IA concerns & questions

[thewaiter]

Wow, I am glad to have found this site. I have so many IA concerns and questions. Not sure who to ask. I have heard/read positive and negative opinions about the position.

1. It does not give the promoting opportunies within the Bureau.
2. IAs dont receive as much respect within the Bureau.
3. Low pay, etc.

A. Are those correct?

B. Also, what is after the background investigation?

C. Will i have to go through other tests?

D. Can i request a salary? What are my chances?

E. In addition, I have heard that the training takes 7 weeks. What areas will be be trained in? Will we be armed? Do you get paid at our regular salary during the training weeks?

F. Is it true that if you started at GS-09, you would be promoted to GS 11 after one year given 3 years of experience? How long would it take to be GS 12, 13, etc.

I just want to make sure that what i am leaving behind is worth it.

Thanks for your responses.

[eff-bee-eye]

Welcome to the board. There are a few of us current IA's on here, but I would recommend you do a search of previous threads which will answer most of your questions...and then come back and ask fewer, more specific questions at a time.

Also, don't post the same stuff in different threads. You will get more than enough responses with just posting in one.

[forms]

1. It does not give the promoting opportunies within the Bureau.
2. IAs dont receive as much respect within the Bureau.
3. Low pay, etc.


I'm not qualified to answer most of your questions, but I do have a comment for #2. What do you care if IA's in general 'receive respect' or not? It only matters about you. If you do a job and conduct yourself in a manner that earns respect you will be respected. Respect is earned on an individual basis.

I have had some lowly jobs in my life, but I've always been respected for the most part. A position alone can't give you respect; heck, look how many people have no respect for the POUS. Do a good job and be a decent reliable pleasant person and most people will respect you; no matter how wonderful you are or what position you hold, some people won't <shrug>.

It seems to me a person brings respect to the job, not a job brings respect to a person.

[thewaiter]

Thanks for the response Forms. I completely agree with you; respect has to be earned and not given. But i think you misunderstood me. Personally, I want to join the FBI because i want to do what i believe in (that's the law) and, more importantly, face difficult/challenging tasks . Due to all the respect, I dont' want help people make coffee, file, or make copies. If i wanted a job like that, i would apply in another capacity - not as an IA. So when i meant respect, i meant in terms of giving difficult tasks - not the other. In addition, i believe in quality and not quantity. If i was assigned something, and I am not particually happy with, i would still do my best and submit with quality.

Last but not least, i dont' want an office job that people come in to chat, get online, purposedly try to stay till 5 and go home - and collect their pay check at the end of the week. Thats simply wrong.

[TheGreatGonzo]

Per the Board Rules:

4. Ask One Question at a Time

Resist the temptation to ask multiple questions in the same post, especially if the questions are unrelated or only loosely related. Multiple questions lead to responses that are time-consuming and difficult for readers to follow. For example, now and then someone posts a thread that goes something like this: "I am a college student writing a paper about the FBI. Please tell me about the functions of the agency, their mission, their history, their authority, and how I can become a Special Agent. By the way, what gun do they carry? Where can I get information about FBI agents killed in the line of duty? Does the FBI pay well?" You get the idea.


Try posting your questions in a couple of different threads. Much easier that way and is also in accordance with the board rules.
Thanks,
Gonzo