Jobs in Security/Law Enforcement

[PowerManDL]

Anybody here do this for a living? I'm looking for some tips on how to increase my attractiveness to potential employers once I'm out of school; the Criminal Justice degree will do a lot, but I'd like to spice things up even more.

At the moment, I'd like to get on with a local police department for a few years, then move up to something federal-level, most likely the FBI. However, there's also been talk of potentially doing security work for traveling shows (don't ask how it came up, I just stumbled on it and thought it would be neat to travel) such as Disney, Ringling Bros, etc. And that's not even considering the private sector, the Foreign Service, and so on.

I'm planning to start back to formal martial arts training sometime in the near future; for some reason, putting "mean and angry," "ninja" and "crowbar expert" on my resume under fighting skills doesn't seem like it would work too well.

Beyond that, anybody got any tips?

[Orange357]

I'd go with Ninja, and crowbar expert, why not list lifts also?
Mean and angry may not be a good idea, because most people are pussies

[Spawn_X]

do a lot of community / volunteering service for law enforcement related companies

[Manveet]

I'm gonna be taking Criminology at Uni this fall. I've looked into several careers. If your into law enforcement or policing, you should see if you can volunteer somewhere so you can put that experience on your resume. I've looked into careers in the intelligence fields also. I can't join the FBI, CIA, or US Marshalls cause I'm not a US citizen. However, I'm strongly leaning towards joining the Canadian CSIS. I'm new to this whole thing as well. Hope I could be of any help.

[LAM]

PowerManDL...I did some private security work in the past and may very well in the future as there is a big demand for it here in Vegas.

I highly suggest getting invoved in MA training. It is just as important as weapons training when working in the private sector...

[JohnCollins]

PowerMan, have you considered the military? Not as a career, but as a stepping stone to a federal law enforcement position?

If that's where you want to end up, I think ex military police folks have a distinct advantage over civilians. The feds recruit from the military, I believe (could be wrong, though) vets are given a slight preference over non-vets (still competitive, though), and the feds know what your training level is.

You're pretty young, if you sign up for 4 years, you'll still be pretty young when you get out and you'd look like a prime candidate to many of the federal services. I don't know about the FBI, but certainly to the US Marshalls, Border Patrol, Secret Service, maybe Air Marshalls, etcetera. The FBI has some pretty stringent requirements. They used to (may still today) require a law degree for agents, I believe.

Anyway, I'd try for the MPs in a service branch as soon as you finish your degree. Unfortunately, you won't necessarily be offered an officer's commission because of your degree, because there are fewer officers in LE than there are in, say, the communications field in the Air Force for example. No matter. You'll progress quickly to NCO ranks because of your smarts and determination. If you go any service you'll be qualified with both the M-9 pistol (Beretta 9mm) and the M-16 at a minimum, most civilian services won't qualify you with a long gun. If you go Marines or Army, you'll add some hand-to-hand training to that (the marine close combat training highly influenced by Korean karate BTW, Tang Soo Do or Hapkido, try one of those martial arts. If you do a little boxing training on the side you'll be pretty able to handle yourself). On top of all that, you can have more fun than you can shake a stick at. How many of your buds will be able to say they had a job in Japan followed by one in Turkey (or Korea, Italy, wherever).

Main reason would be that in 4 years, though, it would really make you an above average attractive candidate for a federal LE organization. No offense to you civilian LE professionals out there! You're training may be just as good or even better, I'm not saying the military is better. I do believe the feds will view a vet more favorably if there are two otherwise equally qualified candidates for one position, however. Not right or wrong, fair or unfair, good or bad, it's just the way it is. I have a lot of respect for civilian LE folks. This post wasn't about saying the military was better, it was just about helping PowerMan reach his goal of federal LE service. (no flames, please )

One drawback, though. You go overseas in a military unit, you will have to be extra diligent about not having that first drink. It's a major form of entertainment in the military. Good news is, especially if you are overseas, there's tons of stuff you can fill your time with. Give it some thought. Go see a recruiter. You don't need to buy what he or she is selling, but you'll get some valuable information.

JC

[PowerManDL]

Thanks for the replies guys;

JC- I actually have considered it, but at this point in time, parts of my life are starting to coalesce and I really didn't have four years of military duty in mind. However it is still a possibility, even if its only the reserves.

[Gyno Rhino]

I've looked at joining all of these organizations in the past. None will take me now, cause of the disability.

[kAiXuan]

Originally posted by LAM
PowerManDL...I did some private security work in the past and may very well in the future as there is a big demand for it here in Vegas.

I highly suggest getting invoved in MA training. It is just as important as weapons training when working in the private sector...

excellent advice!!

[Gyno Rhino]

Yo, anybody know if the Feds or another org would be interested in a biomedical engineer?

[PowerManDL]

Have a look at the CIA. They're always interested in people with scientific backgrounds.

[LAM]

Gyno Rhino...both the FBI and CIA are ALWAYS looking for persons with engineering degrees...

[Gyno Rhino]

Really? That's cool. I'd like a job that's hands on, though.Not cooped up all the time.

[Delphi]

If you're interested in the FBI, consider a degree in accounting. We toured their headquarters in Washington DC last year. They're fired up about accountants. That's how they put away a bunch of arch-villains. That, and crowbars and hooligan tools.