How to Get a Job in Forensics
By: Hilary Rodela
Getting an education and training in crime scene and forensics is somewhat easy, but what happens next? How do you go from student to job?
Obtaining an education in the field of forensics takes hard work, but it is doable. Several universities are including forensics, crime scene, criminal justice, and police science in their course catalogs. With so many options, it is a great time to enter the field of forensics!
Once you obtain your education, it’s time to look for a job. Job searching can be difficult and frustrating, however, there are a few different things you can do to make this easier on yourself.
One way to get a job in the field is to intern at a police department. Most of the time these are unpaid, intern positions, but the experience is worth it! You can always intern part-time or when it’s convenient for you. Doing this allows you to gain hands-on experience and you will have access to additional trainings. Many times this alone will give you a bit of an edge when it comes to job hunting.
Another thing you can do is expand your search. Don’t just look for CSI jobs, look for other jobs that are related. Even if this isn’t your end goal, it will provide you with a foot in the door. Some other options include other positions in police departments. If there isn’t an opening in the unit you really want, you can take another position temporarily. Often you will be able to move over to your desired unit in time.
Never give up on your job search. There are so many ways you can get into the field you desire by keeping up with your training, networking, and being patient.