Federal agencies look to recruit students.
The UTSA University Career Center is hosting Federal Week, a federal agency recruiting event featuring speakers from agencies including the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services, the U.S. Department of State, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Air Force Civilian Service from Nov. 6 through Nov. 9.
All of the recruiting events are hosted in the University Career Center conference room (UCC 2.02.04) on the second floor of the University Center. Students are required to register online via Handshake (utsa.joinhandshake.com) to attend the events.
The week-long recruiting seminar began Monday, Nov. 6 with a recruiting specialist from the DEA, spoke to students at the University Career Center. On Tuesday afternoon, a speaker from Fish and Wildlife Services will speak at 1:30 p.m., a representative from the Department of State will speak at 5:00 p.m. Wednesday, and an information session from the FBI will be held at 5:00 p.m. Federal Week concludes with an information session from Air Force Civilian Careers at 5:00 p.m.
Representatives from DEA said under ideal circumstances the agency will hire 200 new agents in a year. The agency looks for students in any major, and candidates with advanced degrees are eligible for hire at a higher pay grade.
The U.S. Department of State currently offers two student oriented programs: an unpaid U.S. Department of State Student Internship Program and a paid program called the Pathways Program.
Michelle Lee, an FBI media coordinator speaking about the UTSA FBI partnership, said students can expect to hear about a day in the life of an FBI Special Agent and what the requirements to become an FBI Special Agent are.
“The FBI looks for mature, responsible candidates who possess exemplary communications skills and can demonstrate proven success in problem solving and leadership,” Lee said.
Additionally, Lee said the FBI looks for candidates with degrees in cybersecurity, chemistry and biology, law, finance and accounting.
Lee said that the FBI requires at least an undergraduate or bachelor’s degree from an accredited university but that FBI considers candidates with advanced degrees like a J.D./Law degree, a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license or a master’s of science even more competitively.
Candidates are encouraged to have professional work experience, and the FBI looks for Veterans, individuals with foreign language competency, pilots and individuals with other specialized skills and certificates.
“Work at the FBI can be challenging but is incredibly rewarding. It is a career where you can serve your community and your country in a very meaningful way,” Lee said.
