Computer Forensics technician- Job outlook?

[Perrine]

I'm thinking about taking this 2-year degree

http://csn.edu/PDFFiles/Degree%20Sheets/2012-2013/AAS-Computing_Information_Technology-Electronic_Crime_Emphasis.pdf


Some questions:

1.  Can this degree be used stand-alone to at least get foot in the door, or it needs to be complemented with other degrees?

2.  Is the chance of getting hired right away after earning the degree favorable?   My sources are kinda limited and definitely don't wanna incurred debt up to my eyeballs

[Perrine]

(mods pls delete the identical thread,  I clicked the post button and it wouldn't load quick )

[uptown]

A two year degree won't get you far these days, but I'd talk to your local police department and ask them what it would take to get into their cyber crimes unit...if they have one that is. Some places will pay part or all of your schooling costs if it's job related.

[zack1234]

Become a Electrician or Engineer

The TV has caused a influx of people wanting to be spacemen, Vampires or Forensic Technicians

Tattoo removal is going to be a good job in a couple of years because people are getting old and pics of Bruce Lee on your back look daft when your 60 and fat.

Debt Management will become a relevant job in the near future

I should have become a bricklayer, someone always wants a wall building for cash in hand

[eagl]

Some police departments require you to be a beat cop for a couple of years before transferring to a special unit like that.

[gyrene81]

you would be wasting your time and money on that degree. that program would be considered a "supplemental" technical degree program. if you were already a law enforcement officer with some i.t. experience and were trying to get into a cyber crimes position, then it would be worth while.

[Babalonian]

I'm thinking about taking this 2-year degree

http://csn.edu/PDFFiles/Degree%20Sheets/2012-2013/AAS-Computing_Information_Technology-Electronic_Crime_Emphasis.pdf


Some questions:

1.  Can this degree be used stand-alone to at least get foot in the door, or it needs to be complemented with other degrees?

2.  Is the chance of getting hired right away after earning the degree favorable?   My sources are kinda limited and definitely don't wanna incurred debt up to my eyeballs

Go to the people hiring for this field and ask them what they're looking for now and in 2-4 years.

My guess is if it's a federal or local police agency, you'll need to pass some basic testing/screening or any aditional criminal justice cources not adequatley covered by your Computer Forensics (or, as said, you work "the beat" for a couple years first)... unless it's a really good cource/program you're taking (most 2-years are precisely NOT this, they're only the basics needed to associate with the profession).

My honest best guess is with the way to get into this field, earn all the degrees/certifications/credentials you'll need (while getting it paid for), and land a nice job with a pension in the end without worrying if you're qualified enough will be through the military intelligence community.

Not to discourage you, keep thinking about your future now, real footwork always starts with a first step.

[Vulcan]

I worked with an ex-computer-forensics guy for two years. He only lasted 18 months in the role.

The technical aspect is only a small portion of the role, looking at images of kiddie porn or kids being abused, bestiality or other sick stuff, then having to keep calm and cool in court is what is really difficult.

Some of the stuff will be quite nasty, we're talking infants being "abused" here. Think you can look at that stuff without flipping your lid?

[deSelys]

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This degree wouldn't open you many doors by police forces (in Europe) but it wouldn't be totally useless with insurance companies when they try to detect fraud, or in the market niche of data recovery after disk crash.

If you have only one degree, not worth it IMHO. As an addition to a more comprehensive computer science education, it would be much more interesting.