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Special agent skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical special agent skills. We ranked the top skills for special agents based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 73.4% of special agent resumes contained professional work as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a special agent needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 special agent skills for your resume and career

1. Professional Work

Here's how special agents use professional work:

Developed and maintained professional working relationships still used in Brazil by DEA today.

2. National Security

Here's how special agents use national security:

Conducted sensitive national security investigations involving counter-intelligence and counter-terrorism.
Investigated security-related incidents involving materials vital to national security.

3. Local Law Enforcement

Here's how special agents use local law enforcement:

Coordinated investigative resources from other Federal, state and local law enforcement agencies in furtherance of grand jury indictment and prosecution.
Investigate and provide expertise to local law enforcement organizations investigating accidents and incidents at crossings and other railroad/public points of contact.

4. Search Warrants

Here's how special agents use search warrants:

Developed and maintained confidential sources of information; executed search warrants; confiscated illegal drug supplies; collected and processed evidence.
Completed long term narcotics investigations, secured search warrants and emergency orders, made necessary arrests and filed administrative cases.

5. Law Enforcement Agencies

Here's how special agents use law enforcement agencies:

Collaborated with high-ranking military officials, installation commanders, and heads of local and federal law enforcement agencies and prosecuting attorneys.
Assist other law enforcement agencies by providing information and assisting with narcotic enforcement investigations; arrest subjects for narcotic enforcement violations.

6. Counterintelligence Investigations

Counterintelligence Investigations, abbreviated CI, refer to the investigation conducted to determine the veracity of an allegation. This may include everything from a sabotaged deal to an assassination attempt. Regardless of the allegation, these investigations are conducted by national security agencies and often involve a foreign government or terrorist attack.

Here's how special agents use counterintelligence investigations:

Conducted computer security and counterintelligence investigations where sensitive/classified information was compromised.
Reviewed counterintelligence investigations to ensure investigative sufficiency.

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7. Fraud Investigations

Frаud investigations аrе dеѕіgnеd to еxроѕе frаudulеnt оffеnсеѕ such аѕ іnѕurаnсе аnd credit саrd fraud аnd to рunіѕh thе perpetrator of a frаudulеnt and іllеgаl асt аnd tо соllесt еvіdеnсе to protect the vісtіmѕ іn ԛuеѕtіоn.

Here's how special agents use fraud investigations:

Protected and enhanced financial integrity of programs and operations; successfully conducted contract and grant fraud investigations involving millions of dollars.
Assisted in conducting intricate and delicate criminal/fraud investigations involving senior public officials and multinational corporations having continuing political or media interest.

8. Financial Investigations

Financial Investigations refers to investigations conducted to determine the movement of money within a company or personal bank account. These investigations may be used to determine a number of financial crimes, such as embezzlement, money laundering, tax evasion, corporate theft, and fraud. Financial investigations may also be called forensic accounting.

Here's how special agents use financial investigations:

Investigate cases involving state of North Carolina personnel and collaborate with State of North Carolina Office with criminal and financial investigations.
Conducted complex financial investigations of potential criminal violations of the Internal Revenue Code by combining accounting and law enforcement skills.

9. Evidence Collection

Here's how special agents use evidence collection:

Conducted training in anti-terrorism, ethics, operational security, evidence collection and handling, and other specialized investigative techniques.
Supervised team deployments, proper crime scene documentation, maintained health and safety requirements and evidence collection process.

10. Government Officials

Here's how special agents use government officials:

Investigate public corruption/fraud associated to government contracts/government officials/contractors.
Provided comprehensive security risk/threat analysis and protection services in high threat environments for high level U.S. government officials and employees.

11. Federal Law Enforcement

Here's how special agents use federal law enforcement:

Directed Federal law enforcement investigations into criminal activity and employment suitability; managed executive security protective operations.
Selected and trained as Apprentice Special Agent Course as Criminal Investigator equivalent Federal law enforcement academy.

12. Investigative Reports

Investigative report are used in court to find facts, document certain subjects, to recover important records, or to recover certain file forms.

Here's how special agents use investigative reports:

Reviewed criminal and counterintelligence investigative reports ensuring investigative sufficiency.
Produced investigative reports documenting investigative results.

13. Grand Jury

Here's how special agents use grand jury:

Conducted and developed numerous Administrative and Grand Jury investigations resulting in the recommendation of prosecution of various criminal statutes.
Provided court and grand jury testimony, resulting in supplying critical evidence for multiple subsequent criminal convictions.

14. Investigative Techniques

Here's how special agents use investigative techniques:

Conducted criminal investigations utilizing sophisticated investigative techniques.
Analyzed and evaluated information to determine key issues such as investigative techniques and resources required in order to complete thorough investigations.

15. Firearms

A firearm is a type of weapon or device used by police, uniformed personnel or other related professional for security and protection purposes. This lethal and destructive weapon can often shoot bullet or missiles. A firearm usually consists of a chamber or barrel, frame body, breech bolt, and a magazine.

Here's how special agents use firearms:

Conducted and participated in sensitive and significant investigations of individuals and organizations involved in violation Federal firearms and narcotics violations.
Demonstrated proficiency in the conduct and documentation of investigations, legal and compliance matters, firearms and emergency vehicle operations.

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What skills help Special Agents find jobs?

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List of special agent skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for a special agent resume and required skills for a special agent to have include:

Professional Work
National Security
Local Law Enforcement
Search Warrants
Law Enforcement Agencies
Counterintelligence Investigations
Fraud Investigations
Financial Investigations
Evidence Collection
Government Officials
Federal Law Enforcement
Investigative Reports
Grand Jury
Investigative Techniques
Firearms
Federal Agencies

DOD
Subpoenas
DEA
Government Agencies
Background Investigations
Crime Scenes
Criminal Cases
US Army
Physical Evidence
Local Agencies
CIA
Financial Crimes
Vulnerability Assessments
Threat Assessments
Physical Security
Administrative Investigations

Federal Bureau
Surveillance Operations
ATF
Bank Fraud
Afosi
CID
Federal Courts
USAF
Court Proceedings
Sexual Assault
Violent Crimes
Arrest Warrants
Mobile Phones
IRS
Enforcement Administration
HUMINT

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

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