If you would like a career as a CSI...
You will need a degree, or equivalent qualification. Useful skills include communication skills, photography skills and scientific ability.
Several universities offer foundation degrees and degree courses in forensic science. Degree courses usually require a minimum of two A levels, or equivalent, with at least one science subject. The Forensic Science Society has accredited a number of university courses.
A few entrants to this career come from a related job within the emergency services, where experience of dealing with members of the public and difficult situations has been central to their work. Other applicants may come from jobs requiring photographic skills.
To be successful you need to be interested in …
- Science and technology
- Photography
- Police and criminal law
A successful CSI needs to...
- Work well in a team as well as independently
- Remain calm in unpleasant or distressing situations
- Use scientific equipment and computers
- Be able to concentrate for long periods of time
- Be physically fit and agile
- Be methodical, accurate and able to pay close attention to detail
- Record and report facts accurately
- Communicate well with people from all backgrounds
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My life as a... CSI
What is your job title?
Crime Scene Investigator.
What qualifications do you need to get where you are?
Degree in forensic science or qualifications and experience in technical photography.
What qualifications have you got?
Degree in Ecology and City & Guilds in Science.
What does your job involve?
My job involves investigating anything left at a crime scene, such as fibres, footwear marks, fingerprints or DNA samples (found for example, in hair or under fingernails). These elements may be used to help me solve crimes and prosecute suspects.
The crime scenes I visit may be complex and provide only one opportunity to obtain crucial evidence. I have to start work on this before the crime scene is disturbed and any evidence removed. Sometimes I have to attend distressing scenes, particularly in the event of serious crimes being committed such as murder, arson or robbery.
What do you most like about your job?
I rarely have the same two working days running and I also like being called out at 3am in the morning knowing you are going to have to make important decisions about potentially serious scenes that you may well have to justify in a court of law. It’s also great to be able to use scientific equipment and computers that help report the facts accurately.
Is there anything about your job that you don’t like?
You have to record everything that you discovered at the scene, which often results in a lot of paperwork. I have to work in all kinds of weather conditions, and crime scenes are often dirty and dangerous but that all adds to the job.
What is most rewarding about your job?
Just knowing that I am contributing to the continued safety of the community is very rewarding.
Do you have a typical day?
No, this job is very varied, some days the jobs just don’t stop coming in and you will be outside in the pouring rain, often soaked to the skin all day and other days you will need to catch up on paper work and you won’t be able to leave your desk.
What advice would you give to other people wanting a job like yours?
It is not for the faint hearted, you need to be physically fit and agile and you should always be prepared to often work long hours depending on the case. You need to be able to communicate well with people from all backgrounds, remain calm in unpleasant or distressing situations and understand that you are only one very small part of the machine that is Law and Order.
What qualities do you need to be successful?
You need to be able to concentrate for long periods of time and have the skills to be methodical and accurate with the ability to pay close attention to detail. It also helps to have a sense of humour in the face of sometimes overwhelming circumstances.
