I am a forensic student currently in my final year of university. I am studying a BSc in Forensic Computing and interested in becoming a forensic data analyst, most likely in London.
Having searched several forum topics already, I cannot find anything that specifically refers to my query (although please do correct me if I'm wrong).
My query refers to asking when the right time is to start applying for jobs, joining recruitment agencies, etc, baring in mind I do not finish my course until July 2011. Obviously I do not want to receive/look for oppurtunities too early but would prefer if I was not searching for months to years (after graduating) as can often be the case.
Any advice as when to start the hunt? Or is now the simple answer?
Thank-you in advance for the advice.
I started in the December before graduating. Did me well as I started my first forensic job 4 days after my final exam.
Having said that you face an up-hill struggle at the moment. Only a handful of last year's grads found forensic jobs and a number of forensic companies have either downsized or stopped trading altogether. This has released a lot of good experiences analysts into an already saturated job market. I know one company advertised for a forensic job and had over 10 applications within an hour of posting.
If you know people in the field hit them first, be prepared to work for almost nothing to get your foot in the door. From there you'll have to try to make yourself as needed as possible.
Don't mean to sound down about it but its just the way things are at the moment.
I agree with DFICSI, it is very hard to get a job as a graduate.
I was lucky enough to get one before I graduated because I just happened to meet someone at the right time.
I'd start looking as soon as humanly possible if I were you!
I'm in the same situation (although I'll be getting my MS). I've already started applying for every relevant job I come across.
As soon as you can, quite frankly.
I began in January and graduated in May of this year. I have yet to get even a bite and I've applied to 80+ Forensic Positions all throughout the US.
Stress experience and expertise with tools - and follow up with technical knowledge, don't try to do the other way around.
But then again, I'm not sure taking advice from me is a wise idea judging from my luck! D
If you are doing a dissertation another potential 'in' is to work with a company on this and develop something to help them out.
Honestly, finding a job without any experience under your belt will make it 3x less likely for you to have the upper hand on others of better quality.
I would start looking for possible internships in the field. That is how I started. I managed to get a paid internship position and possibly will get a job offer right out of college. I did not stop there. I got an internship with a health insurance comp in their IT dept helping them out with audit and info sec projects. On top of that, I worked in the help desk and fix computers on the side to keep fresh on the basics of computer knowledge.
I was very fortunate to get paid for both these internships but the same may not apply to you. Even if it is not paid take it and run with it. I have been told by many that the way in is to know an "IN". Sad to say I know but it is reality. If you get in with someone from the company that will help you two fold.
To answer the question, I started applying last year and I graduate this year in December. I currently picked up on applying this month. The applications from last year and the denials helped me focus on the key areas of interests that the employers were looking for.
Hope this helps at all.
I would have to agree with eygonzal on the internship suggestion. It's a good way to get in the door. I had done a few before I became a fulltime employee. The employer typically doesn't have to make a huge committment in order to get you in, but then you can prove yourself once inside.
Perhaps your uni has a network of employers who are interested in interns.
Eygonzal, maybe you can share what you found employers were looking for…
I started looking the Christmas before I graduated. I'd been keeping up to speed with job opportunities for months before that.
There must be 100s if not 1000s of graduates competing for a small number of jobs. You need to stand out. I'd read the EnCE book twice through and got work experience doing Networking and Data Recovery work. Luckily I landed the first job I applied for with LE……..and it was worth all the work.
I could share about one employer. I sat in front of a panel of interviewers. Four to be exact. This is how the big four companies do it. More and more companies are incorporating this type of style.
I learned to tailor my confidence and also worked on presentation. To be very honest with you they asked me one question, "what is the difference between ghost images and forensics imaging software." I answered the question confidently. I told them "forensics images acquires much more data such as slax space." I was interrupted and was told thank you very much. "We know that you know about technology." The next hour was questions regarding ethics, professionalism, aspirations. In my mind I was saying to myself holy smokes. I determined that companies such as this, one of the big four, look for much more than technical expertise, they want talent. What type of talent. Business talent. They want to know that the investment they are making is worth while. Someone who brings different sides of different worlds to benefit both the division that you would be working for, but more importantly, the business as a whole.
They need to know that they could confide in you to work independently and make honest and worthwhile contributions to the company.