Kickstart your Criminal Justice Career with these 3 Tips
Kathleen G.
Sundance Film Festival Editor. Ballet Teacher. Writer. Editor in Chief.
Published Apr 15, 2021
So many of us have faced job hunting headaches. So why Criminal Justice specifically? The criminal justice field is tricky, diverse, sometimes old school. Embracing this and building a job search strategy will minimize a majorly bumpy road ahead when kickstarting your criminal justice career.
Criminal Justice for Newbies and the Career Pivoters
Claiming that the criminal justice field is a linear one is – how should I put this – outright wrong.
There are so many layers to the criminal justice system and therefore many layers for the job seeker to crawl through, climb, and even jump over to land the role she or he truly desires; this is especially true for the new graduate, entry-level workforce, and career pivoters.
Many criminal justice graduates are ready to kickstart their careers with a relevant degree. Some face very little guidance on where their passions will fit in the bigger criminal justice picture. In criminal justice LinkedIn groups, it is not uncommon for an undergrad to drop a question asking for job search tips in something generic like “investigations.”
A trending response to criminal justice grads that want to get into investigations, for example, tends to focus on getting sworn, going out in the elements, and gaining on-the-ground policing exposure. Yes, entering the criminal justice field as a sworn officer is a valued opportunity. I thank each woman and man who embraces this path to ensure public safety.
Advice like the above is indeed valued and appreciated and will help many job seekers. That said, after having candid discussions with undergrads that do not necessarily want to go the sworn path but genuinely hope to get down and dirty in investigative tasks, it is clear that more discussions are needed.
There is a place for you and your unique talents.
📢 Grads and criminal justice newbies – if the sworn path is not your forte, that is truly acceptable and does not lessen the importance of your value in the criminal justice world.
For those whose college days are in the dust, I encourage the incredible opportunity we have to assist the new generations that will take over criminal justice and law enforcement and ultimately play a significant role in reshaping systems locally and globally.
Criminal Justice Job Seeking Tips
We all love that LI “Easily Apply” feature on a job post.
Unfortunately, many (or dare I say most) criminal justice jobs posted on LinkedIn lead to infamous Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) on other platforms. 👎
Applicant Tracking Systems are helpful because they automate our job hunting efforts. Who doesn’t want a streamlined job hunt? The issue is that your application may never reach the hiring team in an Applicant Tracking System. But don’t fret, here are some tips that I hope you find helpful in increasing your chances of landing an interview:
- Resume: Update your resume for every single application by tweaking it to fit the critical skills of the job at hand. This is important in terms of optimizing the chance of your application being flagged as a candidate in ATS and getting in front of the right person.
- Cover Letter: Include a cover letter no matter what (unless the portal does not include a feature that allows you to attach one which is an epic fail on the hiring side😾). Like your resume, revise your cover letter for every application. The importance of this goes hand in hand with why revising your resume is important.
- Talk to Prospective Employers: This is the tip that can matter the most in your pursuit of a criminal justice position. Streamlined, online job hunting processes are tremendous, but speaking to your targeted employer and sharing your passions can make all the difference. Eventually, you will find someone who will listen and help you launch your new career. So don’t wait to hear from prospective employers, reach out to them. Share who you are before any interview.
Of course, all the above tips are relevant for any job seeker, criminal justice-related or not.
In an upcoming article, I will go deeper into the diverse career pathways that the criminal justice field has to offer and how the civilian path in law enforcement can fit your investigative passion. Additionally, I will navigate the sought-after topic of certifications. Lastly, I will expand on tip #3 along with job search hacks because not all agencies are created equal and…
🛑 spoiler alert🛑
some government agencies only post their jobs directly on their website and nowhere else. 😳
Criminal Justice Job Seekers and Professionals: What hurdles have you encountered in your criminal justice job hunting?
Criminal Justice Professionals: What are some tips you’d share if a new graduate sat with you and asked for job-hunting help?
Criminal Justice Grads and Those New to the Field: What questions do you have? How can we help 🤝
If you have any questions or thoughts feel free to comment below or reach out to Kathleen Mufti, MSocSci
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/kickstart-your-criminal-justice-career-3-tips-kathleen-mufti-msocsci
