Hi, wanted a little advice in finding a job.
In September I graduated from the Strathclyde University in Glasgow with a MSc in Forensic Informatics and since then I was looking for a job in the field, however my attempts ended up rather miserably. In a search of a career I decided to relocate from Scotland to London as everybody was saying ‘thats where the jobs are’. What only increased costs of leaving and I’m still nowhere nearer to finding a job.
I tried finding a job via recruitment portals, Monster and CWjobs or Reeds but no luck, all jobs advertised require at least 2 yrs experience and haven’t seen any opportunity that would accept trainees. Although it may sound immodest, I consider my forensics and technical skills on a high level for a computer forensic graduate, but without the practical experience it is really hard to get employer’s attention. So far didn’t even get a single reply let alone a phone interview. Tried sending speculative letters which also did not help.
Wanted to ask what else should I be doing in order to find a job or at least generate some interest.
Thanks
nieUK
Sorry to sound harsh but better focus on your grammer would really help.
I took on a placement student last year and any CV that had incorrect spellings or bad grammer fell at the first fence.
Sorry to sound harsh but better focus on your grammer would really help.
I took on a placement student last year and any CV that had incorrect spellings or bad grammer fell at the first fence.
On this basis you wouldn't pass your own test I'm afraid! It's grammar not grammer. wink
Sound advice, although it's always risky pointing out someone else's literary shortcomings 😉
Jamie
Damn you, Krause, you beat me to it lol
A lot of people that I know got into digital forensics by the side door (so to speak).
My suggestion would be to go for an entry level IT job in a company or govt. agency that does forensics. Sysadmin or tech support is usually a relatively easy way in.
Then find out who's in charge of forensics, and make sure they know you are there and have some credentials and expertise in the area. You may want to even mention during your interview that you want to get into their forensic shop eventually.
Took me about 3 months to go from tech support to going out on search and seizure. Pretty much the same story for several other folks I know.
hold my hand up to that one, oops
Sorry to sound harsh but better focus on your grammer would really help.
I took on a placement student last year and any CV that had incorrect spellings or bad grammer fell at the first fence.
On this basis you wouldn't pass your own test I'm afraid! It's grammar not grammer. wink
One would think that bad grammar only applies to entry level forensic analysts or those aspiring to become forensic analysts! This, however, is certainly not the case!
I know a number of individuals who submit Section 9 Witness Statements with huge sentences containing three (3) semi colons (';') and long paragraphs with no commas. I would be the first to say that I am no English language lecturer but three (3) semi colons within one (1) sentence is rather lazy or "lacksadaisical" to say the least!
I have pointed this out to more senior forensic analysts before and in return, received a face full of disgust. As a consequence, I could be called a "know nothing young forensic analyst", cocky, arrogant, or even considered as having no credentials or "divine right" for doing so. In my opinion, we are in an industry where professionalism is of upmost importance. Since when was bad grammar considered professional? I am of the belief that "what's right is right and what's wrong is wrong".
In essence, my point is that as long as you conform to strict ideals of how you conduct yourself, both on paper and in person, it will do you no harm at all! Potential employers will easily spot this, even if they do not necessarily "practice what they preach" themselves.
I would also like to point out that I mean no offence to pbeardmore. Please consider what I have said to be "light hearted" in nature wink . There is, however, a very serious point behind what I have written (or typed if you want to be pedantic P ). Rant over!
I speak as the 'Office Pedant' when it comes to things grammatical. I am completely in agreement with the previous postings, sloppy spelling and grammar are indicative of the care and attention that has been lavished on the examination. Why carry out the examination exactly according to 'The Book' and then produce a badly written report.
I think that the proliferation of the semi-colon is something that can be laid firmly at the door of Microsoft. It is one of my pet hates (anyone who knows me will tell you that I have several) how MS Word insists on littering any piece of written work with these annoying little irrelevancies. It is easier to accept the suggested insertion of a semi-colon than it is to work out for oneself how the sentence should be constructed.
Right, I am putting my soap box back in the cupboard and getting on with analysing some Internet History.
Yours in grammatical pedantry,
Nigel
How many times did you read that to make sure it was error free, Nigel? )