This is EXACTLY what I would like to do. However, since this is just a course, I was wondering if you guys could suggest some majors (preferably, ones that can be done online) that contain, what I would like to call, the "essence" of this course. Sounds like my dream job. What are some degrees that delve into this? What about job titles? ANY help would be appreciated? I have found it, indeed. Thanks in advance.
Hi, I don't want to burst your bubble, I actually taught this course, and I am a lic. PI > shhhh The majority are self employed, no benefits, pay is not great, and unless you are a whiz bang marketer you're not going to get a lot of work. Also, I think you live out of the US, that too will cause legal issues. If you want to become licensed each state has different requirements. If you don't have a license, you won't have access to the good databases. I was also a paralegal - that career uses most of the same skills if you work for a good employer and especially if you are involved in litigation. There are online paralegal degrees, again, not the best paying career and unless you find the right employer it can be very boring and lack any sort of career promotion. That's my persona take. If you like research perhaps librarian is another field you would like. If you like analyzing data, then decide if you like working with people or numbers. For example, numbers would lend itself to accountant - perhaps forensic accounting?
Talk about a small world. Oh yeah, and don't worry, your "secret" is safe with me. I do know the drawbacks. The self-employed part is actually one of the things that attract me to the profession. No problem there *waves his American flag* I'm in the US, I just wasn't born there. That, I didn't know. Thanks for the "heads up". Another career that interests me. That's 2 for 2. Maybe I'm idealistic, but I don't worry too much about pay. As long as the profession manages to keep my interest (which is rather hard), it's cool. 3 for 3, so far. You are a good PI. Oh wait, shh. This is another field I am considering. People are not my specialty. I'm not the most social of beings. Numbers are good, but I prefer collecting facts, which is what made the description of the Tennessee course so alluring in the first place. To me, it's like a puzzle, finding that juicy bit of information that everyone has failed to obtain. I like the challenge. I guess I just need a degree (and a career) that provides it. Thanks for your insight, workingmom, truly appreciated.
Well, your "dream job" definitely sounds like something you would find with Alphabet Soup, but I'm not sure what the actual legal definition of U.S. citizenship is for them, lol. If you've been granted citizenship by INS then by definition you are a citizen... I would definitely check into it if I were you! One that comes to mind right now is FBI's Criminal Justice Investigative Service. It has a few different branches, but overall it seems what you would find interesting.
Sounds like fun. And it's located in West Virginia, probably one of the most beautiful states in this great nation. Thanks for the info; will check it out.
And one more option could be lawyer, not necessarily Perry Mason, but analyzing facts, finding what hasn't been found, and using facts to paint your picture or put the puzzle together in your client's favor (which granted is largely what the paralegal does or can do as well Not sure if that would put you out of your comfort zone people wise. A book that may be a bit dated, but should be the public library is Cool Career for Dummies by Nemko, it breaks down careers by working with people, data, things, and has a blip about each career which also covers amount of education required.
4 out of 4, workingmom, you are on fire. Sounds like my kind of job. My question is, who does this, lawyers? Law librarians? Paralegals? And what kind of undergraduate training would be beneficial for someone who wishes to go this route? Thanks in advance.
Kyarb: "One that comes to mind right now is FBI's Criminal Justice Investigative Service.' During the years I consulted for the FBI, I was given a private tour of that place. Gave new meaning (for me) to the concept of security. Decent food. Terrific gift shop where even outsiders could by FBI-branded memorabilia. (I treasure my purple and gold FBI-logo 'Peace on Earth' sweatshirt.) And now that that's come to mind, here's something that seemed very odd to me. When I was there, they were in the process of scanning tens of millions of fingerprint cards into their computer. Some clever soul had figured out that if they did not scan in the pinkies, they would save 20% of the computer space, so that's what they were doing. Could there not be crime situations where a pinky print is the only one found? Are there arch criminals even now planning major crimes to be carried out only using pinkies?
There was a famous murder case where one of the suspects was identified with a pinky print; I want to say the Charles Manson case, but I'm not 100% certain offhand. In any event, everyone arrested now has their prints scanned with an inkless digital scanner, and they're sent automatically to the FBI, where their computer compares them to the database. If anyone has ever been arrested with those prints, you get a return within (usually) a half-hour. We routinely get people giving us bogus names, and their prints reveal their true identity. The old ink and card system for fingerprints is going away, fast.
A paralegal might allow you to test the waters in regards to a career in law. Believe it or not there are lawyers who rarely deal with people outside their own internal group in some areas of law. And most lawyers never see the inside of a courtroom if that has you worried about speaking in front of a large group of strangers. Forensic accounting is another career option especially in the area of white collar crime where fact gathering and analysis are essential skills. A law degree or paralegal training could be beneficial in addition to forensic accounting skills in such a career.
Have you thought about a career as an investigative reporter? A career in human resources performing background checks is another option though probably very mundane for someone like yourself who thrives on a challenge. The education commonality among all the careers in this discussion thread is an associate degree in general education plus a bachelor in your major or a diploma in the area you want to practice (work). The course at the University of Tennessee would be helpful for any of the careers mentioned through this thread. As someone else mentioned earlier a career with an alphabet soup government agency might be perfect. However, all likely require a degree. i know, I know. We keep giving you more avenues to consider education-wise and career-wise which only adds to the confusion as to the "best" path.
