u/1811_Scientist

I would like to receive some advice about how I should structure my career and future to have the best possible chance of being selected as a federal agent.

My main goal is to work for either the FBI or HSI. I am particularly interested in the investigative aspect and the mission of both agencies. I have ethical hacking/penetration testing experience (as a hobbyist), and I think I would be a good fit for either agency as an investigator. I am also relatively fit (running/lifting weights 4x a week), and I am confident I would pass the requisite physical tests. I also have a clean background (no arrests, minimal debt, etc.). I do have a few foreign contacts due to my work as a researcher/PhD student, but that is really the main thing I think could be an issue (not romantic or financial relationships, professional only).

Here is my background:

25-year-old male

Education:
Master's in CS (Should finish in a few months)
Master's in Chemistry (Should finish next May/June)

Bachelor's in Chemistry, 3.78 GPA
Bachelor's in CS
Bachelor's in Foreign Languages (German), 3.78 GPA

Security+ CE
CySA+ (In progress)

Experience:

PhD student (Full-time researcher in an organic synthesis lab/teaching assistant) (1 year in progress)
Chemist (Full-time, 8 months; part-time, 1 year)
Bartender (4 years part-time)

Here are my main questions:

1. Do you think I would be a reasonably competitive applicant for HSI, either for their GS-7 or GS-9 posting? I wanted to apply to the open GS-9 position, but I do not have the qualifying experience or the finished master's degree yet.
2. Do you think I should consider joining the military to bolster my odds of being selected? If so, I would probably join as an officer and do everything in my power to get an intelligence/cyber role. I am open to going down this route, but if I already have a decent chance of being selected, I would like to try that first and see if the opportunity would be available to me.
3. For the FBI specifically, I am assuming they would not count my experience as a full-time research assistant/PhD student as professional experience. To be clear, it is essentially a full-time job where I work in a lab and teach laboratory classes, but I understand that it is probably not what they are looking for.
4. What other opportunities should I consider to increase my odds of being selected if I choose not to go into the military?

Thank you any advice you may be able to give me. I sincerely appreciate it.

I would like to receive some advice about how I should structure my career and future to have the best possible chance of being selected as a federal agent.

My main goal is to work for either the FBI or HSI. I am particularly interested in the investigative aspect and the mission of both agencies. I have ethical hacking/penetration testing experience (as a hobbyist), and I think I would be a good fit for either agency as an investigator. I am also relatively fit (running/lifting weights 4x a week), and I am confident I would pass the requisite physical tests. I also have a clean background (no arrests, minimal debt, etc.). I do have a few foreign contacts due to my work as a researcher/PhD student, but that is really the main thing I think could be an issue (not romantic or financial relationships, professional only).

Here is my background:

25-year-old male

Education:
Master's in CS (Should finish in a few months)
Master's in Chemistry (Should finish next May/June)

Bachelor's in Chemistry, 3.78 GPA
Bachelor's in CS
Bachelor's in Foreign Languages (German), 3.78 GPA

Security+ CE
CySA+ (In progress)

Experience:

PhD student (Full-time researcher in an organic synthesis lab/teaching assistant) (1 year in progress)
Chemist (Full-time, 8 months; part-time, 1 year)
Bartender (4 years part-time)

Here are my main questions:

1. Do you think I would be a reasonably competitive applicant for HSI, either for their GS-7 or GS-9 posting? I wanted to apply to the open GS-9 position, but I do not have the qualifying experience or the finished master's degree yet.
2. Do you think I should consider joining the military to bolster my odds of being selected? If so, I would probably join as an officer and do everything in my power to get an intelligence/cyber role. I am open to going down this route, but if I already have a decent chance of being selected, I would like to try that first and see if the opportunity would be available to me.
3. For the FBI specifically, I am assuming they would not count my experience as a full-time research assistant/PhD student as professional experience. To be clear, it is essentially a full-time job where I work in a lab and teach laboratory classes, but I understand that it is probably not what they are looking for.
4. What other opportunities should I consider to increase my odds of being selected if I choose not to go into the military?

Thank you any advice you may be able to give me. I sincerely appreciate it.