is competitive too, but not as much as the honors program.
This one happens at field offices around the nation.
What they do is very similar, but the volunteer program is more local in nature and flexible.
Some other programs, like the Visiting Scientist Program, and others focus on specific areas.
Many people who do get into the honors internship program are offered jobs later on with the FBI.
Criteria for Internship
It is competitive because there are so many more applicants than positions.
It is made more difficult by high standards for students.
You have to already be a high achiever to even qualify to apply.
You must be a U.S. citizen and a full-time student.
You must be a student in good standing as a college junior or senior or you can be a graduate-level student.
You cannot graduate before the program starts.
A minimum grade point average of 3.0 is required.
A solid SAT score, or an ACT score of 21 or better, is also required.
You must show that you can maintain a solid grade point average, and there are a lot of applicants from top schools around the nation.
Applicants must be at least 23 years old but not older than 37.
Another hurdle is an extensive background check, which can take a few months to finish.
A background check is needed for secret security clearance, and that includes the following:
- Polygraph exam
- Drug test.
- Verification of citizenship, employment, and criminal history.
- There must be no felony convictions or serious criminal history.
- Interviews with references, employers, friends, and neighbors.
Application Process
Even applying for this program can be tricky.
Applications are accepted for a couple of weeks sometime in August or September.
You must watch the FBI website to find out when applications are accepted each year, and there is little warning.
If you don’t get your application in that window, you have to wait until the following year.
The initial application includes a resume, cover letter, transcript, and a program terms acknowledgment form.
The resume needs to follow the federal formatting guide.
Some candidates will be invited to interview either by phone or in person.
The interview will question your experiences, handling stress, and behavior issues.
From there, the background check will be done.
Selections are made at that point, and some candidates will get a conditional offer based on their achievements, skills, and the needs of the FBI.
Conditional offers depend on you passing the extensive background check, but if you get to that point, your chances are very good.
You will have a chance to pick where you want the internship to be, but the FBI will make that determination based on what they need.
From there, final offers are made before the internships start in September.
Candidates with experience or education in computer science, forensics, science, law, programming, or speech writing have the best chance of being selected.
You could still get selected with education in other areas, but those are what the FBI prefers.
Teamwork, analytical or critical thinking, communication, and adaptability are skills that the FBI is looking for.
How to Succeed
Getting this internship is very competitive, so it is essential to put yourself in the best light possible.
Highlight where your background meets an area they are interested in, such as cybersecurity or forensics.
Note that any experience with law enforcement, even volunteer-type activities, counts.
Follow the guidelines for making your resume fit their preferred formatting.
Be able to articulate how your background will fit their needs.
Having a solid or clean background also helps.
If you have that, maintain it, and avoid anything that could put a spot on your record.
Make sure you apply early in the process to make sure you get everything done correctly and on time.
Be flexible about where you work and the type of work you want to do.
Sources
https://fbijobs.gov/search-results?srp_q=Honors+Internship+Program+FAQ+
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the benefits of the Honors Internship Program?
Completing an internship like this will give you a lot of hands-on experience with investigations.
You get to work with real investigators on real cases.
Many interns get job offers on completion of the internship.
Even if you do not get a job offer, completing that program will help you get a job elsewhere, as it is rather prestigious.
You will get a top security clearance, which could open doors to jobs in other places.
Just having this on your resume would help you get jobs with other agencies because it is so competitive.
What are some issues or obstacles you might face?
Knowing when to submit your application can be an issue, so it is important to monitor the FBI website to know when those time slots are.
It is a good idea to have your resume ready so you are not starting from scratch when you apply.
It is a time-consuming process that takes patience.
You may have to sign a non-disclosure agreement in some cases.
There are high expectations for performance during the internship, and if you do well enough, you could get a job offer.
This means there is some pressure involved.
How selective is the volunteer program?
While only 1% or 2% of applicants are accepted into the honors program, between 10% and 30% of applications for volunteer internships get accepted.
Both programs are open to receiving applications at specific times, so it is important to know when those times are and get them in on time.
Is it ok to apply for both at the same time?
Yes, you may apply for both programs at the same time.
They are completely different programs, so different applications and resumes are used.
If you were to be selected for both, you would be able to choose which one you want.
The advantage of the volunteer program is that you have more flexibility as far as where the internship is.
If you are not accepted, can you apply for a volunteer internship?
Yes, you may apply for the volunteer internship.
The work involved is essentially the same, but it is more localized, or more in local offices around the country.
It is a separate application process.
The applications are not transferable, but not getting a paid one does not disqualify you from the volunteer internship.
Apply for volunteer internships at local FBI offices.
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