Core competencies are key skills that have been identified as needed to be a successful
special agent.
For the special agent position, they include leadership, collaboration, organizing and
planning, problem-solving/judgment, flexibility/adaptability, initiative and communication.
The competencies serve as indicators that demonstrate
that you have the skills to do the job.
You should demonstrate all of the core competencies
throughout the special agent selection process.
For example, in the core competency of communication, your application should
convey that you can express thoughts and ideas clearly and effectively both orally and in
writing.
Or in the example of initiative, you should demonstrate how you proactively and
creatively respond to problems and tasks.
Another example is organizing and planning.
In this area you should be demonstrating how you
can establish priorities, timetables and goals.
In addition, you should reflect on how you can
effectively plan follow-up activities necessary to accomplish goals.
The competencies represent a broad skill set required of a successful
FBI special agent.
Special agents of the FBI are called upon to demonstrate the core competencies on a
daily basis.
Special agents lead criminal and national security investigations, collaborate with
federal, state and local law enforcement agencies,
conduct interviews and document their findings with
strong oral and written communication skills.
Special agents plan and organize federal search and arrest.
They proactively identify problems and create solutions.
Special agents serve as first responders in often dynamic and changing environments
and are often called upon to use sound judgment in life-and-death situations.
As an applicant for the special agent position, you
must demonstrate examples on your application that you meet these requirements.
Situational samples that you provide in your application will be evaluated and determined
whether you progress in the hiring process.
It is important that you spend time writing these
examples in detail and thoroughly.
A good situation example will be a paragraph of
approximately six to eight sentences.
It would be a good idea to have the definitions available
so that you can compare your example with the behaviors requested in the definition
to the competency.
In the first one or two sentences, clearly establish a situation that you are in a very
specific event or circumstance that you plan to address, followed by four to six sentences
of action items that you can specifically take
credit for to resolve the situation.
And then finally conclude with a positive result showing how
you addressed the situation that you are writing about.
It is very important that you address your situation clearly, concisely and in detail
so that our evaluators understand the situation that
you are presenting and can give you proper credit.
A well written situational example will be detailed and clearly addressed the competency.
For example, for a police officer who is going
to address the competency of organizing and planning, the police officer might state "as
a police officer I was tasked to execute a search
warrant on subject's residence."
That is the situation clearly stated in one sentence, followed
by action items: "I obtained a search warrant and reviewed the search warrant for legal
authority.
I then prepared an Operations Plan, selecting search team members and delegating
assignments.
I then ensured that all the proper supplies and equipment were collected to
execute the search.
At the search scene, I would manage the scene and monitor the employees
to ensure that all items collected were in compliance with a search warrant and properly
packaged and handled.
I would delegate and assign a representative to transport the evidence
to a secure police facility and finally I would provide an inventory of all of the information
collected to the prosecutor and the judge.
In conclusion, I would state "the search warrant was
executed successfully and without any complications and that no one was injured during the
execution of the search and the property was obtained in furtherance prosecution of the
subject."
To sum things up, remember to address all seven core competencies during the special
agent selection process.
Make sure you are not being too vague with your responses to the core
competency questions.
Remember in your detailed descriptions to provide the situation, action,
and result.
Your responses are evaluated and determined how you will be ranked.