Customs & Border Protection Officers

Investigate and inspect persons, common carriers, goods, and merchandise, arriving in or departing from the United States or between states to detect violations of immigration and customs laws and regulations.

On the job, you would:

Determine duty and taxes to be paid on goods.
Examine immigration applications, visas, and passports and interview persons to determine eligibility for admission, residence, and travel in the U.S.
Detain persons found to be in violation of customs or immigration laws and arrange for legal action, such as deportation.

Personality

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Characteristics of this Career
		97%	Integrity - Job requires being honest and ethical.
		88%	Self-Control - Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
		84%	Dependability - Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
		84%	Stress Tolerance - Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations.
		81%	Adaptability/Flexibility - Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
		80%	Attention to Detail - Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
		72%	Cooperation - Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
		71%	Analytical Thinking - Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
		70%	Persistence - Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
		65%	Concern for Others - Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
		65%	Independence - Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
		64%	Achievement/Effort - Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
		64%	Initiative - Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
		63%	Social Orientation - Job requires preferring to work with others rather than alone, and being personally connected with others on the job.
		61%	Leadership - Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Strengths
		89%	Conventional - Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or human resources.
		72%	Enterprising - Work involves managing, negotiating, marketing, or selling, typically in a business setting, or leading or advising people in political and legal situations. Enterprising occupations are often associated with business initiatives, sales, marketing/advertising, finance, management/administration, professional advising, public speaking, politics, or law.
		61%	Realistic - Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, transportation, machine operation, agriculture, animal services, physical or manual labor, athletics, or protective services.

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Values of the Work Environment
		78%	Support - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
		70%	Working Conditions - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.

Aptitude

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Abilities \| Cognitive, Physical, Personality
		75%	Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
		75%	Inductive Reasoning - The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
		75%	Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
		75%	Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
		75%	Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
		72%	Speech Clarity - The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
		72%	Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
		72%	Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
		69%	Speech Recognition - The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
		66%	Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
		60%	Information Ordering - The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
		60%	Flexibility of Closure - The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.
		56%	Far Vision - The ability to see details at a distance.
		56%	Selective Attention - The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
		56%	Perceptual Speed - The ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Skills \| Cognitive, Physical, Personality
		57%	Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
		57%	Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
		55%	Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
		55%	Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
		54%	Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
		54%	Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Job Details

Responsibilities

Interview people to obtain information about actions or status of individuals.

Examine personal documentation to ensure that it is valid.

Detain suspects or witnesses.

Locate suspicious objects or vehicles.

Confiscate prohibited or dangerous items.

Inform others about laws or regulations.

Inspect cargo to identify potential hazards.

Maintain operational records.

Investigate illegal or suspicious activities.

Collaborate with law enforcement or security agencies to share information.

Testify at legal or legislative proceedings.

Calculate tax information.

Obtain property information.

Investigate legal issues.

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Attributes & Percentage of Time Spent
		100%	Electronic Mail - How often do you use electronic mail in this job?
		96%	Contact With Others - How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?
		95%	Deal With External Customers - How important is it to work with external customers or the public in this job?
		93%	Indoors, Environmentally Controlled - How often does this job require working indoors in environmentally controlled conditions?
		93%	Telephone - How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
		91%	Frequency of Decision Making - How frequently is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization?
		91%	Face-to-Face Discussions - How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job?
		90%	Work With Work Group or Team - How important is it to work with others in a group or team in this job?
		89%	Importance of Being Exact or Accurate - How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job?
		89%	Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results - What results do your decisions usually have on other people or the image or reputation or financial resources of your employer?
		83%	Deal With Unpleasant or Angry People - How frequently does the worker have to deal with unpleasant, angry, or discourteous individuals as part of the job requirements?
		83%	Sounds, Noise Levels Are Distracting or Uncomfortable - How often does this job require working exposed to sounds and noise levels that are distracting or uncomfortable?
		81%	Consequence of Error - How serious would the result usually be if the worker made a mistake that was not readily correctable?
		80%	Freedom to Make Decisions - How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer?
		80%	Physical Proximity - To what extent does this job require the worker to perform job tasks in close physical proximity to other people?
		78%	Importance of Repeating Same Tasks - How important is repeating the same physical activities (e.g., key entry) or mental activities (e.g., checking entries in a ledger) over and over, without stopping, to performing this job?
		77%	Exposed to Contaminants - How often does this job require working exposed to contaminants (such as pollutants, gases, dust or odors)?
		75%	Outdoors, Exposed to Weather - How often does this job require working outdoors, exposed to all weather conditions?
		74%	Coordinate or Lead Others - How important is it to coordinate or lead others in accomplishing work activities in this job?
		73%	Structured versus Unstructured Work - To what extent is this job structured for the worker, rather than allowing the worker to determine tasks, priorities, and goals?
		72%	Time Pressure - How often does this job require the worker to meet strict deadlines?
		71%	Frequency of Conflict Situations - How often are there conflict situations the employee has to face in this job?
		68%	Extremely Bright or Inadequate Lighting - How often does this job require working in extremely bright or inadequate lighting conditions?
		67%	Very Hot or Cold Temperatures - How often does this job require working in very hot (above 90 F degrees) or very cold (below 32 F degrees) temperatures?
		66%	Letters and Memos - How often does the job require written letters and memos?
		65%	Exposed to Hazardous Equipment - How often does this job require exposure to hazardous equipment?
		64%	Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions - How much does this job require making repetitive motions?
		63%	Exposed to Disease or Infections - How often does this job require exposure to disease/infections?
		63%	Level of Competition - To what extent does this job require the worker to compete or to be aware of competitive pressures?
		63%	Responsible for Others' Health and Safety - How much responsibility is there for the health and safety of others in this job?
		62%	Exposed to Radiation - How often does this job require exposure to radiation?
		61%	Indoors, Not Environmentally Controlled - How often does this job require working indoors in non-controlled environmental conditions (e.g., warehouse without heat)?
		61%	Outdoors, Under Cover - How often does this job require working outdoors, under cover (e.g., structure with roof but no walls)?
		60%	In an Enclosed Vehicle or Equipment - How often does this job require working in a closed vehicle or equipment (e.g., car)?
		58%	Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls - How much does this job require using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls?
		57%	Degree of Automation - How automated is the job?
		57%	Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets - How much does this job require wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hard hats or life jackets?
		56%	Spend Time Standing - How much does this job require standing?
		56%	Spend Time Sitting - How much does this job require sitting?
		54%	Cramped Work Space, Awkward Positions - How often does this job require working in cramped work spaces that requires getting into awkward positions?
		51%	Responsibility for Outcomes and Results - How responsible is the worker for work outcomes and results of other workers?
		82%	Duration of Typical Work Week - Number of hours typically worked in one week.

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Tasks & Values
		91%	Getting Information - Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
		90%	Working with Computers - Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
		89%	Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events - Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
		87%	Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates - Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
		86%	Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards - Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
		85%	Making Decisions and Solving Problems - Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
		85%	Performing for or Working Directly with the Public - Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
		85%	Processing Information - Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
		82%	Analyzing Data or Information - Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
		81%	Documenting/Recording Information - Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
		81%	Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People - Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
		81%	Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge - Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
		75%	Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings - Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
		73%	Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others - Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
		71%	Communicating with People Outside the Organization - Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
		69%	Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships - Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
		67%	Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information - Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.
		64%	Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others - Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
		64%	Performing Administrative Activities - Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.
		61%	Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials - Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
		60%	Performing General Physical Activities - Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials.
		60%	Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work - Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
		58%	Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment - Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or watercraft.
		57%	Training and Teaching Others - Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
		54%	Coaching and Developing Others - Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.
		52%	Developing Objectives and Strategies - Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
		52%	Scheduling Work and Activities - Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.

Getting Started

Education:

39%

High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)

27%

Bachelor's Degree

Customs & Border Protection Officers

What they do:

On the job, you would:

Personality

Characteristics of this Career

Strengths

Values of the Work Environment

Aptitude

Abilities | Cognitive, Physical, Personality

Skills | Cognitive, Physical, Personality

Job Details

Attributes & Percentage of Time Spent

Tasks & Values

Getting Started