Sacramento State students with limited leadership positions, language skills or who download content off the Internet may not be eligible for the FBI’s recruitment standards.

On Monday, Sac State’s Career Center welcomed the FBI for an informational on its paid internship program where applications are now being accepted. One of the highly discussed topics in the presentation was the list of potential traits that disqualify applicants.

This list included failure to register with selective services, illegal drug use including steroids, criminal activity, default on student loans, falsifying information on an application and illegal downloading music, movies and books.

FBI employee Steve Dupre received questions ranging from the use of cell phone apps to download free music , to Spotify and other means of retrieving music.

“If you’re doing that, stop doing it.” Dupree said.

He explained how the FBI will ask people during interviews how many songs, movies and books they have downloaded because the FBI considers it to be stealing.

During the first two phases of interviews, everything is recorded and then turned into a report. This report is then passed along to a polygraph technician to be used during the applicant’s exam, which consists of a 55-page questionnaire. If an applicant is caught lying, they can no longer apply for an FBI agent position.

“If you are accepted to intern at FBI and fail the polygraph you can no longer apply to FBI again.” Dupre said.

Dupre listed law, accounting, computer science, engineering and languages as the types of leadership positions and majors that are specifically sought out for.

“Grades are not an end all but get a 3.0 and get involved in campus. Hold a position in a club, community service, and be careful with your social media,” Dupre said.

These are the leadership skills that distinguish an applicant from most competitive to least. Students must also demonstrate experience in oral and written communication, initiative and motivation, adaptability and flexibility, and organizing, planning and prioritizing.

Dupre ended the presentation by mentioning how two Sac State students, whose identities could not be released, were recently hired into the program. One was a psychology major and the other government.

Although it is a long process into the FBI, Dupre encouraged students to apply to the internship program and start changing their actions now so it can benefit them in the future.

To apply to the FBI internship program visit www.fbi.gov or for more information contact Steve Dupre at [email protected]. Applications are available the first few weeks of October.