FBI special agents have specific responsibilities based on their department appointment.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) employs special agents to protect the nation's security by conducting investigations for crimes and enforcing federal laws and regulations. Special agents use experience, skills and knowledge to fight against terrorism, handle counterintelligence issues and crimes in real life and cyber space. Qualified applicants who pass criminal background checks have the skills to enter five career departments: directorate of intelligence, counterintelligence division, counterterrorism division, cyber division and criminal investigative division.
Analytical Skills
A special agent needs to have analytical skills to perform complex investigations and gather evidence. This skill helps the agent recognize and identify what information could be vital as evidence, how this information fits within the investigation and how it can be used to perhaps track down criminals or as court evidence. Every career division requires an agent to have analytical skills to succeed in completing the investigation.
Accounting Skills
A special agent must possess accounting skills for certain investigations such as financial and white-collar crimes. The agent needs CPA certification or possess a four-year degree in accounting to perform evaluations of financial records and bookkeeping reports. With this accounting knowledge, the special agent can determine if corporations or high-level officials have been committing financial crimes such as misappropriation of funds or financial scams.
Language Skills
A special agent possessing language skills is a vital asset to the counterintelligence and counterterrorism divisions of the FBI. With an agent able to read and speak in different languages such as Chinese, Arabic and Hindu, the agent can identify potential national security threats to the United States. The agent can gather the necessary foreign information to detect potential terrorist sleeper cells and dismantle the terrorist financial and weapons support.
Computer Science and Information Technology
A person with a computer science and information technology degree can use computer skills to process data, detect threats and gather evidence through computer systems. In this manner, the special agent can catch online predators who sexually exploit and endanger children for personal and financial profit, according to the FBI. A special agent with computer skills can also detect and stop Internet fraud criminals.
