Hello,
I just received my CCE certification. I also have approx 15 years total computer experience. Seeing as I am having trouble getting full time work (everyone wants "experience" …in comp forensics) I am considering voluteering perhaps for the summer. Although I can barely afford to do this, I can't see any way around it. However, if I have to go this route I want to get "the biggest bang for my buck." QUESTION Is it better to volunteer for a government agency (in this case a states attorney general office here in the US doing a "forensic lab internship," or go for a private company internship? My financial situation is tough, but I also value my free time in the future. I'm thinking that a govt. agency is more likely to give me quicker direct experience as they don't have paying "clients" to worry about, and they also generally have better work hours than private companies (assuming I was ever actually hired). However, I am wondering if this would prejudice me in the eyes of any private consulting company after I finished such an "internship," ? Thanks Ahead of time for your opionions!
Greetings,
I'm doing forensics, ediscovery, and investigations for a major corporation at the moment and many of the investigators are ex-LE or government. If you go to HTCIA meetings you'll notice something similar - a lot of the people attending are ex-LE and gov't. HTCIA is a bit self-selecting, I'll admit.
Knowing how gov't agencies work is valuable no matter who you work for. Ditto private. Basically, at your level, any relevant experience is probably useful.
I'd go where you can get interesting work, and prioritize the ones that might lead to a paying job with that organization. I'd not worry about private vs. public at all.
-David