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I have an interview at my county crime lab

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(@pswii60)
Posts: 3
New Member
Topic starter
 

I have an interview opportunity coming up at the Allegheny county crime lab with the county police for digital forensics, entry level as far as I know. I'm told I'll be interviewing with the lieutenant. I've been reading the articles here, but I would like to know if anyone has any tips or resources they would recommend for this specific type of interview. I am extremely excited for this, but also nervous since the possibility is extremely important to me. Any advice would be helpful.

As for a bit about myself, I have my certification in computer forensics from my local college, and my bachelors in computer animation and game design. I have a background in emergency services and healthcare.

 
Posted : 11/05/2015 8:31 am
(@bithead)
Posts: 1206
Noble Member
 

Why would you hire yourself?

Ask yourself, and be ready to answer, what can you bring to the job? You did not mention experience, so can you bring an investigative mindset to the job? An ability to dig in and figure out what it will take to make a case? Ability to work with others? Demonstrated strong work ethic?

Figure out what strengths you have, and be prepared to explain them.

 
Posted : 11/05/2015 9:00 am
(@mscotgrove)
Posts: 938
Prominent Member
 

With any interview, be yourself.

The fact you have got an interview means that your qualifications, experience etc probably fit the job requirements. You will be working in a team and it is important that you can fit in with that team. Your CV is often not a very good indicator of personality, the interview is.

You will also discover the way the team works, this may suit you, or it may be something you cannot get on with. Make sure you get the interviewer to describe the job, and the way certain tasks are approached, and how they solve certain problems.

Good luck

 
Posted : 11/05/2015 5:09 pm
jaclaz
(@jaclaz)
Posts: 5133
Illustrious Member
 

Make sure you get the interviewer to describe the job, and the way certain tasks are approached, and how they solve certain problems.

I may add while managing to sound not like an I-know-it-all-and-probably-more-than-you kind of guy.

The other issue with asking this kind of questions is also in my experience that of risking to result as a perfect n00b (which is OK since you are a fresh resource at an entry level), particularly the kind of pretentious one.

I mean, if I tell you (say)

Most cases here are common criminal ones, most of them CP, though of course from time to time a case of GPAH may come out and when it happens we deal with it according to the Brink-Thompson protocol which surely you have studied at UNI.

What do you reply?

jaclaz

 
Posted : 11/05/2015 6:16 pm
TuckerHST
(@tuckerhst)
Posts: 175
Estimable Member
 

Make sure you get the interviewer to describe the job, and the way certain tasks are approached, and how they solve certain problems.

I may add while managing to sound not like an I-know-it-all-and-probably-more-than-you kind of guy.

The other issue with asking this kind of questions is also in my experience that of risking to result as a perfect n00b (which is OK since you are a fresh resource at an entry level), particularly the kind of pretentious one.

I mean, if I tell you (say)

Most cases here are common criminal ones, most of them CP, though of course from time to time a case of GPAH may come out and when it happens we deal with it according to the Brink-Thompson protocol which surely you have studied at UNI.

What do you reply?

jaclaz

These questions are, of course, elementary for qualified digital forensic examiners. GPAH is Greyhound Pets of America, Houston, which is where the phrase is said to have originated "Your case is a dog." And Brink-Thompson is an American football reference.

So the correct response would be to say something like, "Awww, who doesn't like puppies?" Or "Yeah, how bout them Fightin' Engineers?"

Let us know how the interview goes. 😉

 
Posted : 11/05/2015 9:38 pm
(@pswii60)
Posts: 3
New Member
Topic starter
 

Make sure you get the interviewer to describe the job, and the way certain tasks are approached, and how they solve certain problems.

I may add while managing to sound not like an I-know-it-all-and-probably-more-than-you kind of guy.

The other issue with asking this kind of questions is also in my experience that of risking to result as a perfect n00b (which is OK since you are a fresh resource at an entry level), particularly the kind of pretentious one.

I mean, if I tell you (say)

Most cases here are common criminal ones, most of them CP, though of course from time to time a case of GPAH may come out and when it happens we deal with it according to the Brink-Thompson protocol which surely you have studied at UNI.

What do you reply?

jaclaz

I would need to ask for clarification on GPAH and Brink-thompson protocol. The second of which would probably be bad considering the interviewer would be expecting I already know of it.

Thanks for all the advice thus far, I hadn't considered that I would be part of a team, but will add more emphasis to that angle.

You would also be correct in that my experience thus far is in the classroom setting.

 
Posted : 11/05/2015 9:48 pm
jaclaz
(@jaclaz)
Posts: 5133
Illustrious Member
 

I would need to ask for clarification on GPAH and Brink-thompson protocol. The second of which would probably be bad considering the interviewer would be expecting I already know of it.

Not really, as the interviewer had just invented both the GPAH acronym and the Brink-Thompson protocol, congratulations, you just passed this mini-exam of mine. )

jaclaz

 
Posted : 12/05/2015 12:34 am
(@pswii60)
Posts: 3
New Member
Topic starter
 

Interview is over, super paranoid now about whether I'll get the job or not. I got a question wrong that they asked on how to block incoming signal, I had said to place it in something to block the signal, they were looking for airplane mode. I didn't think of that cause I wasn't sure of what that would do to the data. 2 of the 4 knew one of my professors and seemed to hold him in high regard. A professor that let me use him as a reference. Here's hoping.

 
Posted : 17/05/2015 5:35 am
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