How to Join Homeland Security

Keeping airports and airplanes safe is part of the Transportation Security Administration's duties.

The stated mission of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is to secure the United States and to preserve the freedom of its citizens. If these are goals you are also interested in accomplishing, then you should join one of the many DHS agencies.



The DHS agencies cover four main areas: counterterrorism; preparedness, response and recovery, and immigration and border security. Some of its more well-known agencies include the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and the Secret Service, to name just a few. Learn here how to go about joining the DHS.

Instructions

1. Explore the Homeland Security website, which has lots of tools that can help you obtain a position with the Department of Homeland Security.

2. Research the different agencies that are under the governance of the DHS. Decide which ones will best suit your qualifications, abilities and interests. For instance, if you are interested in protecting the president, apply to the Secret Service. On the other hand, if you are interested in becoming an air marshal, apply to the TSA.

3. Find available jobs on the DHS Web site by first clicking on "Find Career Opportunities" on the home page. On the next page, click on "Find a Job." This will bring you to a page where you can look for positions by clicking on "Jobs by Skill," or "Jobs by Component" or "Jobs by State."

4. Check the job announcements on a regular, if not daily, basis to see if openings become available in the field or department in which you are interested.

5. Read over and edit your resume to highlight the skills and education that you have that will make you a more desirable candidate for the Homeland Security position you are seeking.

6. Apply for a position in the DHS. When you click on a job title that you are interested in on the DHS website, there will be a "How to Apply" tab. Click on the tab, and follow the step-by-step directions on how to apply for that position.

7. Search for DHS jobs in your local newspaper classifieds or its online classified version. Some DHS positions are advertised in the local newspapers in communities where the jobs are located.

8. Prepare for an interview by researching and learning as much about an agency and the position you are hoping to get as possible. Interviewers prefer candidates who seem to be truly interested in working for their agencies.

9. Follow up an interview with a thank you call or e-mail. Let the interviewer know that you are genuinely interested in this position with the DHS.

Tips & Warnings

• You must be a citizen of the United States and successfully pass a background check and drug screening to work for the DHS.

References

• Homeland Security
• Homeland Security: Career Opportunities

Resources

• Homeland Security: Job Finder