FBI recruiter Joshua Harvey, left, of the Birmingham field office talks about the wide variety of jobs available within the agency, as well as student opportunities and the benefits that come from working for the federal government, during an information session about the FBI Honors Internship Program on the campus of The University of Alabama in Huntsville on Feb. 20, 2024. Current interns, left to right, Sam Emory, Kaylea Focia, Kate Gunn and Jacqueline Mullins share their experiences and answer questions from UAH students.
Michael Mercier | UAH
Students at The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) learned about FBI career opportunities and how to apply for them during an information session on Feb. 20 about the 2025 FBI Honors Internship Program. One of the biggest takeaways: No matter what your major, the agency can use your skills.
“Every degree program offered by UAH provides students with competencies that the FBI is looking for within their workforce,” said Stacie Bohanan. “Students at all year levels are welcome to apply, and they must be a current, full-time student in one of our undergraduate, graduate or post-doctoral degree programs.”
FBI Honors Internships run for ten weeks during the summer. Afterward, interns can choose to continue with the program and work 16 hours per month until next year’s cycle. The application period for summer 2025 closes on Wednesday, March 6, 2024. More information is available on their website www.FBIJobs.gov.
Bohanan partnered with the FBI Birmingham recruitment team to organize the session at the UAH Invention to Innovation Center. UAH is a part of The University of Alabama System.
She spoke from direct job experience. She took an early retirement from the FBI before joining UAH. Now she helps UAH students exploring career paths within the agency. She’s also a principal research scientist III at the UAH Research Institute.
“The collaborative relationship between UAH and the FBI is invaluable for both our organizations,” Bohanan said. “The FBI has the opportunity to identify and recruit future talent to support their workforce development strategy, and our students gain valuable insights into potential careers with the FBI.”
The information session featured FBI recruiters Felisia Jackson and Joshua Harvey of the Birmingham team. They described some of the numerous special agent and professional support positions available within the agency, as well as student opportunities and the benefits that come from working for the federal government.
“You can be who you want to be at the FBI,” Jackson said. “We have more than 800 jobs with so many different life experiences.”
New FBI recruits don’t have to know their long-term career plan as new employees. All employees have the ability to explore different positions as they gain knowledge and experience with the agency. Bohanan said it took her a few years at the FBI to figure out her ultimate career path, and she went back to school and earned a master’s degree to support it.
In addition to the internship information, Harvey shared interview and resume tips, including the fact that a federal government resume template is readily available on their website, along with more information like the core competencies the FBI looks for in its applicants.
He emphasized these key points:
- Be truthful in all documents.
- Write a great summary statement. (“Make sure to brag on yourself,” he said.)
- Mention any foreign language proficiency and/or coding ability.
- Include all relevant classes.
- Volunteer experience and community service look good.
Unlike the automated screening process used by many employers, a real human being reviews all FBI applications, he said. The application and approval process takes more than a year to complete.
Harvey also pointed out that internships are as important to the agency as they are to the students.
“There is no job in the FBI that you can do by yourself,” he said. “You come in as a valuable part of the team, and interns are part of the team.”
UAH students heard more about the internship experience during a panel discussion with FBI interns from other schools.
Intern Kate Gunn, a journalism major, highlighted the FBI’s need for good people skills and communication skills, adding, “Don’t discount any skills you have.”
