Forensic Science Technicians

People in this career often have these skills:

• Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
• Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
• Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
• Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
• Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
• Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

• Science - Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.

People in this career often know a lot about:

• Law and Government - Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
• Public Safety and Security - Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
• English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Chemistry - Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.

People in this career often have talent in:

• Inductive Reasoning - The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
• Flexibility of Closure - The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.
• Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
• Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
• Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
• Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

• Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
• Far Vision - The ability to see details at a distance.
• Speech Recognition - The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
• Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
• Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
• Information Ordering - The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
• Speech Clarity - The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
• Category Flexibility - The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
• Perceptual Speed - The ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.
• Visual Color Discrimination - The ability to match or detect differences between colors, including shades of color and brightness.

People in this career often do these activities:

• Prepare scientific or technical reports or presentations.
• Record research or operational data.
• Analyze forensic evidence to solve crimes.
• Interpret research or operational data.
• Testify at legal or legislative proceedings.
• Document events or evidence, using photographic or audiovisual equipment.

• Operate laboratory or field equipment.
• Maintain laboratory or technical equipment.
• Collaborate on research activities with scientists or technical specialists.
• Prepare compounds or solutions for products or testing.
• Train personnel in technical or scientific procedures.

• Environmental Compliance Inspectors

• Conservation Scientists

• Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health

• Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians

• Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School

• Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists

• Detectives and Criminal Investigators

• Police Identification and Records Officers

• Customs and Border Protection Officers

• Transportation Inspectors