YOU need more than a strong stomach and attention to detail to succeed in forensics: scientists on this career path face seriously stiff competition. With the advice of a few insiders, though, it鈥檚 possible to shine in front of a potential employer.
Due to forensics鈥� reputation as sexy science, the number of undergraduate forensic degree courses in the UK has grown dramatically over the past decade, with UCAS now offering 488 (see Chart). As a result, employers such as the government鈥檚 Forensic Science Service (FSS) often have the luxury 鈥� and burden 鈥� of choosing from thousands of CVs for each job they advertise. 鈥淵ou need to make sure yours gets looked at twice,鈥� says Robert Forrest, president of the Forensic Science Society, a professional body. The first step to catching an employer鈥檚 eye is to develop your practical laboratory skills and make sure you highlight them. 鈥淥ne of the most fundamental things you can do to help your CV get on that small pile is prove you are a scientist,鈥� says Forrest. 鈥淭he most important piece of information to take away is that forensic science is primarily a job for a scientist. The science comes first, the forensics comes later.鈥�
Indeed, forensics employers tend to prefer applicants with a degree in a pure science, because most of the necessary lab skills are taught during biology, chemistry or engineering degrees. Follow this with a master鈥檚 degree in forensics and you are in an even better position, because you have shown dedication to the field, says Forrest.
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There are plenty of forensics courses 鈥� undergraduate or master鈥檚 鈥� that employers rate. The key is to make sure you pick the right one, says Rachael Guckenheim, who has a degree in chemistry with forensic analysis from the University of Loughborough. 鈥淐hoosing the correct course at a well-respected university makes a big difference to employers, in addition to your training.鈥�
The best courses tend to be accredited by the Forensic Science Society or the Royal Society of Chemistry, because they cover solid forensic skills. 鈥淕raduates are expected to know how to carry out many of the basic functions of analysis of substances and interpretation of analytical data,鈥� says Steven Dobrowski, director of forensic sciences at the University of Bradford. A good forensic science course also teaches the non-scientific skills, such as interpreting evidence for the legal arena, he adds.
Employers may also be impressed if you have gone abroad to study, Forrest says. 鈥淭here is a fantastic forensics course at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, part of the City University of New York, that I would highly recommend,鈥� he says, 鈥渁nd studying in America would certainly be something that would stand out on your CV, meaning it might get a second look.鈥�
It鈥檚 not all about your academic training, though. You鈥檝e probably heard it already, but experience on the job is essential to get yourself noticed, plus you鈥檒l learn some important things about the job along the way. 鈥淚t is absolutely vital,鈥� says Forrest. 鈥淲ork experience demonstrates commitment, and if people remember you when you come to apply for a job, you鈥檒l have a clear advantage.鈥�
Unfortunately, it鈥檚 not easy to get experience in the forensic field, Guckenheim says. 鈥淚 was lucky enough to work at the FSS only due to the fact that it was organised as an industrial sandwich-year placement.鈥� Due to the highly sensitive nature of its cases, the FSS does not provide work experience, but on its website it offers an extensive list of contacts that do. 鈥淏e persistent and try every avenue; you鈥檒l pick up useful skills even at the smallest of companies,鈥� Guckenheim says. Getting into the right circles also helps. 鈥淭he Royal Society of Chemistry is a good start,鈥� she advises. 鈥淎s with most jobs, it鈥檚 often about who you know.鈥�
Another reason to do work experience is that it dispels any myths about the career, so can prevent you taking a wrong turn. 鈥淭V shows like CSI: Crime Scene Investigation give an unrealistic expectation of what forensic science can do,鈥� warns Forrest. 鈥淧ortraying it as a glamorous occupation where you appear to become a practitioner who works on important cases at a young age is totally unrealistic.鈥�
鈥淲ork experience was a definite eye-opener,鈥� Guckenheim says. 鈥淵ou find that things are not always black-and-white, cases are slow-paced and questions can be left unanswered. The work is often mundane, and there is so much legislation on quality control and logging that you spend much of your time maintaining records.鈥�
聯Work experience was a definite eye-opener -things are not always black-and-white聰
On the job, you also learn that successful forensic scientists have a wide knowledge of police practice. What is more, they have strong observational skills, are very logical and are able to convey complex scientific information to laypeople, such as jurors. 鈥淵ou also have to show that you have a strong resolve in your considered views, even when put under immense pressure to change that view,鈥� says John Cameron, director of human resources at LGC, a DNA and chemical analysis company. In job interviews, he and his colleagues look for people who are prepared to reconsider their opinion if presented with an evidence-based, logical reason, but who will be unmoved by a clever argument unsupported by facts.
LGC is one example of a new wave of employers in the forensics field that any scientist should consider when job-seeking (although Cameron is quick to point out that his company is not recruiting until 2008). Although the majority of forensic science hopefuls head for the FSS and the police force, private companies like LGC are on the increase. 杏吧原创s in these firms can be involved with everything from drug testing to gunshot residue analysis.
One particularly fertile area for jobs is IT, because computer criminals have become just as technically savvy as the experts chasing them, says Andy Fox, a consultant at the digital forensics division of security company Audax. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a rapidly growing area of forensics and can be considered by applicants from all sorts of disciplines 鈥� computer and engineering graduates, or someone who has just been involved with IT in general.鈥�
Fox says scientists are also in demand in forensic product development. Companies in this area build and sell specialist technology to the police. Fox鈥檚 latest project involves developing portable fingerprinting for police so they can identify suspects at the roadside. This area of forensics can offer an appealing alternative to 鈥渙n the scene鈥� investigation, he says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 certainly another avenue to consider.鈥�
No matter where you end up in forensics, it鈥檚 about working hard, getting your hands dirty and, occasionally, keeping your food down. With a few good choices early on, a rewarding career will be in reach, and as Guckenheim says, 鈥淥nce you鈥檙e at the top of that ladder, you鈥檒l forget the slog it took to get up there.鈥�