Gone are the days of becoming a federal agent because of who you know, and in are the days of what you know.

It used to be that having a family member, friend, or neighbor working as a federal agent was good enough to get you in the door. Although such contacts may help facilitate meeting a recruiter, it no longer is a guarantee of getting a job. In fact, many federal agencies these days, such as the FBI, don’t even let you interview in the city in which you live – they’ll actually fly you across the country to ensure no one is pulling strings on your behalf.

So, what are the best ways to help you get in and succeed? For starters, a drive to work hard and do what’s right. A law enforcement and/or military back ground certainly is a plus. But the biggest thing is the ability to grasp, pick apart, and analyze complex problems, situations, and scenarios. Today’s federal agencies are hiring the best and brightest – the top members of their classes from colleges and universities throughout the country in the following fields:

Finance / Accounting: Most white collar crimes that federal agencies investigate involve financial transactions. Agents with degrees and backgrounds in finance are relied upon to follow money trails that can identify additional suspects and organizations in crimes, and to gather evidence to help prosecutors build cases. The FDIC, Secret Service, and IRS all have a large number of agents investigating financial crimes.

Foreign Languages: Agents from the biggest federal agencies are now stationed in over 100 countries around the world full time. Coupled with the fact that there are millions of citizens and non-citizens in America who speak foreign languages, a knowledge of a foreign language is extremely desirable. ICE, CIA, and DSS are some of the top hiring agencies of foreign language experts.

Information Technology: Today’s criminals are relying on computers and the Internet for everything these days – including committing verious serious crimes. Rogue hackers and organized crime, not to mention sexual predators, all pose a very real and serious threat to American citizens every day. Special agents with a knowledge of computer science, computer engineering, and Internet technologies are becoming as critical today as agents who specialize in solving murders. The FBI, USPIS, DOD, and SSA are just a few of the dozens of agencies that investigate computer crimes.

Medical Studies: Medical fraud, narcotics, and crime scene investigations are all areas of expertise requiring a deep understanding of medicine, chemistry, or biology. Candidates with degree in any of these areas of study are highly sought after for agencies that investigate crimes within the medical world – including the DEA, ATF, and FDA.

Considering an undergraduate or Master’s degree (and good grades) in any of these fields of study are your best shot and getting in and advancing as a federal agent in this day and age.