Careers within the Department of Homeland Security

How to become a part of the team

The Department of Homeland Security is a vital asset to the security and safety of the nation. From deterring terrorism and threats that our communities face to enhancing nation-wide security, the Department of Homeland Security and its personnel stand ready, prepared, and confident at all times. The goal of the department is to provide to the citizens a homeland that is safe, secure, and resilient from any threats to the nation and its people. Although many other departments and agencies share the same ideal and goal — in which the department works heavily with in order to achieve the same shared outcome — the Department of Homeland Security and its multiple divisions and departments stand high and at the forefront of the diminishing of any standing or coming threats and ultimately providing the utmost safety.

“With honor and integrity, we will safeguard the American people, our homeland, and our values.”

We are ecstatic that you are interested in pursuing a career within the Department of Homeland Security and are ready to join the team and made an impact. The Department of Homeland Security invites and employs people of all backgrounds and consist of personnel of whom are talented and dedicated. Department of Homeland Security personnel actively interact with the public, are responsible for the safety and security of the public, and keep watch, prepare for, and respond to any emerging threats. Incoming personnel and those interested in a career within the Department of Homeland Security must have a drive, a passion, and a clear and well understanding of what it takes to successfully achieve the vision listed above.

The Department of Homeland Security has multiple main goals:

• preventing terrorism or any other threats to our communities and enhancing nation-wide security
• securing our communities and our nation from any emerging threats
• safeguarding and securing the American people
• ensuring resilience to emerging threats

Along with the few listed above, all of the personnel within the Department of Homeland Security — including the command and the administration — must put in effort to preserving the efficiency, transparency, accountability and responsibility, and leadership development of the department as a whole.

The Department of Homeland Security administration seek to provide incoming and current personnel with benefits whilst employed within the department. Many of these include training and development, goal-oriented tasks and projects, recognition for service, teamwork and camaraderie, and work aligned with the interest and shared goal of serving and improving the nation.

To begin pursuing a career within the Department of Homeland Security:

Find the Right Job for You

There are multiple departments and divisions with the Department of Homeland Security. Included are the Federal Protective Service and the Secret Service. Selecting the proper department in which you believe you can fully and efficiently implement your ability is imperative to being successful and serving the department and the nation to the best of your ability.

The Department of Homeland Security have the following divisions and branches of which are currently serviced:

Components and Child Departments:

• Homeland Security
• Federal Protective Service
• Secret Service
• Federal Law Enforcement Training Center
• The Office of Intelligence and Analysis

Components and Child Department Divisions:

• Task Force Sinned (serviced within the Homeland Security)
• Special Service Team (serviced within the Homeland Security)
• Protection Investigation Unit (serviced within the Federal Protective Service)

Keep an Eye out for Employment Announcements

Any employment opportunities, whether it be by tryout or by application, will be officially announced by the Department of Homeland Security administration. Employment announcements will contain information regarding eligibility, qualifications, duties, and requirements. Ensure you are able to comply with and that you properly fit the requirements and eligibility before applying.

Applications are not taken lightly and will thoroughly determine if your qualifications and interests make you a good fit for the job. The same process will be carried out for all candidates and job opportunities will not be provided freely. All personnel brought into the department will and must be qualified candidates whose ambitions fit the goals of the entire department-wide enterprise: securing and providing safety to the nation, its communities, and its citizens.

Employment and careers within the Department of Homeland Security as a whole require the following:

• qualification for the job
• United States citizenship
• successful completion of a full background check, investigation, screening, orientation, and induction

Apply or Tryout for the Job

When an official announcement for employment is released, follow the proper instructions and guidance provided by the Department of Homeland Security administration.

If applying through application, you will be required to provide detailed responses to each question and properly follow application format to ensure that the department administration capture your qualifications for the job. You will also be asked to answer a series of questions that determine and assess your skill levels and abilities. Applications will be specifically constructed to break down the applicant and to explore their qualifications and their drive; this further allows the department administration to determine whether or not the candidate is a proper selection to effectively carry out the duties behind their incoming position.

Ensure that your application accurately outlines your skill level and competencies applicable to the position-opportunity announced. Include all of your relevant experiences when applicable, unique skills that set you apart, and other additions that make you uniquely qualified for the job. Answer all questions according to how they are asked and provide full, thorough responses to each answer.

Keep an eye out for application close dates, as all applications delivered after 11:59 PM will be denied until the next cycle of applications. Those who have been approved will receive a letter of approval, informing them of their incoming employment and their requirement to attend orientation.

If applying through tryout, you will be tested in multiple fields that are applicable to the experiences you will face while on duty. Weaponry and vehicles that will be used while in service will be used in tryout to see how the applicant maneuvers with their provided material, their skill levels with the provided material, and if they can efficiently handle and use the material provided to them.

Tryouts will specifically watch the performance and the abilities of the applicants to see if they will be a good addition to the team. If the presented performance was favorable, the applicant will be forwarded to approval and orientation.

Tryouts will not be taken lightly and applicants will be required to perform maturely, present their abilities, and will be required to silently and thoroughly follow the commands of the command in charge.

Sub-divisions, branches, agencies, and child departments, while still having tryouts and applications to employ, may have different after-approval processes.

Attend Orientation or Interviews

The names of qualified candidates will be forwarded to the Secretary and Deputy Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. The best-qualified candidates will be approved and transitioned into employment. After being approved through whichever employment method, orientation and induction is imperative to attend. Not only does it show that you are determined for the job, it allows you to get more information and a further understanding on the tasks you will face when serviced, how to deal with situations, what your specific duties are, how to maneuver through the department, proper protocol and guidelines, and how to advance. Failure to attend orientation, even after being passed through application or tryout, will result in a termination of employment.

If interviewed, expect to be questioned on topics regarding scenarios, leadership and camaraderie, performance and results, decision making and problem solving, communication ability, qualifications, and more. When being interviewed, the hiring official and supervisors will be present and will request your utmost professionalism, maturity, focus, and will require thorough responses. Failure to present yourself in a proper manner will result in termination of employment.

What to Expect Next

After all of the applying, trying out, interviewing, and induction is completed, you will be officially serviced and deployed as a personnel member of the Department of Homeland Security. Upon being serviced, inductions and training will be frequent and require attendance.

Welcome to the Department of Homeland Security!