FBI Intel Analyst Hiring Problems

[jbhtx]

Has anyone else seen the Yahoo news article on how the FBI is Still Slow in Hiring Intelligence Analysts. It details how the bureau failed to meet its hiring goal and has failed to get enough analysts in Field Offices. The good news is that there are 37% more analysts than pre 9/11 yet that seems scant improvement for 3 1/2 years hiring effort. Interesting information.

[eff-bee-eye]

Hey cool...didn't know this forum was created.

Someone else posted the article in the News Forum though.

[OrangeAlum2003]

Very poor progress I would say given all the funding the FBI has received to hire more analysts. I think the FBI has to compete with all of the other more established intelligence entities for qualified analysts. It's actually a little shocking given the 10K bonus that the FBI has been offering. That said, it's encouraging to those of us who want the position. Lots of room for more hires.

[sigepuofu]

I'm still wondering if I will get the 10k bonus, because I didn't get hired under the announcement I originally applied for-I ended up at HQ.

Interesting......

And I thought it was either 10k or 25% of base salary, whichever is smaller-

Lord knows that money could go a long way to easing the pain of living in DC

[OrangeAlum2003]

I'm still wondering if I will get the 10k bonus, because I didn't get hired under the announcement I originally applied for-I ended up at HQ.

Interesting......

And I thought it was either 10k or 25% of base salary, whichever is smaller-

Lord knows that money could go a long way to easing the pain of living in DC

In all of the IA positions the FBI has been advertising over the last year that I've seen, the 10K bonus is included. Was there no bonus in the announcement under which you were hired?

In terms of amount, it will be pretty close to 10K regardless. If you're hired as a GS-7 Step 1, your annual pay in DC would be $35,452 x's 25% = $8,863
If you're hired as a GS-9 Step 1 in DC you would earn $43,365 x's 25% = $10,841 (rounded down to 10K).

Now, the 10K bonus says, "selectees...who possess critical skills needed by the FBI may be eligible to receive a recruitment bonus of up to $10,000
upon entry into the Intelligence Analyst position." Now, I'm assuming they are only hiring those people with critical skills for the position. Obviously, not being an employee of the FBI, I can't speak with authority on the subject.

[sigepuofu]

In all of the IA positions the FBI has been advertising over the last year that I've seen, the 10K bonus is included. Was there no bonus in the announcement under which you were hired?

In terms of amount, it will be pretty close to 10K regardless. If you're hired as a GS-7 Step 1, your annual pay in DC would be $35,452 x's 25% = $8,863
If you're hired as a GS-9 Step 1 in DC you would earn $43,365 x's 25% = $10,841 (rounded down to 10K).

Now, the 10K bonus says, "selectees...who possess critical skills needed by the FBI may be eligible to receive a recruitment bonus of up to $10,000
upon entry into the Intelligence Analyst position." Now, I'm assuming they are only hiring those people with critical skills for the position. Obviously, not being an employee of the FBI, I can't speak with authority on the subject.

I applied under FO-2004-007, the earliest field office announcement for 2004. But, i didn't get into a field office-I got hired at HQ. That's what makes we wonder if I'm still eligible for the bonus.

I guess I'll find out when my packet gets here-its supposedly being put together as we speak.

Oh well, I guess its time to get back to studying-finals week absolutely sucks!!! :eek:

[OrangeAlum2003]

I know for sure that one of the HQ announcements last year had the 10K bonus. Don't know if it's the same one under which you were hired. It sounds like yours was in the same time frame. Good luck to you, that cash would be sweet.

[kingz]

They tax the check very heavily. Take it from someone who got the bonus. Because it is given to you lump sum, you are left with about 60% of the amount. It all depends on your tax witholdings.

[SEgis]

Very poor progress I would say given all the funding the FBI has received to hire more analysts. I think the FBI has to compete with all of the other more established intelligence entities for qualified analysts. It's actually a little shocking given the 10K bonus that the FBI has been offering. That said, it's encouraging to those of us who want the position. Lots of room for more hires.

Lots of room for new hires... but an overabundance of applicants... and a long wating period. I'm still in the group for the February announcement that was "referred to selecting official."

Pick me! Pick me! You can even keep your bonus!

[OrangeAlum2003]

Lots of room for new hires... but an overabundance of applicants... and a long wating period. I'm still in the group for the February announcement that was "referred to selecting official."

Pick me! Pick me! You can even keep your bonus!


Have you heard anything since your application was "referred?" If not, I'm not feeling too optimistic about hearing anything anytime soon, especially considering that I applied later than you. :mad: Oh well, patience, patience, patience. That's what I keep telling myself.

[BuMan]

Part of the problem has been that the HR folks have changed horses almost in mid-stream with regard to the hiring process. Instead of individual announcements for divisions or individual offices, they went to the blanket hiring announcements. Now, applicants put in for the position, go through the hiring blitz interview process, then get the three Ps and start their background for their selection process. Once that's done, they go before the hiring board and the different divisions take names from the list based on the interview information which is recorded and combined with the critical skill information. That means, once someone's name goes in front of the board, the period between assignment to a particular division goes much faster, but it means getting to that point takes a lot longer as the background is generally done first. COs are now for a position in general, not a specific position and the final offer is after the selection process. Yes, it's crazy, but that's the way it goes.

At the same time you're dealing with the hiring process, there has been the whole creation process for the Directorate of Intelligence, which has been a long process. They're also working on the pre-employment testing, the training process for on-board and future IAs (and language specialists and surveillance specialists), dealing with the various Congressional and independent investigations into FBI intelligence matters, etc.

There's a ton of stuff going on behind the scenes that the average outsider never hears about and it does eat up a lot of time, slowing things down. And incomplete applications, incorrect information, etc. on the part of the applicants tends to mess things up a bit as well.

[snowdog650]

They tax the check very heavily. Take it from someone who got the bonus. Because it is given to you lump sum, you are left with about 60% of the amount. It all depends on your tax witholdings.

This is definitely correct. I was left with about 53.5% after taxes.

[sigepuofu]

Part of the problem has been that the HR folks have changed horses almost in mid-stream with regard to the hiring process. Instead of individual announcements for divisions or individual offices, they went to the blanket hiring announcements. Now, applicants put in for the position, go through the hiring blitz interview process, then get the three Ps and start their background for their selection process. Once that's done, they go before the hiring board and the different divisions take names from the list based on the interview information which is recorded and combined with the critical skill information. That means, once someone's name goes in front of the board, the period between assignment to a particular division goes much faster, but it means getting to that point takes a lot longer as the background is generally done first. COs are now for a position in general, not a specific position and the final offer is after the selection process. Yes, it's crazy, but that's the way it goes.

At the same time you're dealing with the hiring process, there has been the whole creation process for the Directorate of Intelligence, which has been a long process. They're also working on the pre-employment testing, the training process for on-board and future IAs (and language specialists and surveillance specialists), dealing with the various Congressional and independent investigations into FBI intelligence matters, etc.

There's a ton of stuff going on behind the scenes that the average outsider never hears about and it does eat up a lot of time, slowing things down. And incomplete applications, incorrect information, etc. on the part of the applicants tends to mess things up a bit as well.

BuMan, it would seem that the changes in the hiring process would seem to affect those who are waiting to go through the process or have barely started. I understand that the HR people at HQ are overworked right now.

Here's my question-do the HR people in the Directorate of Intelligence create the official appointment letters and relo packets? My understanding was that the HR people in the Directorate of Intelligence are the ones who do all of the BI processing, overview, etc.-all the things that you have to go through to actually get an offer and be hired. But, I thought that once that process is done, the Intelligence Directorate HR people send your file over to the Staffing unit, which I thought are the people who do the actual offers and relocation/logistics package for the whole Bureau, not just Intel.

The reason I ask is because my file's been in the staffing unit for the last month and a half to two months, waiting to get my official letter processed, and it still isn't done. Do you think there's a connection between the problems the Directorate of Intelligence has been having and the long waiting period to get your official letter?

(sorry if I rambled a bit-I've been studying all day for the last week or so. Brain's a little burnt out :eek: )

[BuMan]

Here's my question-do the HR people in the Directorate of Intelligence create the official appointment letters and relo packets? My understanding was that the HR people in the Directorate of Intelligence are the ones who do all of the BI processing, overview, etc.-all the things that you have to go through to actually get an offer and be hired. But, I thought that once that process is done, the Intelligence Directorate HR people send your file over to the Staffing unit, which I thought are the people who do the actual offers and relocation/logistics package for the whole Bureau, not just Intel.

The reason I ask is because my file's been in the staffing unit for the last month and a half to two months, waiting to get my official letter processed, and it still isn't done. Do you think there's a connection between the problems the Directorate of Intelligence has been having and the long waiting period to get your official letter?



DI does the selection and assignment part of the process, Staffing takes the input from the QuickHire system, does the initial screen of the candidates, starts the BI process (in conjunction with the BICS unit), and runs through the ajudication processes (along with Security Div) and then sends out the letters. Don't know what the hold up is specifically, but as of last week, they were expecting to have a sit-down to apportion folks from the hiring blitz in February to divisions, so it's coming along.

[jbhtx]

Below is the FBI's response to criticism of not hiring enough analysts or placing them in the right areas.


STATEMENT OF THE FBI REGARDING
THE OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR
GENERAL’S REPORT “THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF
INVESTIGATION’S EFFORTS TO HIRE, TRAIN,
AND RETAIN INTELLIGENCE ANALYSTS”

Washington, D.C. – Today the Office of the Inspector General released a report titled “The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Efforts to Hire, Train, and Retain Intelligence Analysts.” The FBI made the following statement on this matter:

“Following the events of September 11, 2001, the U.S. Government was presented with a tremendous challenge to develop intelligence to prevent any such future attacks. For the FBI this meant a change in the method of handling threat information, expanding our intelligence capabilities and providing a broader dissemination of terrorist threat information. To expand our intelligence capabilities we have increased our collection regarding the threat, enhanced our analytical capabilities and improved our reporting operations to other members of the intelligence community and federal, state and local law enforcement.

“The Inspector General’s review, which occurred early last year, reports that the FBI needs to improve its efforts to hire more analysts, ensure they are properly trained, and have measures in place to determine the success of retaining newly recruited personnel. Even prior to the Inspector General’s review of our analyst program, the FBI had underway efforts to enhance and strengthen our analytical capabilities. The FBI created the Directorate of Intelligence to establish a structure to more fully integrate intelligence and operations and to provide centralized management of the Intelligence Program. The Directorate of Intelligence is an integrated, dedicated national intelligence workforce with the capability to address current and future national security and criminal threats to the United States.

“The FBI has made significant strides in increasing our analytical cadre and is expected to meet the hiring goal of 880 new analysts by the end of this year. Additional resources have been requested for recruitment and retention in our next budget.

“Specialized training has been instituted for Intelligence Analysts and intelligence training has been incorporated into new Agent training. This year we are looking to expand training sessions with our partners in the Intelligence Community and we are working on a fellows program to exchange staff with other federal agencies and the private sector.

“The FBI’s efforts are to ensure an integrated intelligence service that leverages our traditional law enforcement efforts while ensuring no walls exist between collectors, analysts, and those who must act upon intelligence information.”

[H. Schoolboy]

F.B.I. Gets Mixed Review on Analysis
By ERIC LICHTBLAU
WASHINGTON, May 4 - The Federal Bureau of Investigation has made significant progress in its ability to analyze terrorism intelligence, but it still faces persistent problems in training and making full use of its analysts, the Justice Department's inspector general said in a report released Wednesday.

The F.B.I.'s failure to "connect the dots" on intelligence before the Sept. 11 attacks was seen as a critical shortcoming, and past assessments have found that the bureau's ability to pull together, analyze and quickly disseminate such intelligence was essentially broken.

In its new report, the inspector general's office offered a mixed assessment of the F.B.I.'s progress in shoring up its intelligence analysis. It found "significant progress in hiring and training quality analysts, although significant issues remain."

One concern, it said, was that analysts continue to be underused at times and pressed into largely administrative tasks rather than reviewing important terrorism and intelligence reports.

"Many analysts are still asked to perform duties that are not analytical in nature, such as escort, trash and watch duty," the report said. "As the name implies, escort duty is following visitors, such as contractors, around the F.B.I. office to ensure that they do not compromise security. Trash duty involves collecting all 'official trash' to be incinerated. Watch duty involves answering phones and radios."

Senator Charles E. Grassley, Republican of Iowa, who has criticized the F.B.I., said in response to the new findings, "The fact that these experts who are supposed to be analyzing terrorist information are taking out the trash or answering phones 50 percent of the time doesn't seem to be a good use of anybody's talents." He added, "Little more than a dent has been made in the F.B.I's analytical program in the three-and-one-half years since Sept. 11."

The F.B.I., responding to the report, said it had made "significant strides" in upgrading analytical capabilities, in part by restructuring its intelligence program and expanding its staffing. It said the bureau is expected to meet its hiring goal of 880 new analysts by the end of 2005.

The inspector general's report credited the F.B.I. with streamlining the hiring process but said it still needed to do a better job of establishing and meeting hiring goals.

The report also found that a five-week F.B.I. training course on the basics of intelligence analysis had suffered from poor attendance, frequent changes in the curriculum, and wide-scale dissatisfaction from the several hundred analysts who took it.

That course was replaced last year by a seven-week program. The report said that while the new course seemed generally well-balanced, it remained concerned that the curriculum did not provide enough instruction on assessing and disseminating intelligence.

[sigepuofu]

DI does the selection and assignment part of the process, Staffing takes the input from the QuickHire system, does the initial screen of the candidates, starts the BI process (in conjunction with the BICS unit), and runs through the ajudication processes (along with Security Div) and then sends out the letters. Don't know what the hold up is specifically, but as of last week, they were expecting to have a sit-down to apportion folks from the hiring blitz in February to divisions, so it's coming along.

That's cool. I guess I'm considered a part of the February hiring blitz, even though I'm not going to a specific field office-I'll be at HQ. Interesting.....I guess I'll just have to see what I get done in the way of planning before I get my letter.

[sigepuofu]

DI does the selection and assignment part of the process, Staffing takes the input from the QuickHire system, does the initial screen of the candidates, starts the BI process (in conjunction with the BICS unit), and runs through the ajudication processes (along with Security Div) and then sends out the letters. Don't know what the hold up is specifically, but as of last week, they were expecting to have a sit-down to apportion folks from the hiring blitz in February to divisions, so it's coming along.

Sorry-I hit the button twice.

[GTgrad02]

I am surprised to hear all the hassle you guys/gals are describing. I applied under the FO-2005-0019/0020 announcement. I interviewed 2 weeks ago, and got a call 2 days ago with a conditional offer. I thought things were moving quick for uncle sam! Am I missing the boat, here? I am waiting for word to take my poly/pp test. The HQ lady who called w/ the offer said I could expect to go to Quantico in 2 months. Is she nuts?
Me:
GT grad (2002)
DHS/TSA 3 yrs

[BuMan]

I am surprised to hear all the hassle you guys/gals are describing. I applied under the FO-2005-0019/0020 announcement. I interviewed 2 weeks ago, and got a call 2 days ago with a conditional offer. I thought things were moving quick for uncle sam! Am I missing the boat, here? I am waiting for word to take my poly/pp test. The HQ lady who called w/ the offer said I could expect to go to Quantico in 2 months. Is she nuts?
Me:
GT grad (2002)
DHS/TSA 3 yrs

A little bit. The plan is for IAs to report directly to Quantico starting in December. Testing is expected to be implemented for new hires starting in the fall, but even that's outside the window she gave you.

[GTgrad02]

A little bit. The plan is for IAs to report directly to Quantico starting in December. Testing is expected to be implemented for new hires starting in the fall, but even that's outside the window she gave you.

"Buman"... what does that mean? B.U., maybe? Anyway... Thanks for all your advice. I have read every thread in it's entirety (yikes). I learned a lot. I just called the Senior IA I interviewed w/ in ATL on Wed. She stated that she "hot-filed" my app. My skillset matched HQ's urgent needs... etc. What can I expect out of that? She said that is why I got the CO so fast. Still waiting for the 3Ps, though. I want to PM you a private ? as well... Just waiting patiently... I work for DHS now... CT work. I feel some of these folk's pain... trying to plan for life without really knowing.

SIG... thanks for the exciting news from the "other side."

[BuMan]

"Buman"... what does that mean? B.U., maybe? Anyway... Thanks for all your advice. I have read every thread in it's entirety (yikes). I learned a lot. I just called the Senior IA I interviewed w/ in ATL on Wed. She stated that she "hot-filed" my app. My skillset matched HQ's urgent needs... etc. What can I expect out of that? She said that is why I got the CO so fast. Still waiting for the 3Ps, though. I want to PM you a private ? as well... Just waiting patiently... I work for DHS now... CT work. I feel some of these folk's pain... trying to plan for life without really knowing.

SIG... thanks for the exciting news from the "other side."

Bu, as in Bureau. 14 years in the FBI, 5 1/2 as an IA.

There is, in theory, a process to expedite hiring, but since there is a target of getting a ton of IAs on by Oct 1, it probably won't make that much of a difference in the long run. All IAs who get through the interviews are getting a CO and scheduled for the 3Ps ASAP to get the process going.

[PHU]

"Buman"... what does that mean? B.U., maybe? Anyway... Thanks for all your advice. I have read every thread in it's entirety (yikes). I learned a lot. I just called the Senior IA I interviewed w/ in ATL on Wed. She stated that she "hot-filed" my app. My skillset matched HQ's urgent needs... etc. What can I expect out of that? She said that is why I got the CO so fast. Still waiting for the 3Ps, though. I want to PM you a private ? as well... Just waiting patiently... I work for DHS now... CT work. I feel some of these folk's pain... trying to plan for life without really knowing.

SIG... thanks for the exciting news from the "other side."

Congrats. You must be very excited. I am following the similar path. I was interviewed in April. My BI is in progress. It was started early May i believe or late April. I haven't heard from anyone at all. I do have a time frame. I might have to consider other options.

1. If i received it before Fall begins, i would taking it likely.
2. If during fall, they would need to let me finish out my academic semester. I can leave my students and my own classes mid-way.
3. If it was offered in Spring, i might not take it at all.

or 4. I won't be offered at all. :)

[GTgrad02]

Bu, as in Bureau. 14 years in the FBI, 5 1/2 as an IA.

There is, in theory, a process to expedite hiring, but since there is a target of getting a ton of IAs on by Oct 1, it probably won't make that much of a difference in the long run. All IAs who get through the interviews are getting a CO and scheduled for the 3Ps ASAP to get the process going.


BuMan- Awesome... 14 years. wow. I hope to meet you someday, and gleen more wisdom first-hand.

For all interested: here was my timeline:

3/25 - Application Submitted
5/19 - Called in to interview
5/26 - Interview at local FO (ATL)
6/7 - Phone call from HQ/DC with CO (& permission to start BI)
6/14 - CO letter is printed
6/17 - CO Recieved in mail
6/22 - I called IA @ FO to follow up re: 3Ps (nothing definitive, but encouraging none-the-less)

All the rest is pending.

I think we are all very excited & hopeful for the future. Both for ourselves, the Bureau, and the great things we may do for our country (in silence & secrecy). I know what a challenge it was, to say the least, to "stand up" the new DHS. So many growing pains. Sometimes I liken it to a toddler... we're up and walking now... but we still aren't potty trained yet. I, personally, am grateful for the prospect of doing it all over again with the DI. I know many things will be starkly different (the bureaucracy already exists), however, we will still have tremendous room to innovate (a near extinct species in the federal service). :rambo:

In any case, I've seen many on this blog describe their frustration, etc. Take heart... it's another matter of faith. Be diligent, committed, and focused on the mission laid out before you right now, knowing that soon a great thing will come. :grenade:

[tdstolz]

Dear GTgrad02,

Great post--very encouraging. I am ahead of you in the process, but empathize just the same.

Dear BuMan,

As a follow up to GTgrad02's post (and I believe I have mentioned this elsewhere), I had lunch last Friday with a couple of IA at the Milwaukee FO. I told them of my progress, my uncomplicated background (e.g., no overseas travel, no military experience, no drugs), etc., and they both said I was surely winding down and that I should receive my final offer in a couple of weeks. Anytime in July would be great, frankly! I shall be speaking with my contact at the FO on Monday to see if she can tell me where things stand, what the timetable is, etc. Is this asking too much?

I continue to keep in touch with one of the investigators and he recently told me HQ should have my file by now, and that I should sit tight, be patient and confident. (Easier said than done, of course!) I understand and appreciate that the FBI has a lot going on in its big labyrinth of offices at HQ, and all over for that matter. We would like to begin making some concrete plans, however.

I know I am not alone in asking about this. Thanks, as always, for your advice!

Yours very truly,
Travis

[erichj]

Where do you apply for teh intel analyst positions on the fbijobs web site? Is there a link i am not seeing or must you apply under the professional staff link?

[achefswife]

As far as I know the IA position announcement for the Spring closed. They probably won't be reopening the posting until the fall (new fiscal year... just a guess). You should just keep checking the FBI website.

[darkstar]

Where do you apply for teh intel analyst positions on the fbijobs web site? Is there a link i am not seeing or must you apply under the professional staff link?

there's one public non-status opening for ia... it's for a level 14 supervisory analyst for the culverton, md office... (it's under the professional staff link)...to the best of my knowledge all other public non-status ia positons are closed for the time being... not sure when it's going to open back up, but someone else on the forum might...

[MasterTuner]

Does anyone know if they have been selected for a specific field office or the one of their choice? I wanted the Buffalo FO but was told that they may not have any openings there.

[K9 Police]

Anyone hear anything of any upcoming openings for IA?

K9