Interview & Physical Test Of Computer Skills

Good luck with it.

As it's law enforcement in addition to technical skills make sure you familiarise yourself with current laws concerning the use of computers.

As for technical skills I would make sure you are prepared for questions on common hardware, disk geometry, how file-systems work and details about what a computer is doing when a user is operating it (scenario based questions).

You may well be asked how you would deal with a sample scenario in which you are attending a scene and then analysing the evidence. Give it some thought now on what issues you would have to face and how you would deal with that.

One thing you might want to bear in mind is the person interviewing you might also be a member of this forum, so they might have seen you asking for advice and will expect you to be well briefed.

Steve

Pikie

Good Luck, my advice is look at ACPO, Must admit Ive always wanted to get a job in the HTCU. So hope you do well and fingers crossed let us know how you get on

Simon

I was about to click post on what mitch/simon just suggested (being aware of the ACPO guidelines for computer evidence, as thats what everyone follows), i'd probably keep in mind whenever thinking of an answer, the ability to justify whatever you are doing when standing in the box at court, especially with respect to those ACPO guidelines. Other than that - the usual techy stuff Steve suggested (potentially have a look through the board for answers to common questions like 'where should i look for such-and-such' or 'whats the best way of dealing with such-and-such').
Rich

Thanks guys, very much appreciated. I will let you know how I get on. Any further advice from anyone will be gratefully received.

Pikie

Hi ..I wouldn’t worry too much about disk geometry & file systems at an interview stage! Granted a very important area but I would be amazed if they asked you this.

If I were interviewing someone who I saw had firstly realised that forums exist in forensic computing, secondly found one open to the ‘general public’ and then posted asking for advice would get a great deal more ‘points’ than someone who could tell me what a master boot record was.

Keep your research brief, as mentioned ACPO guidelines, what the BOIS is, how would you overcome the stress at looking at children being sexually abused, give an example where you displayed a high degree of integrity etc etc.

Don’t blind them with science you won’t be expected to know everything at such an early stage, however you will be expected to develop your own learning development so have a look what training is available to HTCU staff and at an appropriate moment during the interview maybe tell them how you could develop?

If it helps, within my first year I completed the following training courses

-Core Skills in Data Recovery & Analysis (Wyboston)

-Forensic Computing (Cranfield University)

-Forensic Internet (Cranfield University)

What is your perception of what a HTCU actually does? Some people think that we login to a bank of computers deep inside our Force HQ monitoring a vast army of botnets sweeping across the globe ready to attack somewhere our force area costing ££millions.

Whatever your vision is ….keep it simple & good luck

PS …No I don’t work for South Wales (I’m far superior) 😯

My first post too!

In Kent we have the following recruitment process for Forensic Computer Analysts

Stage 1
- Review of Application Form looking for
- 3+ years solid IT background preferably doing some sort of software development
- IT qualification if possible but not necessary if candidate can pass technical examination (most of my staff have BSc and some MSc also)

Stage 2
- 3.5 hours of written technical (1.5 hour multiple choice / 2 hour written) examinations covering everything from
- Data recovery
- Disk Geometry and File Systems
- Legislation & Legal
- Encryption
- Forensics / Counter Forensics
- Networking
- Operating Systems
- Hardware
- Software
- Internet protocols

Reason for this is - coping with the legal side of things and learning forensic skills is a lot to take in and get up to speed with so I look for solid IT background as a base.

Stage 3
- Candidates who pass stage 2 will go forward to a full day of group exercises and presentations
- 10 minute autobiography (unprepared)
- 10 minute presentation on technical subject (prepared)
- 2 Group exercises
- Group discussion exercise on topical subjects

Stage 4
- 45-60 minute formal interview covering areas such as
- Motivation for becoming involved in the work
- Concept of role and type of work involved / challenges / motivating themselves
- Working in police environment
- What have they done to prepare for whole process
- Strengths and weaknesses
- Future of digital forensics
- 3 Practical Scenarios to evaluate
- Integrity issues
- Stress and coping with high workloads / exposure to material
- Communication skills (verbal / non-verbal)
- Continued Professional Development
- Where they see themselves in 5 years
- Court
- Greatest achievements
- Greatest failures
- What motivates them
- Individual as a person
- Support of family / friends
- Unsocial working
- Steep learning curve etc

Just a flavour for you.

Once recuited - they are on an 18 month probationary period where they are on a career development plan during that time where all internal/external training is mapped out.

Have you thought about ringing the unit in question.

Im sure one of us will be happy to help if you have any queries or concerns.

SP

Thanks very much, again very much appreciated, I hope I can put all this info to good use. Many thanks.

Dear Wiggers,

I am sure you are superior old bean. We have a few dinosaurs in this unit. We are five Police officers with over 123 years, mostly C.I.D, experience. The only civilian staff member is a retired Detective Chief Inspector who knows a thing or two. We do not loose focus that we are here to protect the public. I do not worry too much about the latest computer play thing out. I do worry about the technical snobbery that pervades computer crime units that is such a turn off to Police officers, lawyer’s judges and juries. Look at one forces job spec.

A few courses will not make you superior. Three of us have an M.Sc. One dissertation has been published. So we are not exactly “Life on Mars,” although a flavour of it would help! The standard of “computer investigations” carried out by outsourced companies/ non police staff leaves a lot to be desired. It seems that many are too busy showing off some odd course they have attended rather than gaining criminal investigative experience.

Remember, Crown court witness boxes are the loneliest place in the world. Superiority and a computer course will not help there. Previous experience of being cross examined by a Q.C. for a day or two might help a bit. So might an academic qualification. Oh. and what made me learn about computers? It was because the villains were starting to use them with the advent of the internet. That’s my job. Working with computers should not be a prime motivator in this role. Finding the evidence to prove guilt or innocence should.

Subserviently yours from South Wales