Stop Watching CSI and Make Crime Analysis a Reality - CareerAlley

Stop Watching CSI and Make Crime Analysis a Reality - CareerAlley We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. To the man who only has a hammer, everything he encounters begins to look like a nail. Abraham Maslow Each week, countless viewers tune in to popular television shows like CSI because they are intrigued and fascinated by the plot and the characters. A few of those individuals, however, are more interested in the logic and psychology that goes into solving crimes and bringing criminals to justice under the law. If you have an interest in subjects like this, you might be an ideal candidate for a crime analysis career. Here are some of the steps you will need to take in order to secure your ideal job in this industry. 1. Understand Crime Analysis Before you decide that you want to pursue a career in crime analysis, it is important that you fully understand the subject and the job description. Crime analysts work to identify criminals, profile suspects, prevent crimes from taking place, and understand crime patterns. This is similar in many ways to the work that a police detective might do, but the work is not part of the police program. You may have an office in a police station, but you are not an officer and you do not have to complete police training. 2. Earn the Right Degree There is no specific crime analysis degree required to become a crime analyst. However, most employers look for individuals who have a minimum of a two year degree program. Ideally, candidates have a bachelors degree in a subject like criminal justice, sociology, or psychology. Although having experience is also very important, some kind of degree is almost always required when it comes to hiring even entry level crime analysts. 3. Gain Experience It is rare that crime analysts are hired for full time work until they have had some kind of similar work experience in the past. You might work in security as a trained guard for a museum or government building, in the police force, or in a legal office as a clerk or paralegal. This job experience should bring you additional knowledge about the legal and judicial systems to better prepare you for work as a crime analyst. 4. Complete a Practicum People who are interested in becoming a crime analyst will typically need to complete a practicum before they can be considered for employment positions. In states like California, a practicum is 400 hours long and is unpaid. During this practicum, you will learn all of the day-to-day work of a crime analyst. After completing the practicum, you will be ready to take on a career in the field. 5. Secure a Position Finding a job as a crime analyst is similar to finding any other kind of position. You can find jobs in every city and state in the nation. Most jobs are posted online and may be found on government or city employment websites, as they are considered to be civil servant positions. Salaries are commensurate with experience and living expenses in your area. If you find yourself looking forward to each episode of CSI, turn your passion into a career. Crime analysis is an exciting and fascinating field that combines science, justice, and logic into one career. Byline:Ada McNeill is a freelance blogger who works from home. Always drawn to interesting careers, Ada recommends checking out a criminal justice program, if youd like a particularly exciting job. This is a Guest post. If you would like to submit a guest post to CareerAlley, please follow these guest post guidelines. Good luck in your search. Visit me on Facebook