Career change? Any CBP people here?

[earthquake]

I've worked for the federal government pretty much my whole life. I am now one of the furloughed employees and am getting tired of all this. Before all the furlough and sequestration crap, I was getting bored anyway, and this was the last straw so to speak. I'm thinking career change and have been for some time. I've been looking at CBP (Customs and Border Protection) as a new career, and am wondering if there are any CBP agents on here that could answer any questions I have. I'm mainly considering a job in some kind of law enforcement or security, CBP, FBI, SS, CIA or.....? I don't really want to be a police officer though.

I know all the agencies I've mentioned are still with the Fed, but they've usually been excepted from furloughs etc. I'm kind of in a now-or-never situation as it seems I'm just below the age cut off for most of these careers (39). I don't mind moving out of state either. Has anyone here done something similar? I have an advanced degree, in science, but no law enforcement experience, just a military background.

Kind of just thinking out loud here and trying to figure out if this is something I should or could pursue. Thanks.

 

[woojos]

I'm a contractor, or was as I just quit to go back to school to hopefully finish a PhD, and I feel your pain. Everybody is hurting from this and it scares me how dependent a lot of people are on the government teat. I still am and hopefully they will fund the rest of my research given that I took about a 75% pay cut to do it.

What's your degree in? Have you looked in the private sector at all?

The one thing I've noticed about government employees and contractors, is that they are hesitant to make the jump to the private sector, and it tends to get harder with age. The ones that do, don't usually come back unless it's to live in a certain area.

If it came down to it, would you really want to live near DC given traffic and cost of living?

 

[nic_bravo_whiskey]

I was going for Border Patrol. I passed all my tests, but my credit wasn't up to par. I think at 39, you are too old to apply. You can get in at 39, but you will be past the cutoff age by the time you get hired and get through the academy in Artesia, NM. This process can take years. The time to join was back in 2006.

 

[Graham]

Career change? Any CBP people here?

Could you be more specific as to KSAs and agencies:

CI/HUD is nowhere near CI/SS, and there are more than a few planets, never mind different worlds, between CBP and CIA. By 'no police officer jobs' do you mean no non-LE jobs, or just no uniformed police and security positions?

If you about to age-out, start writing the tests and getting on the eligibility lists ASAP.

Language fluency is also a good thing, for the better jobs anyway.

 

[LanceS4803]

Where are you getting the 39 yoa cut off? AFAIK it is still 37, although there have been a couple of court cases where people have won the right to get hired at 39. You might want to check specific agency rules.
You want to be looking for Series 1811 jobs, and there are dozens of agencies that have them.
I've been a Fed LEO for 19 years now, and not everyone is exempt from furloughs. Quite a few agencies got caught having to take a day a week off during sequestration. And our agents at HQ are now furloughed. We will be required to work on Columbus Day.
The big thing is having the degree and an "in" with an agency. Off the street hiring is getting harder and harder.
As woojos mentioned, private sector is an option. You certainly make more money, but the job security just isn't there.

 

[nic_bravo_whiskey]

You certainly make more money, but the job security just isn't there.

Probably not the best time to be talking about job security when you work for the federal government. Lol.

 

[LanceS4803]

Probably not the best time to be talking about job security when you work for the federal government. Lol.

I admit, it was a factor in my decision of what direction to go in. I am thankful for the decision I made.
There is a HUGE market for retired Feds in the government contracting business. Some of these guys are starting at 6 figures.

 

[Graham]

There is a HUGE market for retired Feds in the government contracting business. Some of these guys are starting at 6 figures.

If you were GS 11 or above, and know people, and have the right experience from the right agency, then yes, subject to mobility, a dearth of benefits and employment at will.




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[Jared91]

Dunno if this applies or not, but I have a friend who is border patrol, and is currently furloughed

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[ArcticLight]

I got laid off this time last year and in a panic (Gov wasn't hiring either) I put my hobby to use doing aerial photography, established the business, waiting on FAA permit - of which none have been issued.

That said as soon as customers started ringing my phone the Gov contractor hired me F/T so time is short.

Career changes are scary but good, been through a couple of those in the past few years. Used to be a regular computer guy, then a mainframe guy.

Now I do IT security, boring, lot of paperwork, but that 10% when it's exciting, it's exciting!

 

[Flying Goose]

As said above the cut of for FLE is 37 but if it works the same as primary fire your military service will back that a few years ie active duty 4 years, 37+4= 41 years old. Sorry for the math lesson just wasn't sure if my words were clear.

 

[Graham]

Working for the government is like being taken care of by your parents, except that the parent is the institution.

Living by the seat of your pants, once you get used to it, is actually a lot of fun.




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[ArcticLight]

Career change? Any CBP people here?

Working for the government is like being taken care of by your parents, except that the parent is the institution.

Living by the seat of your pants, once you get used to it, is actually a lot of fun.




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Amen to that. I'm hoping to get my aerial photography business moving along once the economy picks up and people actually start selling and buying houses.
Right now everybody thinks my little RC Quadra copter should give them free photos. $3000 invested in this thing!
Every time it goes in the air technically costs money.


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