Edna Grant
Staff Writter
Over 100 Idaho State University students filled the Little Wood River room last Thursday afternoon to hear a special presentation from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Representatives from the FBI came to ISU to share career-advancing opportunities to high-achieving students through their Honor’s Internship and Collegiate Hiring Initiative.
“It’s a very effective program,” said FBI representative Nick Delaney, speaking of the Collegiate Hiring initiative. “It started out very small back in 1985 but it grew through the years because we found that it actually has a lot of value.”
The presentation began with FBI representative Hillary Eldredge, who communicated the widely varied opportunities for employment with the Bureau. She listed available jobs in information technology, analytics, and communication as well as an overview of what FBI employment offers.
“If you’re willing to open your lens a little bit wider,” Eldredge said, “there will be chances that you could work in various locations, not just our local Pocatello or Salt Lake headquarters.” Her descriptions enveloped a wide variety of opportunities in a variety of locations, emphasizing the need for flexibility in FBI employees.
Representatives from different departments within the Bureau took turns presenting their respective local departments.
Troy Wortley presented on the Information Technology sector which works with the Department of Justice and the FBI. He went over the different employment opportunities within Information Technologies, such as app developing, computer forensics, database administration, and web development. He mentioned that IT requires a minimum of a bachelor’s degree, unless the applicant comes with experience, and for the purposes of recruiting people, the department offers the highest and most accelerating starting pay in the Bureau.
“Most people go up a [pay]grade every year,” Wortley said. “So we are very quick in getting you up to a very decent payscale.”
Many representatives began followed the same formula for their presentations. With recruitment in mind, they detailed several different jobs within their departments and explained detailed growth within the department. charts of paygrades to entice the students.
While working for the Bureau may seem intimidating, according to Eldridge, they hire workers from any academic background. Lindsey Stirling, the representative from the FBI’s Language Services, admitted her college background was in English and communications.
“I know it seems kind of far off,” Stirling said, “we are welcoming and reaching out to you as college students.” There are many different opportunities within Language Services, she claims, as well as ample opportunities for learning and growing within the department.
“Even if you’re not looking for a job today, or if you’re still in school building your language ability, build a resume and put it out there.” She encouraged students to start applying for jobs within the Bureau to strengthen their chances of the FBI reaching out to them for jobs in different areas and geographic locations.
“When you apply, you get to choose your top five or six locations,” said Delaney, referring to the FBI’s Honor’s Internship. In this 10 week paid internship, interns are placed in a variety of locations and are given security clearance to work alongside FBI agents. It is open to undergraduate and graduate students alike, accepting students of all majors.
While the session on Thursday was open to all ISU students, the FBI Collegiate Hiring Initiative applications are open to graduating students and recent graduates only. Applicants must meet certain qualifications, such as being a United States Citizen, have attended a college or university as a full-time student, maintained a GPA of 3.0 or higher, and be able to pass all FBI background checks in order to receive security clearance.
