How I did it: I graduated from college in 1992, with a degree in Criminal Justice and Chemistry.  I knew I wanted to get into the Crime Lab, however, my experience was minimal.  I started my career as a dispatcher, and pestered the Crime Lab 5 different times with my application before I was finally hired.  

Lessons & tips: If being a CSI is your goal...get some experience.  It is the best thing you can have going for you.  Volunteer at a lab (really any sort of lab), get a job that is similar (a coroner's investigator? a cop?) and be persisitent!  Oh, and join a professional organization...look for your local chapter of the International Association for Identification (IAI)

Resources: www.theiai.org

Jan 01, 2009, 12:03AM PST | 1 comment | 1 cheer