Advice for Job Application

[u/autisticadamsandler]

I graduated last spring with a bachelors of forensic science with an emphasis in crime scene investigation. Since July, I have been a parole officer. Not ideal, but it paid well and was the most relevant job I got hired for. Now a forensic scientist job just opened in my city and I really want to put in the best application i possibly can for it. I just kinda wanted some general advice for what to put down about my current job on there to help.

This is my rough draft so far for my responsibilities….

- Conduct investigations involving parole violations, criminal activity, and threats to public safety.
- Collect, document, package, and preserve evidence in accordance with established procedures and chain-of-custody requirements.
- Collect DNA samples and complete required documentation for submission and processing.
- Conduct residential, personal, electronic, and property searches for evidence of criminal activity and parole violations.
- Utilize criminal justice databases to research criminal histories, warrants, law enforcement contacts, court records, and investigative information.
- Collaborate with local and state law enforcement regarding criminal activity, active investigations, searches, arrests, and evidence-related matters,
- Conduct interviews with clients, victims, witnesses, family members, and law enforcement personnel to gather and corroborate investigative information.
- Prepare detailed investigative reports, violation reports, case documentation, and written summaries of evidence and investigative findings.
- Testify in parole hearings regarding investigative findings, evidence collected, client behavior, and parole violations.
- Evaluate and interpret information from multiple sources to identify patterns, establish timelines, and make evidence. based recommendations.

How much should I shorten this up? Also, the position is for latent prints specifically and that was my role in my classes in college whenever we’d be assigned a specific role. i’ve also taken classes specifically for latent prints. But i’m not sure how to even put that on a resume. Or in the application? There’s also a skills section of the application, is it good to actually put stuff in there? Or should I just put it on my resume?

I know these might be kinda dumb questions, but no one in my family has a professional level job and i don’t have any friends in this field so i don’t really know how to figure all this out otherwise.

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[u/hycarumba]

Retired LPE here.

In addition to what was already said, you want to make sure that you use the exact verbiage that is in the job listing as much as possible in your application. The applications are first vetted by people in HR (often not even people, the first vetting can also be a computer program). They aren't in forensics and can't read between the lines. They only know what words are in the job description and will only pass people through if the words match.

Most definitely include any print training you have had.

[u/autisticadamsandler → u/hycarumba]

!! yes i was very much so considering the hr ppl first. my last job had me helping hire ppl so i kinda have some insight on the system used. the print training ive had would all have been in college. should i put it in a skills section then? i have a “relevant courses” section that i would put the classes in but that doesn’t really say much… i just don’t know how to include those details

[u/hycarumba → u/autisticadamsandler]

You want to highlight it as much as possible without overstating your actual skills. If you can put it in multiple places without going over a page, do so.

You can always do a resume and a CV both. A CV has ALL relevant courses and experience and a resume is just the highlights.

[u/jdub255]

Latent print analyst here, sat through a number of hiring rounds, and help with internships (as to my qualifications), but take my advice with a grain of salt. This is what I would recommend, and there is usually not a singular right answer.

For the skills, yes put something on your resume and on the applications if there is a space for it. For what those skills are will depend on what your classes involved and how much of the skill did you develop. Did you do latent print processing, and what techniques? Do you have photography skills, what kind of camera? Digital image processing/enhancement? Actual latent print comparison work? Taking known finger/palm prints? If you actually did these things and you feel like you can still talk about and/or perform them, then yes list them as a skill.

I generally tell people for skills to list what hard skills do you have - what is something that can be demonstrated. Avoid soft skills, like well organized, communication, time management, friendly, etc.... these are subjective for the most part and hard to demonstrate.

As for your current job and duties..... It's kind of long, but of that is your only relevant job, then go for it. What you have there is good and provided a good correlation between that job and forensic work. If the position you are applying for doesn't do processing, and is just a analysis/comparison position, then you could cut the DNA samples, crime scene searching, and interview aspect, or try to bundle those in with some of the other aspect. Basically, try to hit the highlights of what you do, and try to tailor it to the job you are applying for (hopefully there is a job description available for the position, and maybe see if you can get the one for the next level above).

Good luck!