Associated Resume Writers Federal Employment Services

INVESTIGATING INVESTIGATIVE POSITIONS

By Paul Maraschiello

The opportunities for investigative positions are expanding in the Federal services. Investigative positions can be found in the 1800s series. This series contains position such as:

Positions and Series:

Customs Inspector 1890

Customs Patrol Officer 1884

Criminal Investigator 1811

General Investigating 1810

General Inspection, Investigation and Compliance 1801

Air Safety Investigator and other related positions 1815

The other category which must be followed it is Series # 0000 Miscellaneous Not Elsewhere Classified.

This is the category in which you'll find:

Positions Series #

Police 0083

Security Guard 0085

Correction Officer 0007

Fingerprint Identification 0072

and other related positions.

For those of you interested in working for the FBI or CIA, they do their own recruiting and I suggested you contact them directly.

There are investigative positions in many areas of the Government that one would never expect to have these types of jobs. I had a client come in a few months ago who had held a number of investigative positions including being an investigator for the Department of Education. One of my most famous clients was one of the men who did the Hinkely investigation (shooting of President Reagan) for the Secret Service.

COLLECT THE EVIDENCE

When you're preparing your SF-171, 612 or Federal resume, collect all the information about your career and put it down on paper in the logical, well-organized manner. Just because you are police officer, you can't assume that everyone knows what a police officer does. Assume that the person reading your application has just arrived from the moon! Take the time and make the effort too completely enumerated all your duties, responsibilities and accomplishments. List all the training that you have received and all the skills you possess that make you a good investigator.

DON'T SELL YOURSELF SHORT

It's true that law-enforcement agencies would love to hire officers who have an M.S. in Forensic Science, a background as the detective, and an honorable discharge from the Marine Corps. This does not mean that this is the only type of person they will consider. The FBI is interested in people with degrees in accounting and law (they are also actively recruiting women). Recent college graduates with GPA's above 3.5 are in demand in every department and are recruited under the Outstanding Scholar Program. Sometimes there is an age qualification (under 37) for some positions, for other positions there are no limitations. You need to check these things out for yourself. Just because you never went to college, this will not automatically disqualify you. If you don't have any experience, don't assume you don't qualify. Just because you have not served in the military, don't disqualify yourself. You need to thoroughly check into these positions and APPLY, APPLY, APPLY.

The other day, I had a State Trooper come into my office for assistance. He was clean cut, intelligent, and had a good background in law-enforcement and corrections. As usual, his SF -171 was way too brief and he left out all the training he had received from the Department of Corrections. He was concerned that his lack of a Master's degree would really hurt him. I conducted a thorough interview and he had brought in all his records regarding his training and experience. As a result, I was able to develop a really good SF-171 based on what he had done and his written records.

ORIGINAL JOB DESCRIPTION

As a senior correctional officer for the U.S. Federal Bureau of Prison, Federal Correctional Institution at Ft. Despair, Florida, I'm responsible for the supervision of correctional officers and inmates and maximum security facility. I counseled inmates, transported inmates, and perform various administrative duties. I participated in various training programs inserted the leader of the riot prevention squad.

REVISED DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

As a Senior Correctional Officer, I serve in medium and maximum security units, special housing units (segregation), towers, mobile patrol, calm holiday activities, and shake down crews, providing overall supervision of inmates in living, day-use, educational food service, recreational work areas. Supervising up to 128 prisoners and high security housing units. Maintaining certification and proficiency in the use, handling, care and storage of firearms and offensive equipment. Responding to immediate callback for all types of prison emergencies. Enforcing Federal laws and regulations and Federal bureau prison policies relating to inmate custody, security, healthcare, treatment in supervision. Providing for inmate protection, security and accountability. Assuring officer and employee safety. Protecting Government property, resources and facilities. Assuring strict enforcement of the laws, mandatory institution in unit regulations, and departmental policies concerning all aspects of prison operation and security. Preparing written reports, memoranda documenting inmate behavior. Assuring the security of tools, equipment, vehicles, and prison facilities. Performing shakedowns and searches of all inmates, facilities, and areas under my supervision. Discovering contraband, controlled and illegal substances. Serving as a government witnessed before units and institutional committees and legal proceedings. Initiating and maintaining a chain of custody for evidentiary materials. Providing informal inmate counseling, my occurring in directing ongoing individual, unit and institutional programs. Interviewing inmates, investigating crimes, special circumstances, and the thefts and violent actions related to inmate behavior and conduct. Taking immediate and effective action to resolve personal disagreements, hostilities and grievances between inmates, and between inmates and staff. Discovering and investigating unusual occurrences and prison incidents. Managing individual subgroups during educational, recreational and work details. Assisting case managers and correctional counselors in their evaluation of incarcerated individual. Maintaining inventory and control of equipment and materials. Controlling access to keys, tools, equipment, security devices, and defensive equipment. Monitoring and inspecting sensitive areas, coordinating and maintaining security control areas. Completing fire, safety and security inspections. Performing pre-duty inspections of vehicles, accessories, radios, firearms, safety and defensive equipment. Documenting daily activities, functions and special duty actions. Preparing institution in department forms, documents, memoranda, and incident reports. Preparing requisitions, work orders, and request for the acquisition, inventory, and maintenance of supplies, equipment and facilities.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Received excellent evaluations of performance from supervisor. Promoted to supervisory position as a result of demonstrated ability. Graduated from the Federal Bureau of Prisons' training program at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (F.L.E.T.C.). Maintained qualifications rating of maximum proficiency and all practical pistol courses, shotgun, M-1 Carbine and M-14 rifle firearms courses. Submitted reports in a concise timely manner according to establish unit, institutional and departmental policies. Successfully resolved hostilities and grievances among inmates and between inmates and staff. Received commendation for exceptional performance during a prison emergency.

RELATED EXPERIENCE COUNTS

I expanded his experience as a Park Ranger, highlighting all the law-enforcement activities he had been involved with. His original description was very brief.

ORIGINAL DESCRIPTION

As Park Technician a Yellowstone National Parks, I was responsible for law-enforcement, public relations, emergency medical services, search and rescue, fires management, resource management, visitor services and other related activities.

REVISED DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Served as National Park Service, Commissioned Law Enforcement Officer with primary responsibility for boat patrol operations within the Park and Ash River District. Monitored and directed visitors and performed wildlife resource protection activities. Investigated criminal violations and enforced laws and regulations. Issued oral and written warnings and citations. Presented evidence and served as Government witness in criminal trials and proceedings. Ensured proper use, handling, care, and storage of defensive equipment. Coordinated case presentations and prosecution with United States Attorney's Office. Initiated and monitored chain of custody for evidentiary material. Documented activities in written reports and oral communications. Provided initial response and incident command on a wide variety of Park emergencies. Performed, coordinated, and directed response efforts to law-enforcement incidents, boat accidents, personal injuries, fires, and search and rescue operations. Administered emergency medical services as a Certified Advanced First Aid and CPR responder. Instructed and assisted fellow rangers with boat patrol operations. Planned and implemented systematic, individual and team search and rescue operations, directed responding units to the scene, delegated tasks, and supervised action. Maintained and ensured proper acquisition, use, maintenance, and storage of emergency equipment and materials. Planned, directed and implemented Park and District Fire Management Programs. Collaborated with staff members on fire planning supply, suppression, mop-up, report preparation and documentation. Issued burning permits, supervised and enforced restricted fire management process. Operated and maintained fire weather station.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Received excellent evaluations of performance from supervisors. Established cooperation and support with local resorts, concession operators, landowners, groups and individuals. Received certification in Advanced First Aid and CPR. Prepared and installed first fire weather observation station for Park. Aided in the successful control of the Park's bear population. Performed and coordinated the first study of district visitors' use areas, involving the discovery and identification of developed and undeveloped campsites, picnic areas and day use areas. Received U.S. Coast Guard certification for operation of vessels up to 20 tons.

AVAILABLE ASSISTANCE

I will personally evaluate the Federal employment potential of all applicants who send us their SF-171, 612 or resume and provide a free critique of the material. We can provide a full range of services, from developing winning SF-171's, Federal resumes, and answering KSA's, to providing job search assistance, on-line job listings and job announcement, as well as counseling. For select clients we even provide a MONEY BACK GUARANTEE!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Paul Maraschiello is the president of the largest resume writing company in the Washington, D.C. area and specializes in assisting people in finding Federal employment. For years, he wrote the "SF-171 Advisor" column for the Federal Jobs Digest. Associated Resume Writers has its headquarters at 262-M Cedar Lane, Suite 2,Vienna, Virginia 22180. (703) 208-9770.E-Mail jobs@fedjobs.org