Getting Started Information

[psucsi]

First thank you to all who responded to my posting about Sworn or Non-sworn personnel. It would seem that the previous geographic impressions I had are still some what valid, but that the winds of change may be blowing - especially for mid to larger sized agencies.

But on to a follow up question - directed primarily to the agencies hiring non-sworn personnel. Who is hiring straight out of school? Most of the job postings I have looked at are requiring "x" years of experience. If you are a non-sworn employee - how did you break into the business. Civil service exam, educational background and interview, interned with agency, or other method?

Finally - education. In the real world, who is getting hired, community college, college - general science degree, college - forensic science degree. Perhaps some of the weaker programs are dying off, but for a time, it seemed that CSI programs were popping up everywhere.

Thanks eveyone. Happy Thanksgiving.

[Heidi Fraser]

I know my agency hires people at the entry level (i.e. education, internships, etc, but no "x number of years" of work experience yet). You must have a degree in a hard science - biology, chemistry, etc. A degree in forensic science is fine, but we really look at which program it was and what courses were included. There are some "forensic science" degrees in the country where the coursework is largely theoretical -- more akin to a Criminology degree, really. These students may never have had a science course with a lab component. In those cases, a degree in "forensic science" is of very little use, as the applicant will have no scientific grounding or lab ability. In other programs, there are many rigorous lab courses, and the "forensic science" degree IS a hard science degree. Each one has to be evaluated on its own merits.

Hope that helps,
Heidi

[Steve]

Our department, which has always been non-sworn, requires a science degree for employment in any of the disciplines. The last LPE position we advertised for produced a list of about 30 people. All had degrees, however, none had any experience in comparisons.

While I do believe that education is a wonderful thing, it's not a substitute for experience. The opposite may be true. I know some agencies ask for a degree or x amount of years of actual experience as a substitute for the education.

The problem people right out of school face today is the same as it has always been; you can't get a job because you don't have any experience and you can't get the experience because you can't get a job. The old catch-22.

A fair amount of folks in our lab did volunteer work or worked as intermittent employees in the lab while they were still in school. This is a great way to get some experience and show a potential employer your skills.

Just my thoughts, Steve

[psucsi]

Thanks Steve. Just to help me form a sense of geography for the responses, what state are you from?

[Kathy Saviers]

As a follow-up to Heidi's post, the only other agency in Oregon besides the State Police that has an entry-level position is Washington County Sheriff's Department. I contacted them earlier this year to enquire about openings for some of my practicum students. I was told that the last time they had an opening (a year or so ago), they received about 250 applications. Ten had Master's Degrees and more than fifty had Bachelor's Degrees. But, none had any law enforcement experience. The applicants who had any kind of paid lab work experience were given preference.

I would say that internships are extremely important as a way to get in the door. And, even if a job description asks for a degree and some experience, I always advise folks with no paid experience but with volunteer experience to apply anyway. It may turn out that they are best candidate.

Kathy Saviers