Crime Scene Investigator Jobs Overview
Are you interested in crime scene investigator jobs and want to know more before applying? Crime scene investigators often work under the title of forensic technician or criminal investigator. They use their forensics and criminal law expertise to help law enforcement officials study and solve crimes. Crime scene investigators often use specialized equipment when examining the scenes of accidents, break-ins, or murders.
To become a crime scene investigator, you need superior judgment, logic, and the ability to perceive the connections between apparently unrelated details and events. Your presence in court as an expert witness is almost certain in this line of work. Crime scene investigators need impeccable writing and communication skills to convey their findings and help prosecute offenders effectively.
Everyday duties performed by crime scene investigators are:
- Investigating crime scenes without tampering with evidence by using their scientific knowledge and technological skills.
- Methodically gathering tangible evidence and accurately recording it.
- Observe all proper procedures for collecting, storing, and transferring evidence to ensure it is admissible in court.
Most crime scene investigators take turns being on call every other week since crimes might occur at any moment. A crime scene investigator on call is expected to be ready at all times, even outside of "normal" business hours, in case they get a call to respond to a crime scene. A lot of their work requires traveling to crime scenes.
Whether they work in a laboratory or at crime scenes, forensic science investigators often get their training on the job. Many start as police officers, which requires academy training and working their way up to crime scene investigation positions. However, becoming a crime scene investigator is possible without becoming a police officer.
A bachelor's degree is typically the minimum requirement to enter this profession. Many employers hire people with degrees in one of the following fields to fill crime scene investigator jobs:
- natural science
- forensic science
- biology
- chemistry
- criminal justice
- crime scene technology
- criminology
Crime scene investigators are in high demand, with the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics predicting 11% growth for this career field over the next few years. This means that now is the ideal time to prepare for crime scene investigator jobs.
Crime Scene Investigator: Salary Range
The annual compensation for a crime scene investigator ranges from $33,047 to $83,615, with the majority of the profession making a median annual salary of $51,166. Washington, DC, Phoenix, AZ, Houston, TX, and Charlotte, NC, have the largest need for crime scene investigators.
Numerous crime scene investigators go up the career ladder by using their skills in the following fields:
- criminal investigator - $61,376
- security/defense intelligence analyst - $77,916
- forensic chemist - $55,836
- cybercrime analyst/investigator - $74,077
- forensic accountant - $73,192
The best way to determine which area of crime scene investigation is right for you from a financial perspective is to research wages in the industry. Monster makes this easy by giving you free access to the Monster Salary Calculator.
Finding the Best Crime Scene Investigator Jobs for You
Making and sticking to a career plan will help you get a crime scene investigator job that fits your preferences and needs. Let's say you're interested in pursuing a profession as a forensic scientist. When reading a job description for a crime scene investigator, you need to ask yourself whether the role will help you achieve this goal. Other questions to ask yourself when reading crime scene investigator job descriptions are:
- Do I have the skills and abilities to fill the role effectively?
- Does the agency provide on-the-job training?
- Does the job come with promotional opportunities?
- Will the department provide tuition reimbursement for ongoing education?
- What forensic tools does the company provide?
Crime Scene Investigator Application Advice
Increased competition among job applicants comes with a growing demand for crime scene investigators. Because of this, you must put a lot of thought into your applications, resumes, and cover letters to ensure that your credentials and experience as a crime scene investigator shine through.
Application Preparation
The first step to determining whether a job matches your career goals is reviewing the application thoroughly and noting any required experience, education, and qualifications. To properly complete the application, do the following:
- Ensure the hiring manager knows your abilities to do the job by listing the required skills and qualifications on the application.
- Provide the names and contact information of at least three people who can vouch for you.
- Detail all applicable work experience.
- Use a checker to make sure there are no spelling or grammatical mistakes.
Adding the following skills and abilities, in addition to those specified in the job description, to your application can help you stand out as a qualified candidate for crime scene investigator jobs:
- clean background check
- vision test compliance
- physical exam compliance
- critical thinking
- technical proficiency
- scientific methods
- stress management
- record-keeping
Make a Resume
Use your resume's summary or goal section to emphasize your experience and qualifications as a crime scene investigator. You can, for example, list your previous experience with the following:
- keeping records and amassing evidence
- crime scene photography
- crime scene diagramming
- gathering the required information
- writing up investigation reports for crime scenes
- giving testimony
- completing a police academy
Your resume should also give information about your education, such as your level of schooling, major, and the school you attended. The way you present this information depends on the resume format you use.
- If you have a lengthy work history as a crime scene investigator, the best way to show off your considerable experience is with a chronological resume.
- If you're just starting in the profession of crime scene investigation but have the abilities and credentials necessary for an entry-level position, following a functional resume format is best.
- Always use a combination resume format if you have the skills and credentials, and an extensive job history to work as a crime scene investigator.
Regardless of your resume format, using resume keywords improves your resume's visibility in job database searches and in the results shown to hiring managers. Many law enforcement agencies utilize an automated applicant tracking system (ATS) to sift through applications, making resume keywords extremely important to getting noticed by recruiters. Some of the most valuable resume keywords to use in applications for crime scene investigator jobs are:
- physical evidence
- laboratory analysis
- criminal justice
- patrol
- private investigations
- surveillance
- investigation
- crime prevention
- interrogation
- public safety
- firearms handling
Creating a strong resume takes significant time and effort. Use Monster's Resume Writing Service to help create resumes that pass ATS and help you get noticed for crime scene investigator roles.
Make a Cover Letter
Some applications for crime scene investigator jobs don't require you to submit a cover letter. However, attaching one to the front of your resume demonstrates your professionalism and gives you another chance to highlight your skills, qualifications, and background in criminal investigation. Keep the following tips in mind when creating a cover letter:
- List all your relevant skills in crime scene analysis, such as forensic blood sampling, substance evidence collection, murder scene investigation, fingerprinting, crime scene taping, and bagging forensic evidence.
- Explain what it is about your expertise that makes you a good fit for crime scene investigator roles.
- Discuss how the role fits in with your long-term career goals.
- Provide a sentence stating your years of experience in investigating crimes.
- List any former relevant employment experiences that you've had.
- Describe your ability to be on call at all times, as this is often required for crime scene investigators.
The final paragraph of your cover letter should reiterate your passion for the criminal investigation industry. It should also include your contact information and an offer to speak with the hiring manager about any further questions they may have.
Submit the Application
With Monster's free membership, you can browse crime scene investigator roles anywhere in the country. Most professionals in this field work for local, state, or federal law enforcement agencies. Many of these agencies utilize Monster to advertise their opportunities for crime scene investigators.
Use these tips when using Monster:
- Upon signing up, you'll upload your resume and cover letter.
- Remember to run your content through a spell and grammar checker to ensure it's free of typos before clicking the "Submit" button.
- Verify your contact information on your profile, cover letter, and resume to ensure any recruiting managers can contact you for interviews.
- Apply for crime scene investigator roles that are a good fit for your skills, training, and qualifications by clicking the "Apply" button when using the job search feature.
Following Up After Sending an Application
It's a good idea to send a follow-up email to remind the hiring manager of your application. Sending the follow-up a week after applying can significantly boost your odds of getting an interview. A follow-up letter is crucial since hiring managers for crime scene investigators typically have to wade through hundreds, if not thousands, of applications for a single position.
How to Follow Up
Your follow-up email needs a professional subject line highlighting the email's purpose. It should look something like the following:
- Application Follow-Up for Crime Scene Investigator
- Have you seen my application for the crime scene investigator position?
- [Name Here] Checking on My Application for Crime Scene Investigator
- Candidate for Crime Scene Investigator Position - Next Steps
Keep the email short and to the point. Mention the date you submitted the application, why you're interested in the position, and your skills and credentials. End the note by thanking the reader for their time and your contact information.
Crime Scene Investigator Interview Tips
Crime scene investigators often go through multiple interviews, some of which occur before a panel of interviewers. The best way to land crime scene investigator roles is to make yourself memorable to the people interviewing you.
Before the Interview
Do some background study on the agency or department before agreeing to an interview with them. This allows you to assess whether the department's administration and procedures fit your preferences. Once you agree to an interview, you can follow these tips to help you prepare:
- Ask a friend to set up some mock interviews with you.
- Study the required skills and qualifications and think of ways to discuss them with the interviewer.
- Print copies of your credentials and certifications to bring to the interview.
- Freshen up on your use of weaponry and tactical gear if the job requires you to use them.
- Prepare yourself for answering questions about your desired salary by comparing salaries from similar jobs in the local and surrounding areas.
- Bring a list of questions about the position to ask the interviewer.
You and a buddy can use these sample questions from actual crime scene investigator job interviews to help you prepare for your interviews:
- How can you ensure that the evidence at a crime scene remains secure and preserved?
- What methods do you use to gather proof?
- How do you track your evidence and ensure it's not tampered with?
- Can you give an example from an investigation where you encountered uncooperative witnesses?
During the Interview
Always ask about the interview's format when asked to come in for one. The interview process will likely include numerous sessions, each following a different format.
You can use the STAR method to help you prepare for behavioral-based interviews. Behavioral interviews help interviewers assess your character and how you work in certain situations and settings.
If the interview is competency-based, you can use these competency-based interview tips. The design of the questions asked in a competency-based interview allows the interviewer to assess your knowledge, experience, and other relevant factors.
After the Interview
Sending a thank-you letter after an interview is appropriate, whether the interviewer instructed you to return the following day or later for another one. This shows your appreciation for the interview and enthusiasm for the position.
Use the invitation you received for the interview to find the contact information for the interviewer to send your thank-you note. If you don't hear anything from the employer within one to two weeks, send another follow-up note to remind the interviewer that you're waiting to hear back.
Responding to a Crime Scene Investigator Job Offer
You'll likely have several days to consider a job offer when you receive one. It's crucial you take these few days to carefully evaluate the offer, including its job requirements, perks, benefits, and pay.
Before accepting, make sure to get clarity on any questions you have about the offer, such as its start date. If you're given the opportunity to negotiate your salary, never go into a pay negotiation without solid evidence to support the amount you're asking for.
Career Paths for Crime Scene Investigators
People who want to make a career out of specializing in crime scene investigation have many career paths to choose from. Some crime scene investigators decide to earn a master's degree and use their previous work experience to become:
- Loss prevention managers. Aid firms in guarding their resources by looking into allegations of wrongdoing, managing their loss prevention teams, keeping tabs on theft, conducting internal probes and audits, and supervising security procedures.
- Asset protection managers. Help companies avoid financial setbacks by instituting safeguards against theft and fraud, such as providing employees with the skills to identify shoplifters and performing audits and compliance evaluations.
- Quality control chemists. Use scientific equipment to analyze samples, gather data, examine aberrant test findings, and perform testing on products to verify they meet industry standards.
- Laboratory managers. Schedule laboratory workers, plan out projects, ensure testing compliance, provide reports for customers, and ensure proper storage of all laboratory data and equipment.
- Forensic scientists. Objectively study and analyze evidence gathered at crime scenes to provide expert testimony at court hearings regarding criminal activity, which can exonerate the innocent and aid in prosecuting the guilty.
Crime Scene Investigator: Related Professions
A career in crime scene investigation is a stepping stone to other fields for many investigators. Related fields that see a lot of demand include: