Steps towards a successful career in forensics
Because of its reputation as a “sexy†science, forensics is rapidly gaining adepts everywhere. This trend is accompanied by a strong growth in the number of undergraduate forensic degree programs both in USA and the UK. For those thinking on making a career in forensics this means only one thing: competition. With some well-sought advice and good planning it’s possible to build a bright future in the growing and appealing world of forensic science.
Three things can be extracted from the experts’ advice about considering a career in forensics: Education, Experience and Attitude. Being a subject that requires special skills, someone working in forensics needs training. As said above, each year more and more schools and academies are opening new courses in the field, covering every aspect of forensic work. Choosing a program or course will depend on the orientation that most suits one’s preferences, taste or skills. For example, training aimed to biological analyses such as DNA investigations is different from the training aimed to physical methods such as ballistics and even computer forensics. Another aspect about education is the level that one wants to reach. Some courses granting basic skills can be completed in short time and give reasonable chances of getting a job, but the salaries associated are lower and the possibility of progressing are more limited. In contrast, University degrees such as Masters or Ph.D. give better chances of landing into a senior position with upper salary and benefits, but take longer to complete and are highly demanding.
Experience is as important as a good education. A successful performance in complicated police cases requires an intuition that only experience can offer. Popular TV shows such as CSI lead people into thinking that young technicians can lead important cases, which is highly unrealistic. Prospective forensic experts must spend some time in supporting roles while learning ‘hands on’ how to think as a forensic scientist.
The word Science take us to the third concept, attitude.
One of the most important things you can do to convince an employer about your value is showing them that you are a scientist. Forensic work must be though primarily as Science and as such, devotion towards rigorous thinking and meticulous habits must prevail in the student’s attitude. Finally, an importan remark is a good forensic scientist must also master the non-scientific skills associated with the profession, such as interpreting evidence for the legal aspects.
Regardless what your reasons to end up in forensics are, the whole thing is about working hard, getting your hands dirty and the sight high. By making the good choices early on, a rewarding career will be at reach.
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