The FBI Career Guide: Inside Information on Getting Chosen for and Succeeding in One of the Toughest, Most Prestigious Jobs in the World

by Joseph W. Koletar

The FBI Career Guide spells out exactly what the Bureau is looking for in Special Agent candidates, and how to maximize your chances of being selected from the huge applicant pool. In the three years following the September 11th, 2001 terrorist attacks, the Federal Bureau of Investigation hired 2,200 new Special Agents. However, there were more than 150,000 applicants, and you can be sure the successful candidates had not only relevant backgrounds, but also determination and a genuine desire to embark on one of the most coveted, rewarding, and challenging careers in the world. Joe Koletar, whose own blue-ribbon career at the Bureau is second to none, shows how to get the job-and how to thrive once you've got it. In The FBI Career Guide , Koletar’s inside look at the real FBI reveals: This book also reveals the common mistakes applicants make, and shows how to avoid them while also giving you detailed information on excelling in the Agent Training Program. Finally, Koletar offers profiles of real agents who have gone on to successful post-FBI careers, and will help you lay the groundwork for a rewarding life after the Bureau. Above all, The FBI Career Guide will help you find out if you've got what it takes to succeed -- and if you do, how to show it.

Genres: Nonfiction, Crime

224 pages, Paperback

First published September 5, 2006

Reviews

[Daryea Satterfield · Rating 4 out of 5]

Offers some very insightful information for those seeking to become an FBI agent or just want more information on the FBI in general. I learned a lot of useful information from this book.

[Richard Becker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Joseph W. Koletar’s “The FBI Career Guide: Inside Information on Getting Chosen for and Succeeding in One of the Toughest, Most Prestigious Jobs in the World,” remains a compelling resource for those aspiring to understand the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and life of a special agent.

While book is approaching its 20th anniversary, it continues to offer a vivid and accessible snapshot of the FBI’s inner workings, detailing the path to becoming a special agent, the realities of the job, and its profound impact on one’s personal and professional life. Koletar, a former FBI special agent with a career that spanned decades captured the enduring spirit of Bureau that transcends any procedural or technological aspects of the job.

Originally written to demystify the process of joining and thriving in the FBI, the concise guide packs plenty of information into 240 pages. It is organized into clear sections: the path to become a special agent, life as special agent, the personal and professional impact of the job, and the values and ethos of the department.

One of the book’s greatest strengths is its detailed breakdown of the FBI’s selection process. Koletar walks readers through the qualifications, application requirements, physical fitness expectations, background checks, polygraph tests, and interviews. He emphasizes the FBI’s high standards, noting that only about 1 in 20 applicants is accepted. He also provides a vivid description of the FBI Academy at Quantico, Virginia, where new agents undergo 17 weeks of intensive training.

While The FBI Career Guide is a strong resource, it is not without limitations. The most obvious is its age. Published in 2006, the book reflects the FBI’s operations and priorities in the post-9/11 era, with a heavy focus on counterterrorism. Since then, the FBI has adapted to new challenges, such as the rise of cybercrime, artificial intelligence, and global disinformation campaigns. For example, the FBI’s use of digital forensics and data analytics has grown significantly, and the application process now includes online components that were not prevalent when the book was published. But for me, given I was mostly interested in the Bureau’s historic footprint, was perfect, even if specific case studies were absent.

[mia! · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was extremely detailed, and it entails literally everything that you need to know. The beginning is a bit boring, but once you get past the few chapters of just basic knowledge and numbers and get into the good parts like career paths, and trainings, it is incredibly interesting. I 100% recommend for someone like me that plans to have a career in the bureau. Only bad thing is it is a bit outdated, since it was published in 2009.

[Sashi · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book contains almost everything one could hope for from reading career guide. The contents include application process, interviews, life as fbi agent and also the pay scale along with the grades. Overall a good read

[Savanah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was good, it got repetitive, almost like it had too much information in it. I do find that this book was helpful to see a perspective of the life of a agent and how your life will look after. Overall the book was well written and useful.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good info

[Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

Informative, but it was interesting to see what they chose not to talk about. I understand why, it was just interesting. I learned about the FBI, their duties, ops, their pay grades, promotions and opportunities. I also found out that there is a training facility in Budapest! Very interesting, I'd like that outpost.

[Mauri · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent resource, very up to date. A good overview for someone who's interested in joining the bureau, but doesn't want to get into all the sticky details just yet.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

//