Hi everyone, I've just joined Forensic Focus and am a bit nervous about my first post. I need some advice about what to do after I finish my masters degree. I'm studying MSc Electronic Security and Digital Forensics in Middlesex University and I finish my degree this month. I tried looking for a job, but haven't got any callbacks till now. So I thought I would continue my education in the same field but I don't want to do a Phd. I don't want to spend the next 4/5 years studying. Instead I was thinking of doing a 1 or 2 year course.
What can I study after this degree? What will help me grow in this field and maybe help me get a job? Can I actually do another masters degree?
P.S. It has to be a full time course as I'm an international student and can study only full time on a Tier 4 visa.
Thanks in advance.
Regards,
Ilakkiya
There are many different views on this, but two things that I find important and are often overlooked the résumé of a graduate should tell me what he did in his spare time, relevant to the field. Secondly, he should have an answer ready when I ask him what he can bring in for an interview.
Public education imparts numerous basic skills, but rarely anything practice-oriented. Having a degree does not say much about the willingness to apply what you have learnt and the creativity that comes with it. Luckily, quite many people in tech fields have some personal projects, a Github repository or something they can demonstrate and passionately talk about. They are not too hard to find for an employer. If you focused on formal education, you should aim for big companies with standardized application processes.
If you're planning to go into academia, get a PhD. Otherwise, get a job and start building your resume. You don't need a PhD or a second MsC to enter the workforce. It could even hurt you if you can't explain your reasons for delaying your entry into the workforce.
For the most part, forensics isn't an entry-level job. That said, some larger companies may have a junior security or incident response role that would let you build your forensics skills. If you can't find one of those, take any IT role that you're qualified for and move into security/forensics at your first opportunity. If you can, pick up some certifications along the way.
Luckily, quite many people in tech fields have some personal projects, a Github repository or something they can demonstrate and passionately talk about. They are not too hard to find for an employer.
That or a youtube account explaining your projects, some employers do not have the skills (or time) to compile a piece of code and a video can explain the project in more ways than a repository of code with a static image of the GUI and "some technical mumbo-jumbo" as some people put it.
Thanks for your replies. I understand what you all say. I plan to start working on my individual projects and will make sure to get them some exposure.
Also, getting a job in this field is tough on its own. Since I'm on a Tier-4 visa in the UK, I need an employer to sponsor the Tier-2 visa for me to work and this makes it more difficult for me. That is why I considered continuing my education and thought that another course would make me more employable.
Thanks again.
Also, getting a job in this field is tough on its own. Since I'm on a Tier-4 visa in the UK, I need an employer to sponsor the Tier-2 visa for me to work and this makes it more difficult for me.
Yes I believe that this excludes any "Government/LEO connected" work, limiting your possibilities to the private sector (and possibly only to civil/e-discovery laboratories/firms).
As tracedf suggested, searching a more generic IT related job might be easier and be used to add a real work experience to your curriculum, that will surely help when you will have an occasion to "jump" into forensics.
Allow me to partially disagree with MDCR. D
Any "solid" (and that can be well be distributed pre-built) well documented (this is IMHO vital as it shows at the same time the capabilities and will to do a "complete" work) project on Github (or similar), even if very "narrow" or "minimal" is a very good thing, much better than any Youtube video.
Nothing against the Youtube video per se, but that would be an additional "plus", not anything replacing a well written explanation and documentation of the project.
BTW there are thousands of Github pages, possibly containing smart ideas and good code) "ruined" by the static image of the GUI and the technical mumbo-jumbo MDCR talked about, and surely those don't help the Author in the least, as a matter of fact they are a public show of some laziness (or sloppiness) that a potential employer won't surely appreciate.
jaclaz
Hi everyone, I've just joined Forensic Focus and am a bit nervous about my first post. I need some advice about what to do after I finish my masters degree. I'm studying MSc Electronic Security and Digital Forensics in Middlesex University and I finish my degree this month. I tried looking for a job, but haven't got any callbacks till now. So I thought I would continue my education in the same field but I don't want to do a Phd. I don't want to spend the next 4/5 years studying. Instead I was thinking of doing a 1 or 2 year course.
What can I study after this degree? What will help me grow in this field and maybe help me get a job? Can I actually do another masters degree?
P.S. It has to be a full time course as I'm an international student and can study only full time on a Tier 4 visa.
Thanks in advance.
Regards,
Ilakkiya
Hi there )
I cannot help much with the employment questions you have, but I can say that the MSc Digital Forensics and Security that is offered by Leeds Beckett was supreme )
I am a foreigner too, but I went home after my studies. But the course offered there help me get a job even before I had handed in my masters dissertation )
But just like the others have said.. Do projects )
And best of luck!
