Whether the agency is large or small, national, state, county, or local, there are elements associated with each one that will attract certain individuals and repel others. Taking the time to research the agency thoroughly and compare it with other agencies is the only way to assess whether or not it's right for you.

Often, a clue to these personally desirable or distasteful elements can be found in the requirements necessary for acceptance. For those with no college experience, many, if not most, of the federal agencies are automatically out of reach. For those with a Ph.D. in criminal justice, it's unlikely that they'll find contentment as a patrolman on a small-town police department. It all boils down to perspective and personal preference.

Small local law enforcement agencies tend to be tight units that have a clearly-defined team leader, and team members who accomplish the mission. Due to their small size, department members often become extended families. The larger federal agencies tend to be less personal, and leadership is often remote to where the work is actually being done. Comparing the various types and sizes of agencies is like wondering how it would be to work for a small business as opposed to a multinational corporation. The parallel to business is also applicable when you consider the great variety of business opportunities available—a similar array of opportunities exists within the broad field of law enforcement. Therefore, candidates should plan to invest some effort in exploring all of the possibilities.