Introduction
The FBI IT Specialist and FBI Data Scientist are the two most appealing careers, discovered after research on the internet and consultation with a neighbor who is an IT expert. I relied on Google search alongside other social media sites such as Facebook to acquire firsthand information from IT specialists and data scientists. The two are interesting as they require complex computer skills, which have always intrigued me, and which would be immensely fulfilling.
Career Path 1 (FBI IT Specialist)
The ability of an FBI IT Specialist to work remotely within various fields was appealing. The potential fatigue one was likely to suffer from when handling the duties of this specialist was not appealing.
Job Description
An FBI IT Specialist supports the FBI facilities with the enactment and daily operations of the computers, printers, and other IT devices. They also ensure that these devices are appropriately serviced and maintained to operate at optimum status (FBI Jobs, 2022). They also perform on-site and remote duties, meaning their operations are not limited to one FBI site.
Education/ Training Requirements
An FBI IT Specialist must have a bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited college or university. The bachelor’s degrees allowed include computer science, information science, or any other related field. Particular subjects in which an aspiring specialist must portray prowess include science, mathematics, engineering, and computer studies.
Required Skills
An FBI IT Specialist must be knowledgeable in the workings of various operating systems, software, and programming. They must also possess excellent problem-solving and critical-thinking skills. Additionally, an IT specialist at the FBI must be capable of paying keen attention to details to ensure they notice the slightest of things.
Salary
An IT Specialist earns an average of $93,410 per year, with the amount being subject to changes agreed upon with the employer.
Job Benefits and Job Drawbacks
The main benefits of working as an FBI IT expert include ample health and life insurance, substantial paid time off, a parental sabbatical, and a vacation program. Some notable drawbacks associated with the profession include the long working hours and the tedious nature of the job.
Opportunities for Advancement
The chances for advancement in this field are massive and may require additional training for interested personnel. The advancement would require one to specialize in one particular machine instead all of them (FBI Jobs, 2022). This means additional education within an institution of higher learning to acquire additional knowledge.
Typical Day
A typical day in the life of a person within this line of work begins in the morning or the evening, depending on the shift assigned. Later on, the worker is required to ensure that all the computers, printers, and other IT devices are working optimally. Depending on the state of the machine during the day, these specialists may be required to troubleshoot and identify issues.
Career Path 2 (FBI Data Scientist)
The role of a data scientist was particularly appealing due to the complex mathematical formulas involved, and their familiarity. The displeasing aspect of this job was its ability to interfere with one’s social life due to overindulgence with computers.
Job Description
An FBI Data Scientist engages in the coordination of scientific research and analysis through the use of advanced mathematical methods, statistical skills, and data trends interpretation (FBI, 2022). The work of a data scientist includes the coding of data, intuition of data, wrangling of data, and data visualization.
Education/ Training Requirements
People working as FBI Data Scientists must have attained a Bachelor’s degree from a U.S accredited college or university in mathematics, statistics, and actuarial science. Data scientists within the ranks of the FBI must be proficient in computer and mathematical analysis.
Required Skills
Essential skills that an FBI data scientist must portray include problem-solving abilities alongside critical thinking. They must be creative while also possessing the necessary technical skills such as web scraping, big data, data analysis, and visualization. These skills are vital in the manipulation of raw data to ensure it communicates crucial messages to the bureau.
Salary
An average FBI data scientist earns approximately $136,807 per year, with the amount varying based on various agreements with the employer (Comparably, 2022).
Job Benefits and Job Drawbacks
The life and health insurance for data scientists working for the FBI is comprehensive. The Bureau grants the data scientist paid leaves and provides for vacation. The major drawback of this job is the time spent in front of a computer screen and the possibility of some individuals getting bored in the process.
Opportunities for Advancement
The chances of advancement within this field are massive, even within the FBI working structure. There are possibilities of promotion based on the quality of work produced by the employee which does not necessarily require additional education. One can also venture into private practice, diversifying their streams of income, based on their experience.
Typical Day
The typical day in the work of an FDI data scientist begins with reporting to work, depending on their shift. Thereafter, they are assigned duties by their colleagues on the data which needs analysis. They carry out the responsibilities throughout the day, alongside other data which may arise during the day.
Conclusion
The FBI IT Specialist and the data scientist positions are both lucrative and offer massive opportunities for career advancement, alongside the added benefits. The careers differ in financial gains, with a data scientist earning more than an IT specialist. The most attractive option for me, however, is the IT Specialist position which allows me to interact with many types of machines. The possibility of massive movement between various FBI offices is also a bonus. Later in the future, however, I would like to specialize as a data scientist for the FBI.
Annotated Bibliography
Comparably. (2022).FBI Data Scientist Salary. Comparably. Web.
Comparably (2022) provides a comprehensive breakdown of the salary earned by the data scientist. The information is recent, and update on an annual basis, retaining relevance.
FBI. (2022). DATA SCIENTIST. FBI Jobs. Web.
FBI (2022) offers a description of the job held by a data scientist working for the FBI. The information is directly from the employer and serves to inform the general public about the opportunities available.
FBI Jobs. (2022). IT SPECIALIST. FBI Jobs. Web.
FBI Jobs (2022) is a summary of the position of an IT specialist at the FBI, offering information about educational and professional requirements.