Hi, my 25yr old daughter is a graduate with BA in Forensics (Science & Technology).

26 Comments

1. AnonymousAugust 25,2023 at 11:24AM UTC

   BA in Forensics isn't enough for what she may be thinking. Surprised that the school said that's enough. Not even sure if it's enough for scene clean up. School didn't help with internships? Also, she may need to relocate for an opportunity for an entry level opportunity. Depending upon they're wanting to maybe do with their tech part of the degree, internet security, IT help desk in a corporation may be a good place to start. There are often specialist that deal with company spam and safe guarding their information from being hacked.

2. Grisel Scarantino, Career and Work-Life Fulfillment CoachAugust 25,2023 at 12:47PM UTC

   She would benefit from conducting informational interviews with professionals who do the kind of work she would like to do and ask how they got their career started.

   Sometimes, these conversations lead to actual job interviews that can get her foot in the door with entry-level positions where she can start gaining relevant professional experience.

   Another advantage is that this kind of activity grows her network with professionals in her area of interest which is always a good thing!

3. AnonymousAugust 25,2023 at 1:50PM UTC

   Her university's career center or Alumni Association would be a good place for her to start. They can help her develop her resume/CV. Companies with entry-level positions and OJT possibilities generally post on a job board run by the career center or alumni association. As others have stated, if she needs an advanced degree since they are affiliated with the university, they can help her move in that direction.

4. Grisel Scarantino, Career and Work-Life Fulfillment CoachAugust 25,2023 at 6:27PM UTC

   This is great advice! Years ago when I was in school, I used to work in the office that helped prepare graduating students to transition out into the workforce. Lots of wonderful resources there but sadly, many students aren't aware. That would be a great place to start, for sure!

5. Sandy EarlAugust 25,2023 at 1:51PM UTC

   Tell her that SHE can get great advice on this forum and then back off and trust her to do what’s best for herself. Sometimes people need space to grow.

6. AnonymousAugust 25,2023 at 6:36PM UTC

   Does it make you feel good to be rude to perfect strangers for seeking advice on a forum that is specifically designed to seek advice? Just because you get to hide behind the safety of your screen does NOT give you the right to be a dick to anyone. A REAL person with feelings and good intentions is going to come back to see your comment. How do you think that's going to make them feel? Not good. Do you care? Would you care if you were seeking advice and someone snapped at you the way you did here? You have no idea what the circumstances are for this poster and her daughter. Perhaps this mom wants to be helpful and offer something of value to her daughter who is asking her mom for more ideas. Please keep your rudeness and negativity to yourself because no-one else wants it.

7. AnonymousAugust 26,2023 at 1:28PM UTC

   I totally agree with the original comment. Nothing about encouraging a 25 year old professional woman with a college degree to manage her own search is out of line.

8. Peggie Arvidson * Career Consultant | Adoptee Advocate | RecruiterAugust 27,2023 at 8:28PM UTC

   whoa - Sandy has said what I said too - and she's not "hiding behind the screen of anonymous" and why so rude to her? She clearly pointed out that sometimes people need room to go and you think that's being a "dick"? By and large recruiters won't be talking to her mom so having her find the way to build her network on her time and her way is going to be crucial for her finding a job. I know you love her and are worried about her - but this knee-jerk reaction to Sandy seems an over-reach.

9. Peggie Arvidson * Career Consultant | Adoptee Advocate | RecruiterAugust 27,2023 at 8:29PM UTC

   oh, you aren't the mom -- y'all are just anonymous so I got you confused. Mom - yes, let your daughter find her way. Anonymous calling people dicks - I'm not sure why you are so invested in this ?

10. AnonymousAugust 28,2023 at 1:44AM UTC

    Agree with Peggy and Sandy. There was nothing rude about Sandy's advice. The daughter needs to be more proactive in seeking opportunities.

11. Peggie Arvidson * Career Consultant | Adoptee Advocate | RecruiterAugust 27,2023 at 1:40PM UTC

    NETWORK -- and I mean SHE needs to learn to build relationships and network on her own.

    Make sure she has a good LinkedIn profile that draws potential employers to her.

    Then she should start researching people with the job titles she wants/thinks she wants and get a feel for what their first jobs were -- likely something more junior than what she thinks she should be getting - and then reach out to those people and introduce herself (briefly) and let them know she'd like to connect as she's entering the field.

    No big ask - just connect.

    My guess is she's playing above her league - I wrote a recent article about this on my zencareer substack.

    I have a few other ideas and tips - most are on the same substack page - and if she has questions, tell her to reach out and connect with me on LInkedIn.

12. Peggie Arvidson * Career Consultant | Adoptee Advocate | RecruiterAugust 27,2023 at 1:41PM UTC

    I'd also have her join this site - there's wonderful advice here - but SHE Needs to have more initiative than you do about finding her job.

13. AnonymousAugust 27,2023 at 3:51PM UTC

    has she joined all of the professional organizations in her field? Has she reached out to seasoned folks in her industry regarding externing. She should as that is often the way to get into a closed field especially one that might need more women like this one.

14. AnonymousAugust 27,2023 at 5:38PM UTC

    I wish you had asked before she got a BA in Forensics. TV shows have made Forensics the dream career that millions of people want to have. The truth is that most localities do not have the money to retain a forensic professional and jobs in the field are actually few and far between. She may have a very long wait to get hired or may decide to pursue something with more job opportunities.

15. Peggie Arvidson * Career Consultant | Adoptee Advocate | RecruiterAugust 27,2023 at 8:25PM UTC

    good point. I have a friend who got her masters in Forensic psych and now works for a government contractor -- presumably using some of the skills from school....

16. Francine A McGrathAugust 27,2023 at 9:13PM UTC

    Try the county coroner's office. They may be able to help. Did your daughter have an internship where she went to school?

17. RiaAugust 28,2023 at 1:49AM UTC

    She can seek employment with the police force or state and federal agencies, like the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and secret service. Forensic criminologists can also go into education and teaching, medical investigations, corrections, research and policy studies. The FBI has a career forensics section which lists all their openings.

    https://fbijobs.gov/forensics#:~:text=Qualifications%20and%20Eligibility,-Minimum%20Qualifications&text=A%20bachelor's%20degree%20or%20higher,engineering%2C%20information%20technology%2C%20or%20mathematics

18. Lisa WilsonAugust 28,2023 at 12:12PM UTC

    My cousin works for a state crime lab and uses her skills daily. Reminder to apply anyway if it says 3 years of experience. apply! Apply! Apply! The quantity of resumes/applications out there matters.

19. AnonymousAugust 28,2023 at 12:13PM UTC

    Have her create an account and ask for herself. That’s a great first step!

20. AYANNALYSEAugust 28,2023 at 12:37PM UTC

    Join a fraud team, banks are always looking for fraud audit teams..

21. MidwestMaven456August 28,2023 at 1:57PM UTC

    First, take any job in the field just for experience. Then, look at the off places, like local testing labs for blood, private labs for doctors, genealogy companies, food companies and the like. Think anything in sustainability to help track contaminants and insurance companies. Don't forget that the fire department looks for forensics as well as the police department.

22. AnonymousAugust 28,2023 at 3:47PM UTC

    Did she intern in college? Previous internships are perhaps the best bridge to an entry level role in her field. If she did not, she may want to consider doing an internship now. Professional organizations in her field are another good way to learn about opportunities and network with other professionals.

23. AnonymousAugust 28,2023 at 4:28PM UTC

    Please let her take the lead in networking on boards like this and in other areas rather than reaching out on her behalf. It will give her networking experience. Nothing worse than having your mom do this stuff for you.

24. AnonymousAugust 28,2023 at 4:59PM UTC

    The healthcare industry often has internal auditor programs. Try Lab Corp, Quest Diagnostics and CVS. There are also CRO that conduct clinical trials that require quality assurance and auditing.

25. maria roseAugust 28,2023 at 6:29PM UTC

    I am surprised that your daughter hasn’t gotten help with a job guidance counselor on how to apply the skills learned in knowledge from that degree into career planning paths. Having a specific degree doesn’t guarantee anyone a job in a specific field, one needs to apply the knowledge into a skill that works well in multiple fields of work, no matter what field of work. It’s surprising how areas of interest overlap.

26. AnonymousAugust 31,2023 at 3:17PM UTC

    She can apply at any police force. Her being a female is a plus.