Want to be a CSI? Here are tips to get started

As with most things that are fun and exciting in life there’s a little bit of due diligence involved. I mean if you wanted to compete in skate boarding at the Olympic level you wouldn’t just buy a board and show up, right? And so it is with crime scene investigating. You pretty much need to have a degree of some sort before you can get in on the action. Common degrees are in criminal justice, biology, or chemistry. Once enrolled (and passing your courses) you should contact your local police department to inquire about the recruiting process for CSI personnel. Listen to the answers and adjust your course work based on what you hear. If you hear that they need a lot more lab personnel versus street beat, then re-think your course of study and make adjustments after discussing your findings with the school’s career counselor. While in school check out career websites and look for CSI-related openings in your area. Even though you haven’t yet made it through school, some positions are offered as intern-based which means you may be able to get on board before graduation (mind you there will most likely be zero or minimal pay associated with these positions, but hands-on experience looks wicked awesome on a resume). And speaking of resumes, make sure yours is current and ready to send out at a moment’s notice and make absolute sure you’ve listed any and all extracurricular courses or seminars you’ve attended since they all add up to making you a more desirable candidate.