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Is there hope

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Buttercup
(@buttercup)
Posts: 16
Active Member
Topic starter
 

I was looking around for computer forensic related jobs and I noticed that all of these places require lots of experience. One even asked " do you breath, eat and sleep their requirements. As a beginner It got me to thinking is their hope for a newbie to excel in this field? Does any one have any advice on entry level jobs in this field that I can look in to?

thanks

LaShawn

 
Posted : 13/11/2006 9:08 pm
deckard
(@deckard)
Posts: 77
Trusted Member
 

CF is "quoted" as being one of the fastest growing areas of IT these days. There is a limited number of PROFESSIONALS available to do it. So YES theer is a demand for new forensic Analysts. However my gut feeling is that most of the demand is going to be met by people with a good hard background in other applicable ares of IT. The training curve will be shorter and they will have the skills necessary to delve deeper right away. CF just isn't in MHO a career that is an entry level job. Yes, training and book learning will take you a ways, but the important thing is practice and experience not theory. I think a NEW CF'er will find a time in other areas a prereq to a good CF job.

 
Posted : 13/11/2006 10:23 pm
keydet89
(@keydet89)
Posts: 3568
Famed Member
 

LaShawn,

one of the things you'll learn as you gain experience is that managers and recruiters rarely know how to define a position, let alone interview for it. When I was getting out of the military, I took some classes on how to interview…the scary part of it was that none of the folks I interviewed with then, nor since, took a course on how to conduct an interview. I've worked for companies where recruiters staffed positions based on the number of times the word "security" or "infosec" appeared in a resume.

With regards to jobs, what is your background/experience? Have you taken courses at a local community college, university, or training facility? If so, start with the placement office or the instructors there.

Without more info about your background, location, willingness to relocate, etc., it's tough to really provide you with anything more than general thoughts/guidance. I agree w/ Deckard, in that other skills and experience are required, from the IT field, before someone advances into true CF. One of the things I've dealt with is knowing the right questions to ask the sysadmin who's worked with the system in question for years.

H

 
Posted : 14/11/2006 12:53 am
Buttercup
(@buttercup)
Posts: 16
Active Member
Topic starter
 

Well, I went to school for computer technology, I am currently taking the computer forensics course at Kennesaw and I want to finish my degree at Champlain U online. As you can see I am a true newbie. I live in Michigan and I hope I can find something local if I am able to. I would love to find someone to train under in my area. )

-L

 
Posted : 14/11/2006 2:42 am
az_gcfa
(@az_gcfa)
Posts: 116
Estimable Member
 

Check with your local police, sheriff and state police agencies. Sometimes with enough planning and lead time you can become a volunteer intern. Some positions are even paid (minumum wage).
Write your local and state representatives asking for their assistance. You will be suprised at what resources a house Rep or Senator can shake lose.
Remember all that letter writing take times. I would start 2 years out, 1 1/2 year at the very least plannnig working toward an internship.

Champlain does have a 3hr Forensics Internship at the 400 Level.

 
Posted : 29/11/2006 7:11 am
(@davidsullivan)
Posts: 32
Eminent Member
 

Hi LaShawn,

I am a recruiter specialising in placing CF people in the UK.

Here in the UK the prospects are excellent for graduates with a Computer Forensics / Computer Science degree at this time even if they have no experience. For example, my company has helped 14 new graduates - with no meaningful work experience - find a position within CF since June.

In addition to taking the advice of experienced CF people on here, I would suggest that you contact a specialist CF recruiter in the US (ie, a professional recruiter with a real understanding in this area, not one of the keyword searchers that Harlan refers to) for their thoughts. Guy Davis at www.ptopc.com (based in Houston) is very good and I'm sure he would be happy to help.

Good luck.

David.

 
Posted : 29/11/2006 2:16 pm
Buttercup
(@buttercup)
Posts: 16
Active Member
Topic starter
 

Wow! Thanks David lol lol

 
Posted : 29/11/2006 8:57 pm
(@elmurado)
Posts: 29
Eminent Member
 

Hi guys-very interested in this thread as I am looking at working my way towards CF. I'm currently an IT jack of many trades where I work-I'm in charge of all IT related matters at a global company's HO in Australasia so have to do something of everything.
I'm attending the SANS Forensics course in Feb and will be doing the GCFA later this year-just recently having completed my GSEC earlier this year.
Is a degree a must have in this field? I wouldn't be averse to it as the whole area fascinates me so any study(book or practical) would be something that I would love to get my teeth into.
I've just recently had to do some copying/searching of machines/drives so that the company could make a decision over whether to terminate a contract and there may be a few more similar cases coming up later too.

 
Posted : 22/12/2006 10:25 am
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