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Forensic & Investigative Science Program
Career Planning Information
Planning for a forensic science career should early, ideally before your internship. That way, the internship can be designed as far as possible to fit your interests. Some hints:
- Check the job listings at the sites below a few times a year. This will give you a good picture of what forensic jobs are available, what they require, and what they pay.
- Start your final job search by the fall semester of your senior year. If you wait until after you graduate, you are already nearly a year behind.
- Have realistic expectations. This comes from your internship and from scanning the job listings
- Be flexible. Your first job will likely not be your last job so be willing to travel and move around. Limiting your search to a small geographic area usually leads to disappointment.
- Search state web sites for job listings since some states don’t use the national postings such as the American Academy of Forensic Sciences site.
- Apply to more than one job. Forensic job openings are competitive and the odds of getting the only job you apply for are slim
- Be persistent. Jobs don’t come to you; you find them
- If you identify a job of interest, read the description to be sure you are qualified. If you apply, follow the instructions to the letter. You would be surprised how many people overlook these simple rules
- The federal government hires many of our graduates. Use the USA Jobs link below to look for these employment opportunities. Key words to use include forensic, physical science, and investigation.
Forensic Job Postings:
American Academy of Forensic Sciences
USA Jobs: Federal jobs in all agencies
American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors
Society of Forensic Toxicologists
International Association for Identification
Crime Scene Investigators