Crime Scene Analyst Interview Questions & Answers

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There isn’t really a wrong answer to this question, but you might want to tailor your response to the industry you’re hoping to work for. Trying out media? Express your passion in creating content. Have a knack for business? Share the not-so lofty goals you seek to achieve in the long run. Ultimately, the aim is to assess your drive for the job and how willing you are to go above and beyond.

For those of you interested in a career in forensic science, they key word is "science." The best degrees are found in the natural sciences, like biology, chemistry, and physics.

In addition to the basics, if you have a particular specialty in mind, you can explore entomology, anthropology, psychology, computer science, just to name a few. Again, the emphasis should be on building knowledge and training in scientific principles and processes.

Of course in the lab as well as being a mom, a soldier, a student and employee at the same time. As a generalist in the lab it is common to be doing multiple timed testing while bein interrupted on the phone and in person by other staff.

I always enjoyed the science field as well as helping others; I believe I would end up as a nurse. possibly working as a sane sart nurse.

This question depends on the age of the minor. A minor under the age of 16 can never lawfully consent to sexual intercourse. A minor who is at least 16 years of age or older can lawfully consent to intercourse if the second party is less than 24 years of age and at least 16 years old.

This question is like a loaded gun, tricky and dangerous if you’re not sure what you are doing. It’s not uncommon for people to end up talking salary before really selling their skills, but knowledge is power as this is a negotiation after all. Again, this is an area where doing your research will be helpful as you will have an understanding of average salary.

One approach is asking the interviewer about the salary range, but to avoid the question entirely, you can respond that money isn’t a key factor and you’re goal is to advance in your career. However, if you have a minimum figure in mind and you believe you’re able to get it, you may find it worth trying.

Chances are your interviewer already has a specific set of requirements in mind, so your best bet would be to list out strengths related to the position you’re applying for, while sharing your thoughts on how you can further contribute. Not only will they appreciate you giving your two cents, it also displays the effort that went into your research. This shows that you’re well-prepared for the interview, on top of your dedication in being part of the company.

They would say that I am very much about quality and that I take my work very seriously but I am also easy to get along with and humble in my tasks. I am not afraid to ask for help or get a second opinion because I always place the patient or result first but I am assertive enough to speak up if I think something has compromised a result. I know there is more than one way to get the same result and I learn from others techniques and try them to see what best fits for me as long as it does not violate policy.

Since the technicians work mostly unsupervised, it is important the supervisors have a knowledge of their work history. So, we typically don’t hire from outside the agency, we transfer individuals from within. My suggestion to someone who is interested in becoming a crime scene technician is to first ride with one, to see what the job is all about. Second, attend an autopsy, since this is difficult for many people to handle. And third, apply at the Sheriff’s Office and get hired, so there is documentation of your work history, and then you can be considered for transfer.

You need to understand scientific principles. You need to know how to conduct an experiment, generate a theory, and then see if you can make it fail. In DNA, you have to know enough biology to understand genetics. In firearms testing, you need know physics, math, how things ricochet and how trajectories can be figured out.
You’ve got to understand the instrument you’re using, how a mass spectrometer works, what it’s doing, what it’s telling you; how you might get a false positive or false negative reading. You have to take notes, write reports, and be articulate enough to explain complicated science to a jury.

This can be a tricky question to respond to, if you suggest you have no weaknesses you’re going to appear as a lair or egotistical. You should respond realistically by mentioning small work related weaknesses. Although many try to answer using a positive skill in disguise as a weakness, like “I expect co-workers to have the same commitment” or “I am a perfectionist”. However, it is recommended that there is some honesty and the weaknesses are true, and then emphasize on how you have overcome it or working to improve it. The purpose of this question is to see how you view and evaluate yourself.

The minimum qualifications to work at the Sheriff’s Office are a high school diploma or a G.E.D. The training is on the job, and lasts a minimum of 16 weeks. The first four weeks the trainee learns how to operate each piece of equipment, how and what to photograph, how to process for fingerprints, and how to collect and package evidence. The next twelve weeks are broken down into two phases – the first part is where the trainee is exposed to calls and the trainer works the call, the trainee takes “pretend” pictures, packages “pretend” evidence and latent fingerprints, and writes a “pretend” report. In the second part, the trainee will be responsible for the investigation – photographs, evidence, latent fingerprints and the report. Through this phase the trainee is given less and less guidance and during the last two weeks, the trainee works the call with little or no assistance from the trainer.

Because of the variety of jobs available, there are lots of education paths you can take to prepare yourself for a career. Typically, people interested in criminal justice and criminology careers will want to study the social sciences. The best degrees for these types of jobs, besides criminal justice or criminology, are sociology, psychology, or political science, with any combination of majors and minors in those areas.

What I like the most about being a forensic sicence technician is that is never borring, every crime scene is unique in its own way even if it looks all too familiar... To me they are like fingerprints is every time a world of possibilities to learn something, or find something odd that you have not seen before.

This question allows you to brag on yourself, but keep in mind that the interviewer wants strengths relative to the position. For example, being a problem solver, a motivator, and being able to perform under pressure, positive attitude and loyal. You will also need examples that back your answers up for illustration of the skill.

I have loved forensic science since I was in 7th grade. I have always enjoyed science and wanted to help people. problem solving is something that has always been a big part of my life. with the studies over the past 5 years, I know that this is the field I want to be in an I am ready to make a contribution to the world of forensic science.

What I enjoy most about forensic science is the problem solving. You look at the evidence to see what it’s telling you. How can you use the experts, scientific tests, and your own knowledge to answer questions and solve problems?
The forensic field is changing. Laboratories are being accredited and there are different standards. There are written procedures detailing how to do the analysis. You can’t just say, “I know how to use these instruments and I can figure it out.” The changes are driven by arguments that attorneys make. There’s a standardization for everything. They have to know how the procedure is done, what the normal range is. They want to read a result and know it’s the same, no matter which lab did the test.

Save the story about the time you had a meltdown over spilled milk for another day. This question evaluates your ability to cope under high-pressure situations, and knowing how you handle challenges helps to determine your work attitude. Being able to think quick on your feet and make smart decisions are desirable qualities for ideal candidate.

When children are injured or killed, it is a difficult time for the family as well as law enforcement officers. The families of individuals who have been killed are understandably upset. We have to look past what has occurred and perform our job. And finally, it is difficult when dealing with those individuals who are injured and in pain. In these instances, once again we have a job to do and regardless of the circumstances that job must be done.

I’m not the first at the scene, the state folks are. The challenge on my part as a defense criminalist is to go back and look at the photos, look at the write-ups, the lab notes, and decide if they actually collected all the evidence they needed. A lot of what I do deals with the underbelly of society and it’s not necessarily fun to do that. I encounter bad stuff: mutilated bodies, child abuse, autopsies. Sometimes people say, “I can’t do this anymore, I don’t want to see any more dead bodies.”

Before I delegate the work, I take a step back and see what I can do on my own first without overwhelming myself or trading quality for time when I know I can not dedicate the appropriate effort to a task. Once I figure out what I will do and what I must delegate, I do it in such a way that the person I am delegating the work to has the qualifications and strengths to complete the work up to a higher standard. I also tend to look over delegated work once it is completed to ensure that we both agree the work is top quality.

Although this would seem like a simple question, it can easily become tricky. You shouldn’t mention salary being a factor at this point. If you’re currently employed, your response can focus on developing and expanding your career and even yourself. If you’re current employer is downsizing, remain positive and brief. If your employer fired you, prepare a solid reason. Under no circumstance should you discuss any drama or negativity, always remain positive.

Natural emancipation occurs when a minor turns 18 years of age. Early emancipation usually occurs by court order. To obtain a court order:

1) The minor must be at least 16 years of age.
2) A petition must be filed by the minor’s parent, guardian or guardian ad litem.
3) The petition must show the judge that the minor is independent and able to support himself/herself and his/her child, if he/she is parenting.
A. He/she must either be supporting himself/herself or have a specific plan in place to do so.
B. He/she can not be dependent on public benefits.
4) The person must give the judge reasons why the minor needs to be emancipated.
5) When a minor is married he/she is emancipated.
A. Marriage requires parental consent.
B. A minor under 16 can not get married even with parental consent.

People who enter into criminal justice and criminology usually do so because of a desire to serve the public. For the most part, these jobs are largely about service and sacrifice. Unfortunately, altruism won't put food on the table or pay the mortgage, so you're going to want to know how much you can expect to earn.

Salaries vary widely depending on the level of education, responsibility and technical expertise necessary to perform the job, but in general, you will probably start out earning between $30,000 and $40,000. Corrections officers, police dispatchers, and loss prevention workers tend to be on the lower end of the pay scale, while professors, scientists, and private consultants can earn well over $100,000 annually.

I have had practice testifying in mock cases. While I am sure I will be nervous, I know I am qualified in my.