resume objective for entry level criminal justice

Top 18 Criminal Justice Resume Objective Examples you can use

If you are seeking a criminal justice position and are writing a resume or CV, it is important to make your objective statement really captivating.

Naturally, employers read your career objective statement before anything else in your resume and can either be encouraged to dive into the resume or be put off to drop your resume by the content of your objective.

Therefore, it is important to give some attention to learning how to make effective objectives for your criminal justice resume, which is what this post will help you to achieve.

How to Make a Great Resume Objective for Criminal Justice Position

To write a great resume objective that increases the chances of your application for the criminal justice position that you are seeking requires having a strong knowledge of the person the recruiter is looking for to hire.

Recruiters seeking the perfect person to hire for a criminal justice position will generally publish the job description and the qualities, skills, abilities, experience, education, etc. that prospective candidates must meet to be called up for interview.

You need to study these posts to learn about the ideal person for the criminal justice job by the recruiter’s standard.

The information you extract from the published job description and requirements will help you to create an objective statement for your criminal justice resume that project you as the right person for the position.

You will craft a resume objective that highlights your best qualities that perfectly tally with what the employer is looking for, and that assure them that you will be effective in performing the criminal justice duties in their organization.

An objective statement written this way is normally irresistible to recruiters because it meets exactly what they are looking for, and so, they will naturally get into the body of the resume to read all parts of it, which increases your chances of being selected for interview.

Now, to aid your understanding of making effective resume objectives for criminal justice jobs, here are good examples to study and apply as a template in making yours:

Best 18 Criminal Justice Resume Objective Examples you can apply

• Enthusiastic Pretrial Service Officer with 5 years of professional experience seeks to work at XYZ Organization as a Criminal Justice Liaison, to promote community safety and unbiased administration of justice.
• Looking to work in a Criminal Investigator position at ABC Organization to deploy excellent analytical and logistic skills, so that the community can be safer for citizens.
• Exceptionally talented detective desires a Criminal Investigator post with XYZ Organization where 7 solid years of field experience, polished communication, and a track record for solving cases will be maximally utilized.
• Highly gifted criminal investigator seeks employment opportunity at ABC Organization; coming with passion for justice, attention to detail, and razor-sharp perception for topnotch performance.
• To obtain a criminal investigator position at ABC Organization, to apply 4 years of investigative experience in investigating all sides of a case and serving justice fairly.
• Hardworking criminal investigator seeks employment with ABC Organization; coming with strong moral ethics, sharp perception, and established ability for solving hard cases for the overall welfare of the community.
• Exceptionally gifted and result-oriented criminal justice graduate with passion for service hopes to work as a Correctional Officer at the Mason Center. Bringing huge expertise in record keeping and activity supervision, as well as emergency situations management.
• A veteran criminal justice professional eager to join Federal Corrections Facility in the position of a Probation Officer, to apply competence in conflict resolution, testimony provision, and inmate monitoring.
• Capable Correctional Officer searching for work with ABC facility. Highly proficient in planning and executing general inmate activities, and upholding discipline in corrective facilities.
• Thorough and committed Probation Officer seeks to join ABC Company in that role where exceptional skills in communicating and explaining release conditions to offenders will be applied.
• To gain an entry-level role in the Criminal Justice field; bringing robust analytical and relational skills to work with different professionals from diverse backgrounds.
• Experienced Pretrial Service Officer in search of the opportunity to serve with ABC organization; coming with unquestionable passion to execute the practices and policies of the justice system.
• Seeking entry-level position in the field of Criminal Justice; aiming to bring significant change in the justice system by bringing passion, enthusiasm, and self-motivation to work. Also, coming with outstanding communication skills.
• Result-oriented intern hoping to gain practical experience with ABC Organization for effective preparation for future responsibilities in the field of Criminal Justice; coming with exceptional ability to multitask and work with Excel.
• Experienced Criminal Justice Lawyer with passion to secure Macpherson Community against criminal atrocities. Bringing exceptional organizational, bi-lingual, and research skills.
• Exceptionally talented law enforcement professional seeks the role of Criminal Justice Instructor at ABC Academy; bringing 5 years of law enforcement experience, Doctoral degree in Criminal Justice, and outstanding communication skills to ensure student success.
• To work as a Criminal Justice Planner with ABC State where exceptional knowledge of criminal justice research, interacting with various criminal justice organizations, and program evaluation, as well as developing policies will be applied in effectively monitoring subgrant programs to ensure compliance with state and federal regulations.
• To obtain the position of Criminal Justice Coordinator at HelpABC, to apply 5 years of experience providing housing counseling and placement services; and excellent oral, and written communication, and interpersonal skills to providing personal case management and housing placement support to homeless individuals with criminal record causing legal restriction.

No doubt, a highly compelling objective statement starting your criminal justice resume can greatly boost its chances of being read by the recruiter.

If you are able to get the recruiter to be interested in your resume by having a good objective statement, then your chances of being hired for the position becomes brighter.

The ideas shared in this post will help you learn how to make great resume objective statements for any criminal justice job you are seeking.

You can also apply any of the sample criminal justice objective statements provided above that you find suitable as a template in making an objective for your resume whenever you need to make one.

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Criminal Justice Resume Objective Best 19 Resume Objective Samples

Criminal justice resume objective best 19 samples.

Whenever you are seeking employment in any organization, the most important thing is your CV. A CV basically includes your introduction, your educational background, your experiences, your hobbies, and your objectives. In short, a CV is a complete introduction of yourself for the employer.

Research goes to show that the first thing an employer notices in the CV is your objective statement or Resume objectives . In resume objectives , you write about the objectives you have in your mind that you want to achieve through the position you are applying. The resume objectives are the first impression of you for the employer so, what not make it the best one?

Unfortunately, many people struggle with writing career objectives; therefore, they decrease their employment chances.

We have brought the top 19 criminal justice objective statements for resumes, which will increase your employment chances in the desired position.

If you don’t have a good resume, you will be passed over for a job or admission to a graduate school. Your resume has to sell you to the employer or the admissions officer. There are three things to help you be irresistible to those you are trying to impress, and these things are also going to make it hard for them to say no. The following are the tips that you can use to make your resume a winner.

Show; Don’t Tell

Biggest mistakes a lot of people make when writing a resume are that they make a list of their subjects and their jobs. The problem with that is a hundred other candidates can have the same list. You must make yourself stand out; how do you do this? Instead of telling people what you have done, show them what you have accomplished. Tell them what you contributed to the progress of your previous job. Make sure that you list accomplishments instead of listing your duties.

Make a Connection

To make your resume stand out, make sure your skills are explained and quantified in your resume. You want the person who is reading your resume to see precisely how you will be able to make their school or company a better place. Even though you may not think it’s not relevant, you never know what may catch the person’s eye. Your proficiency may be the thing that makes you stand out above the rest of the applicants and maybe what gets you the position or the acceptance to graduate school.

Simplicity is Key

The main thing you want to do is make sure that your resume is something the reading will remember. A resume with strange fonts and a lot of color on it may be something that people will remember, but they aren’t going to reflect positively. The best resumes are written in plain text which is easy to read. You want people to read it and remember it because you have some excellent attributes, not because it was difficult to read.

Finally, when you have finished your resume, make sure that you read it over. Make sure that it reads easily, and it shows, not tells. Please don’t send it off right away, although you may want to. Many people make the mistake of sending off the first draft of their resume without reading it over. The employer or the graduate school receives it with many errors, and they think that the person will be a sloppy student or employee.

When you have finished reading it over, read it over again. Go over it with a fine-toothed comb. Ask someone to read it and get their opinion on it. A fresh set of eyes may make all the difference in whether or not you get accepted.

How To Make Criminal Justice Resume Objective

The first step towards writing a good resume objective is to understand the requirements of the employer from the candidates or, in other words, what qualities do the employer wants in the employee that he/she is going to hire. Once you understand the requirements, you need to align your objectives with them and write it as your career goal for a criminal justice major.

One way of knowing about the employer’s requirements is through the advertisements that the employer has published. In the advertisement, the education, skills, and abilities required from the candidate will be mentioned.

In your resume objective for a criminal justice job, you must include all the skills and abilities you have and try to match these abilities with the employers’ requirements. While putting an objective on the resume, your goal must be to convince the employer that you are the best candidate for the job, and you are capable of performing the duties that you will be asked to do.

 Resume objectives that are written in this way are much convincing for the employers. Through the resume objectives, they will be convinced that the candidate can do what is required from him. Thus they will be forced to go through your complete CV, and if you have a compelling CV, your chances of employment are much higher.

Related:TOP 15 Criminal Justice Jobs That Don’t Require Police Academy

The Job Description Of Criminal Justice

In this section, we will discuss the job duties that an employee of a criminal justice organization is going to carry out. Understanding the responsibilities will develop your understanding of the requirements of the employers from you. After reading the duties, you must start working on developing these abilities so that you can include them in your skill set.

The typical duty of employees of criminal justice includes:

• Designing a disaster prevention program
• Preparing plans for emergency
• Preparing training manuals for trainees in different departments
• Provide assistance for commercial loss prevention programs
• Participate in visits including meetings, inspections, and crime scenes

These are some duties of the criminal justice system; however, there may be more. The tasks and responsibilities may vary depending upon the organization in which you seek employment; therefore, you are advised to thoroughly go through the previously advertised positions and look for the required skills.

Exploring the previous advertisements will give you an insight into the skills that the employer might need from you. When you have identified the skills, you can start working on them and develop them yourself.

CIA AGENT SALARY  AND CAREER GUIDE 2020 

Objectives For Criminal Justice Resume

Generally, there are two types of candidates who are applying for an announced position; the first ones are the people who have previous experience, and the second are the ones who are applying for entry-level positions. The experience level determines the job position you can apply for. With experience, you can join a higher position, which requires a candidate to have previous experience; therefore, the professional Objective or resume Objective for both these situations will be different.

Criminal Justice Resume Objective For An Experienced Candidate

The resume objective of an experienced person would be like “A n experienced person who is well aware of the criminal justice systems practices. I have always been looking for opportunities through which I can focus on my personal development. I’m willing to utilize my previous experience to contribute towards the organization and the whole criminal justice system of the country “.

That pretty much it. With this resume objective, you are giving the message that you are a goal-oriented person, and the company can benefit from it.

Criminal Justice Resume Objective Entry Level

The resume objective of an entry-level candidate with no experience must look something like, “As an entry level candidate, I’m a career enthusiast who is willing to serve my energy into the betterment of the Criminal justice system of the country. The organization I would be working for would be my launchpad, and I would strive to give back more than I take from the organization”.

Other Related Forensic Science Career : Blood Spatter Analyst

Best criminal justice resume objectives you can use in your cv.

• Enthusiast officer with an experience of five years is willing to work at XYZ organization to promote community safety and ensure that justice is being served well
• Looking to work as a criminal investigator at the organization to use my analytical and logical thinking skills for a safer community.
• A talented detective with five years of experience desires to work as a criminal investigator for the XYZ organization. My ability of attention to detail, combined with the passion for serving justice, will boost up the investigation within the organization.
• Individual with god gifted ability of attention to detail and critical thinking is willing to join XYZ organization as a detective so that the skills can be used to gather evidence against criminals.
• Individuals with four years of experience as an investigator are willing to join XYZ organization to render my services for the organization’s better performance.
• Hard working criminal investigator is seeking employment at the XYZ organization to use his strong moral ethics and ability to solve hard cases to betterment society
• A capable correctional officer is seeking employment at the XYZ organization. Highly professional in planning and executing the assigned tasks with the ability to work under discipline.
• An entry level candidate is seeking employment at the XYZ organization to bring his skill and energy together for the betterment of the common man.
• An experienced pretrial services officer is seeking employment at the XYZ organization for dedicating his unquestionable passion for executing the best practices in the criminal justice system.
• Seeking entry-level position at the XYZ organization, aiming to bring significant changes in the criminal justice system through the outstanding dedication for work and excellent communication skills.
• Result oriented intern seeking the internship opportunity at the XYZ organization for gaining the experience which can be used in the future for the betterment of the organization in particular and the criminal justice system as a whole.
• Experience criminal justice lawyer seeking employment at the XYZ organization to fight against the atrocities committed with the people within the country
• An experienced criminal justice professional is looking for the role of criminal justice instructor at the XYZ Academy: through the practical experience gained while being in the profession, I would like to educate the students so that they become productive for the criminal justice system of the country.
• An experienced criminal justice professional is seeking employment at the XYZ organization. The candidate has vast experience of working in different law enforcement agencies as well as the research institutes. The organization will benefit from the experience of the past ten years, which will help the organization achieve the desired results.
• The candidate with an experience of five years in providing house counselling and placement service is seeking the position of criminal justice coordinator at the XYZ organization. With excellent oral communication and interpersonal skills, the candidate will ensure that the customers are served in the best possible way.
• A highly motivated individual with five years of experience in different police departments seeking employment in the XYZ organization. Through my previous experience, the organization will perform better by utilizing my skills to identify the criminal elements in society.
• A recent graduate with interests in forensics is seeking the position related to forensics. My interest, combined with my educational background , will bring great results for the organization dealing with forensics.
• An individual with the experience of crime scene investigation is seeking employment at the XYZ organization. The ability of attention to minor details, combined with my experience makes me the best suitable candidate for this job.
• An entry level candidate who has recently completed his education in criminal justice is seeking employment as a firearm expert. My successful internships in different criminal justice organizations are self-evident that I have the capacity to carry out the tasks assigned to me. 

Top 20 Criminal Justice Jobs With Associates Degree Full Guide With Salary Details

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Criminal Justice Resume - How To Write the Perfect One

Branka Vuleta

May 22, 2022

Table of contents

1. Start by Creating a Resume Outline

2. list your personal information at the top, 3. include a summary objective, 4. highlight your experience in criminal justice.

• 5. Education - List Your Degree, Major, and Relevant Coursework 

6. Skills and Qualifications

The initial step toward getting a job you're interested in is creating an outstanding resume. As the field of criminal justice is diverse, your resume should be tailored to the specific job you're hoping to land. Law enforcement officers, forensic investigators, and legal professionals all work within the criminal justice system , each position requiring a unique set of skills. That’s why we've compiled some tips on how to write the perfect criminal justice resume to help you get started.

Tips for an Effective Resume

A resume for a criminal justice job is a career overview specifically aimed at a position within the criminal justice system . This type of resume should highlight your skills and experience in the criminal justice field and be in line with the job you are applying for. That’s why you should include relevant information that will catch the hiring manager's attention, omitting less pertinent details.

To write a resume for this field, a criminal justice professional should carefully analyze the job description and check the required and preferred qualifications. The next step toward a successful resume for criminal justice work is to highlight your experience and skills, as well as any certifications or training that demonstrate expertise in the field. It’s always a good idea to include keywords related to criminal justice such as "investigation," "crime scene analysis," and "forensic science" so as to meet applicant tracking system criteria. Finally, format the resume using logical subheadings with bullet points to make it clear and comprehensible. 

Here is a breakdown of the steps involved in creating such a resume:

One of the major steps in crafting your resume is choosing the format. Begin by creating an outline with subheadings such as "Professional Experience," "Skills," and "Education." Then, list the skills and experience that you want to focus on. Bullet points are an effective way to highlight pertinent information. 

Another tip is to try and condense your resume onto a single page to improve its readability. If this sounds too difficult, you can go for one of the many online free criminal justice resume templates or resume builders.

It’s essential that you include your contact information in your resume so the potential employer can get in touch with you if you’re shortlisted. Your name, phone number, and email address should be stated clearly at the top of the page. Additionally, you can mention your professional website, if you have one, or work-related social media profiles, such as LinkedIn, where potential employers can learn more about your achievements.

A criminal justice resume objective is a descriptive paragraph summarizing your skills and experience and what you’re looking for in a job. It’s an excellent opportunity to catch the recruiter's attention and highlight why you consider yourself an optimal candidate for the position.

To write a compelling summary objective for a job in criminal justice, you should focus on your strongest skills and experience. This may include training or certifications you have received that make you suited for the role. You should also mention if you already held any relevant positions within the industry.

The idea behind an objective is to provide an impactful narrative of the information presented in the resume body. Also, the objective for a criminal justice resume is to express your long-term professional goals or any specific aspect of the job that interests you, your desired responsibilities, and what you’d like to achieve in that role. 

It’s advisable to add every relevant internship, job, freelance, or volunteer experience you have to demonstrate your knowledge. If you’ve been working as a police officer, crime scene investigator, probation or parole officer , or if you volunteered with a local community watch program, be sure to include these on your resume. 

But what about those with an entry-level criminal justice resume who have no experience in the field? In this case, it’s wise to focus on any relevant skills you acquired during your studies, such as academic coursework, extracurricular activities, internships, and volunteer work. For instance, if you are writing a resume for an entry-level position as a crime scene analyst, you might want to highlight any laboratory experience or coursework in forensics that you’ve obtained.

If you boast a long work history in the criminal justice field, be selective and mention only your most relevant and recent accomplishments. You can do this by including specific examples of when you excelled in your role or received positive feedback from co-workers or clients. 

When listing your experience, start with your current or most recent job and work your way backward. It’s a good idea to take a look at criminal justice sample resumes for some inspiration. You’ll see that for each bullet point, the company's name and job title are always noted, accompanied by employment dates and responsibilities.

5. Education - List Your Degree, Major, and Relevant Coursework 

A resume for a criminal justice major will likely be easier to write as you can focus on the degree you’ve earned in the field and any relevant coursework you completed. Mention your GPA solely if it’s above 3.5 and you’re a recent graduate. Be sure to list your law-related certifications and licenses as well. Becoming a criminal justice attorney , for example, requires a law degree and passing the bar exam , so you should include these particulars on your resume. 

If you’re a criminal justice student, your resume should contain any academic achievements or extracurricular activities that are pertinent to the role. This might include coursework in criminal law, research papers you have completed, or honors societies you belong to.

Some of the standard educational requirements that might be a prerequisite for your desired position are:

• Bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, sociology, or a related field
• Master’s degree in forensic psychology or criminology
• Certification as a police officer, paralegal, or crime scene analyst

Take stock of the skills that are most fitting to the position you are applying for and list them clearly. This might include report-writing, data analysis, critical thinking and problem solving, communication skills, and conflict resolution. 

Think of job-specific skills for your criminal justice resume; for example, if you're applying for a cybersecurity or information analytics job, you should emphasize your experience with SAS and SPSS software. On the other hand, if you’ve opted for a criminal justice attorney position, skills such as client interaction, contract negotiation, and brief writing will certainly be more relevant.

Once you've finished writing your resume, be sure to proofread it thorougly and make any necessary edits. Then, send it out to potential employers and follow up to receive feedback concerning your application. To increase the likelihood of attaining your criminal justice resume objectives, you might want to enclose a cover letter. Try to craft one that highlights why you're the perfect fit for that particular job. With the right preparation and a strong resume, you're sure to land the criminal justice job of your dreams!

Frequently Asked Questions

What skills do you need to work in criminal justice?

Skills needed for a career in criminal justice can vary, depending on the specific job posting. However, some are essential for every criminal justice professional. These include critical thinking and problem solving, communication skills, conflict resolution, data analysis, report writing, familiarity with specific software (e.g., SAS and SPSS), and research skills.

How do you write a criminal justice resume?

A criminal justice resume should accentuate any relevant experience you have in the field, such as working as a lawyer, police officer, or investigator. It should also list your education and any other skills you have that could be significant for a career in criminal justice. Make sure to keep it straightforward and brief, one or two pages at most, and to start with a succinct resume objective. Adding adequate keywords can also help your resume stand out when employers use applicant tracking systems.

What looks good on a criminal justice resume?

There are a few things that can help your resume stand out from the rest. First, being selective with your experience is always a plus. If you have worked as a police officer, detective, or held any other law enforcement role, be sure to feature this prominently on your resume. Additionally, using relevant keywords can also help your resume rank higher in applicant tracking systems. Finally, including a brief but informative resume objective can also help capture the attention of potential employers.

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Career and Student Employment Services

Resume sample - criminal justice, chris m. sellers .

To obtain an entry-level position in the criminal justice field. Offering strong investigative and interpersonal skills to work with individuals with diverse backgrounds.

• Ability to work well with others and provide excellent communication skills.
• Work under pressure in a busy environment and resolve conflicts effectively.
• Knowledgeable and experienced with Internet resources, social media, and Microsoft Office Applications.

Related Experience

Investigator , McGough & Associates , Chicago, IL, Month Year - Month Year,

Operate the West Michigan office for a nationwide investigative firm.  Conduct daily surveillance investigations and obtain videotape footage for worker’s compensation cases.  Perform background checks.  Utilize creative mind to develop information relative to claimants.  Communicate with clients, investigators, and sales representatives on day-to-day basis. Prepare reports and bill sheets for each file. 

Intern , Lady Eyes , Grand Rapids, MI, Month Year - Month Year

Learned state-of-the-art technology and investigative methods in three key areas: worker’s compensation, background checks, and marital.  Assisted in generating new clientele.  Participated in tracking individuals under suspicion and used organizational skills to record activities. 

Intern , Office of Drug Treatment Court Programs , Kalamazoo, MI, Month Year - Month Year

Additional Experience

Information & Referral Specialist, W M U Career Center, Kalamazoo, MI, Month Year - Month Year

Promoted from Career Resource Assistant.  Enhanced relationships with students and faculty by becoming a key communication foundation in the department.  Accountable for a wide range of campus information.  Accommodated needs and provided supportive environment for employers and candidates participating in professional interviewing.  Performed specialized functions such as statistics and reports. 

V endor Receiver, Family Fare Supermarket , Byron Center, MI, Month Year - Month Year

Promoted from stocker.  Located, stocked, and priced items.  Responded to phone calls and provided pricing criteria and product availability.  Communicated with other departments for complete customer satisfaction.

Activities and Awards

• Michigan Council of Private Investigators
• Alpha Phi Sigma (National Criminal Justice Honor Society)
• Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities & Colleges
• Zingerman’s Customer Service Training: “The Art of Giving Great Service” 

Back to resume samples

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• Resume Examples
• Resume Templates
• Cover Letters
• Writing Objectives
• Interview Tips
• Career Options

Criminal Justice Resume Objective

Criminal justice resume objective examples.

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Resume Guide

Whether you are seeking a job, switching careers, or entering the workforce, a resume represents the initial step to obtaining an interview. It is often the first item a hiring manager sees, and you have mere seconds to set yourself apart. In addition to visual attractiveness, an effective criminal justice resume must persuasively convey your credentials, training, and experience. Because criminal justice careers are so diverse, your resume should be specific. Law enforcement officers can emphasize their physical fitness and knowledge of police protocols and governmental policies. Forensic anthropologists can showcase their research background, investigative skills, and attention to detail. This guide reveals how to create an application that showcases your unique expertise.

How to Write a Criminal Justice Resume

• Do Your Research: An effective criminal justice resume shows that you possess the designated skills, training, and experience. Analyze the job description carefully, noting required and preferred qualifications. Research the employer’s website and social media platforms, looking specifically for current goals and projects, and how you may assist. As you gain a better picture of the job and work environment, reflect on whether the position aligns with your professional goals.
• List Key Points: Jot down points that respond to specific qualifications. These may include a minimum number of years in the criminal justice field, a level of academic credential, and licensure or certification. Next, create an outline. To ensure you make the right impression, find ways to connect with the reader. Employers want candidates who demonstrate professional accomplishments and can transfer these successes into their new job. Finally, discuss your weaknesses honestly and how you actively work towards improvement.
• Format Your Resume: Expand the outline into complete sentences, organized under logical and straightforward headings. To get a hiring manager’s attention, keep it distinct and accessible. Do not use complicated templates and fancy fonts or coloration. One of the best ways to stand out is through a concise statement of your professional objectives.

Types of Resumes

A criminal justice resume represents a snapshot specific to the individual and desired position. Three main resume formats exist: reverse chronological, functional, and combination. Candidates should use the one that best highlights their professional credentials, work experience, and personal characteristics. However, these resume types, at best, provide a malleable framework. Criminologists should adapt these formats in ways that help them stand apart.

Reverse-Chronological

Combination, required vs. preferred qualifications.

The criminal justice field encompasses such occupations as police officers, private security professionals, cyber security analysts, and corporate loss prevention specialists. Job descriptions vary and include both required and preferred qualifications. The former represents skills, work experience, and academic and professional training a candidate needs to be considered. The latter consists of qualifications that benefit the position, but are not absolutely necessary. While applicants with preferred qualifications do not automatically earn a hire, they stand a better chance of obtaining an interview than candidates who only meet the required criteria.

Employers generally review applications holistically. Criminal justice professionals who do not possess preferred qualifications, or even all the required ones, should apply for a job if they believe they can impress in the cover letter and during interviews. The resume should include all required qualifications and as much of preferred criteria as possible while maintaining a concise form that highlights keywords valued by an applicant tracking system (ATS).

What Should I Include on a Criminal Justice Resume?

Education and training, criminal justice skills, licensure and certifications, awards, accomplishments, and affiliations, volunteer work, what should i put on my resume if i don’t have any criminal justice experience.

A statement of professional objective that details your individual aims and institutional goals is helpful

Recent college graduates or those who lack criminal justice work experience should construct a resume using the functional or combination format. This enables you to structurally focus on skills, education, and licensure/certification. However, minimizing employment means exposing a weakness that you should address in the cover letter. You can partially make up for this lack by demonstrating that you understand job criteria and also know and respect the employer. A statement of professional objective that details your individual aims and institutional goals is helpful.

Relevant work experience does not need to directly relate to the criminal justice field. As long as a prior position includes duties and accomplishments that transfer into the one in application, you can include it. For example, a professional seeking work as a police officer can include their security experience to demonstrate physical acumen, knowledge of organizational protocol, power of observation, and effective management of high-pressure situations. Volunteer positions also benefit you in this way and should receive their own section.

What Is A Resume-Reading Robot?

What is ats.

Employers often receive hundreds of resumes in response to a single job posting. To save time, many organizations use an ATS. Like a hiring manager conducting a preliminary scan, the ATS ranks resumes by how many designated keywords they contain. Theoretically, this streamlined process filters resumes with generic filler content, a red flag for a candidate’s lack of qualifications. However, the ATS works through algorithms, which disadvantages candidates who do not explicitly employ the right terms and phrases. Writing an effective criminal justice resume necessitates an understanding of how to work within and overcome the ATS process.

Tips for Outsmarting an ATS

• Simple Headers: Use “Skills,” “Professional Experience,” “Education,” and other headings that often appear in keyword searches. Also include your location (city, state, and, if outside the U.S., country) because employers usually set up their ATS to vet applicants by location.
• Clean Format: The standard ATS cannot process complicated formatting, graphics, or unusual fonts. A simple and accessible layout, such as a plain text/ASCII format, works best. And in general, Tahoma, Verdana, and Arial at the 10.5 font size or above registers well with the ATS.
• Keywords/Phrases: You can discern keywords by analyzing the job description. In the criminal justice field, popular phrases include “situational assessment,” “crisis intervention,” and “operational guidelines.”
• Industry-Specific Jargon: ATS keywords are meant to reveal a candidate’s familitary and experience with the criminal justice field. The more specific your terms, the more effective your resume.

Resume-Writing Tips for Criminal Justice Professionals

Tailor your resume.

A police officer’s resume differs from a forensic investigator’s. Analyze the job description and research the employer’s institutional goals and philosophy to construct a resume that directly responds to their criteria.

Save Your Resume Under a Professional Name

Every step in the application process should emphasize your professionalism and uniqueness. Make it easy for the hiring manager to differentiate and retrieve your resume with a format such as “Firstlast_specialty_resume.doc.”

Make it Easy to Read

When constructing your criminal justice resume, prioritize accessibility over fancy fonts and multiple color schemes. While standing out is important, the most visually engaging resumes employ clean formatting that empowers the content.

Include a Cover Letter

A cover letter enables you to elaborate on valuable skills, accomplishments, and work experience through quantifiable details and anecdotal evidence. The document also lets you discuss weaknesses and how you plan to improve while on the job.

Keep it to One Page

Employers view bloated applications negatively. Unless you possess more than 10 years of work experience and qualifications directly relevant to the position, a resume should be one page. You should concisely and creatively employ only the most pertinent information.

Common Mistakes Criminal Justice Professionals Make on Their Resumes

Including personal information, including salary information, using nicknames, using an unprofessional email address, first-person pronouns, unprofessional voicemail.

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Criminal Justice Resume Sample & Writing Tips

Time to build a solid career in Criminal Justice? Start with creating a professional resume. Learn how to create a job-winning resume regardless of your current experience. See the latest standards for the formatting and content of a criminal justice resume.

Career development in Criminal Justice raises specific challenges due to this niche’s conservativeness and the formidable candidate selection process. The most popular path is career progression in the chosen institution from entry-level jobs to upper positions. If you’re just starting your professional career or would like to change the department, you should put much effort into winning the desired position. You need a robust criminal justice resume that will turn the hiring person’s attention to your profile and make you an interesting candidate among the rest. Here you will find expert writing tips and samples to create a powerful resume for yourself.

TOP resume formatting tips

There are multiple professions under the Criminal Justice niche. Regardless of what position you apply for, you should follow specific resume formatting standards. A perfect resume for a criminal justice position is easy and interesting to read. The look-and-feel of the document forms the first impression. To pass through this stage in your application process, follow these simple yet important rules:

• Write the entire resume on one page: no one reads longer ones.
• List your experience and education in reverse chronological. If recruiters don’t read the whole section, they will still get acquainted with your latest achievements.
• Put your contact details at the top to make them visible at first glance.
• Clearly outline each resume section: avoid being too creative with the information in the headings.
• Apply little to no design tweaks: don’t use multicolored or fancy fonts.
• Apply 11-14 pt font size to make the text comfortable to read.
• Use easy-to-read font types like Arial, Verdana, Comic Sans, etc.
• Save your resume to a PDF format that is compatible with all platforms and devices.
• Name the resume file correctly: 12345.pdf attachment looks like a fraud and can easily get lost in file storage. Use a name like “Paul_Dean_resume.pdf” to make it easily identifiable.
• One more golden rule: the formatting through the entire document should be consistent: the same spacing, fonts, and colors need to be applied.

To ensure consistency, you can choose the appropriate criminal justice resume templates from the proposed GetCoverLetter builder designs. All the text you put into a template will be automatically adjusted for a perfect look.

TOP resume content tips

A well-written resume ensures it will catch the attention of readers. There are specific rules for optimizing the resume content, bringing the sense into each word, and avoiding any irritating details. Following these ten rules is enough to create a perfect text flow:

• Avoid using personal data like your marital status, hobbies, etc. Put a photo only if it is required in the job description.
• Never use ‘I’ or other first-person pronouns.
• Describe work history in the past tense.
• Quantify your achievements. Everyone loves to see the results in figures. It is a much stronger argument than describing how good you are in words.
• Avoid mistakes and typos. You should demonstrate your attentiveness and intelligence from the very beginning.
• Don’t use jargon words. Document writing implies using formal language.
• Stay concise: list only the information valuable for an employer.
• Use action verbs (like ‘activated’, ‘accomplished’, ‘demonstrated’): they help avoid too many ‘did’ and ‘performed’ verbs and strengthen the sense of your resume points.
• Always customize a resume to the position you’re applying to. A hiring person needs to see that this is not a bulk application.
• Do not lie in your resume: mention only your real experiences and qualifications because you’ll need to prove your knowledge in practice.
• Do not include references in your resume. This document aims to make recruiters interested in your skills and qualifications. They usually check references after the interview.

Sample criminal justice resume

As you see, there are lots of things to keep in mind when writing a resume. See how all the tips from above are utilized in a single resume.

PAUL WILLIAMS Police Superintendent

SUMMARY: A dedicated criminal justice professional with 5+ years of experience as a police officer and in-depth knowledge of U.S. criminal law and related regulatory frameworks. A proven track record of solving crimes (70% of murders and 56% of rapes: well-above average in Maryland).

Career Objective: To fight against crimes and improve the region’s civil security within the Maryland police force.

WORK HISTORY Police Officer Baltimore Police Department, Baltimore MD 2015/05-2020/05

• Investigated criminal activity with 65% successfully solved crimes.
• Actively collaborated with numerous departments and organizations to collect information about suspects, victims, crime circumstances.
• Performed warranted searches to find evidence and investigate the scenes of crime in full alignment with the law.
• Apprehended dangerous criminals.
• Monitored safety in the assigned city areas by performing regular foot and vehicle patrols.
• Provided self-defense lessons for high school students.

Criminal Justice Intern Baltimore Police Department, Baltimore MD 2014/05-2015/05

• Assisted a police detective in solving 38 crimes of varying degrees.
• Recorded suspect evidence and transcribed records to texts using AutoVoice software.
• Collected information about suspects, witnesses, etc., per the detective’s request.
• Recorded and classified pieces of evidence under the mentor’s supervision.
• Participated in capturing criminals.

EDUCATION Bachelor in Criminal Justice Police Academy of Baltimore, Basic Course, Baltimore, MD

• Courses: Criminal Law Theory, Forensic Examination, Criminal Justice, Investigation Methods, Trial Advocacy

2010/09 - 2014/07

High School Diploma Baltimore High School, Baltimore, MD 2006/09 - 2010/05

• Strong knowledge of criminal law
• Legal Issues
• Pre-Trial Motions
• Criminal Cases
• Psychological Assessments
• Stress-resistance
• Physical endurance
• Excellent communicator
• Fluent in English and Spanish
• Critical thinking

Entry-level criminal justice resume sample

At the beginning of a career, a job seeker cannot boast a lot of experience. Most likely, beginners have no related work history or have just 1-2 years of internship. It is normal for entry-level job openings. List any practice in the criminal justice you had in your resume. Do your best to outline most of your achievements as an intern if you have such experience, especially if it coincides with the target position's specs. Here is a sample of a criminal justice resume with no experience:

If you haven’t worked as an intern, consider listing the jobs where you worked with documents, assisted in collecting and analyzing information, applied your law knowledge, etc. Having no work history, focus on your skills and education, and uncover your achievements like coursework, volunteer assistance, etc.

Personal details in a resume

Personal details on a resume include name, profession, address, phone number, email, and links to your professional social media pages and other online resources.

J. PETERSON T: 716-924-1130 E: [email protected]

The wrong sample is missing the physical address. Often a hiring person needs it to send some papers or shortlist candidates from a particular location. Make sure to include your full physical address. Also, mention your full first and last name so that the person doesn’t need to guess your name when contacting you.

Another mistake in the wrong sample is an unprofessional email. Most recruiters consider it enough to dismiss the resume. The only acceptable email format for a resume is your first and last name. If it is already occupied, add a number at the end or change the first and last name order in the address.

Summary and Objective

A summary is a short description of the candidate’s profile. A perfect formula for a summary includes:

• A specialization supported by your most robust characteristics (Experienced, detail-oriented, dedicated, etc.).
• Years of experience in the chosen field.
• Your best achievement expressed in figures (75 cleared crimes, 60% success rate for investigations, etc.).
• A couple of your essential skills.

The summary section goes under the header with your personal details. However, we recommend writing it after all other sections. After you have listed all your professional and educational achievements, it is easier to summarize this information and create a robust summary.

A multi-tasking criminal justice expert with 5+ years of experience in crime detection, excellent investigative capabilities, and strong analytic thinking to identify relevant evidence. Proven track record of 100+ cleared crimes in the position of a police investigator.

I am a highly motivated criminal justice specialist with diversified experience. I am a detailed-oriented problem solver capable of effectively working under pressure, looking for a criminal justice position at your company.

As you see in the wrong sample, the summary is not tailored to a specific job opening. It is unclear what position a candidate is applying for and where exactly they want to work. It seems like a bulk resume that candidates randomly send to all job openings. To make your summary look personalized, specify the position and the organization’s name where you want to get hired.

Often you may see a career objective after a summary in resume samples . The criminal justice resume objective describes your current career goal that you’d like to achieve with your next job. It should demonstrate how the employer can benefit from hiring you and what values you can bring to the company.

To solve business crimes and control corruption as a dedicated member of ABC Company’s team.

Seeking the criminal justice position at ABC Company.

Work history

Whatever experience you have, list only the past jobs that are related to the target job. A hiring manager assesses your qualifications and skills that can be useful for the open position. Don’t spend your precious one-page space on irrelevant details.

Employers like statistical proof of your professional value. Write how many crimes you successfully cleared, mention your scores in safety training, etc.

Forensic Scientist Baltimore Police Laboratory, Baltimore MD 2012/09-2015/08

• Performed DNA and biology analysis for 45-50 cases per month.
• Processed 150+ biological samples per month.
• Achieved 20% case backlog reduction.
• Applied UV, X-ray spectroscopy, chromatography, mass spectrometry, etc.
• Ensured optimal quality, efficiency, and timely analysis and result delivery.
• Supervised 3 summer interns.

Private Investigator Harper’s Private, New York, NY 2010 - present

• Performed investigations for a wide variety of cases.
• Specialized in criminal violations.
• Collected information through computer databases and public records.
• Consulted clients regarding launching criminal cases based on my findings.
• Acted in complete confidentiality and respect to clients’ privacy.

The second criminal justice resume example for work experience describes the general background of the candidate. However, it lacks vital details. It would be great to list the exact responsibilities you fulfilled, show some result statistics, disclose the investigation methods applied. Depending on the chosen profession under Criminal Justice, you should always demonstrate the best from your past work history, concisely and clearly.

List your degrees in reverse chronological order, starting with the newest one. List the full name of the establishments where you studied, mention your major and dates of study.

Master of Laws The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL - Criminal Justice

• Courses: Criminal Law Theory, Criminal Justice, Trial Advocacy, Negotiation Strategies, Mediation Training

2010/09 - 2015/07

Bachelor of Laws Chicago State College, Chicago, IL - Criminal Law

2007/09 - 2010/07

• Related courses: Legal Issues, Criminal Law Theory, Criminal Law and Procedure, Advanced Criminology.

Bachelor Degree Western College, Kalamazoo 2010 - 2014

Choosing the skills for your resume, pay attention to the ones listed in the job requirements. Also include skills that are generally on demand for the target role. It will ensure your document passes the ATS systems that automatically shortlist resumes based on specific keywords. Here are the most popular criminal justice resume skills you should consider:

• Criminal Law
• Investigation
• Crime mapping software
• Legal codes and procedures
• Adherence to safety standards
• Communication
• Problem-solving
• Attention to details
• Firearms proficiency
• Organization
• Physical conditioning
• Multi-tasking

List about 8-12 of your skills that can help you to become an efficient employee and bring value to the hiring organization. While you may have lots of other capabilities, focus on the relevant ones to convince an employer of your fitness for the offered role.

As with any other document, a resume needs to follow specific standards in content and look. Now that you’ve gotten acquainted with the latest requirements in this regard, you can create a powerful resume for criminal justice jobs. The GetCoverLetter builder will help you significantly save time and ensure your resume will knock out competitors in the job race. It will streamline your preparations for the application process and increase your chance to land the job you need. Go ahead, create your job-winning resume using this tutorial and our comprehensive online builder.

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Criminal Investigator Resume: Templates, Examples & Essential Skills

Are you a talented Criminal Investigator that’s having trouble finding the right clues to get your resume noticed by job recruiters? If so, our expert resume templates can help you solve the case.

Criminal Investigator Resume Example MSWord® Show hiring manager’s the evidence that you’re fit for the job with our Criminal Investigator Resume template in Word.

Before you can collect and examine evidence, you’ll need to provide evidence that you have the skills and experience it takes to work in this field by producing a detailed, properly formatted criminal investigator resume.

With a strong criminal investigator resume, you’ll make a strong case for being a lead candidate for any position being offered in the field. From a criminal investigator resume headline to a list of criminal investigator resume achievements, it’s important to have a document that contains all the right details from top to bottom.

Some questions you might ask yourself when you begin to assemble information and start writing your criminal investigator resume are:

• How do I build a powerful criminal investigator resume objective or summary?
• Which criminal investigator resume achievements and experience should I highlight?
• What skills should I list on my crime scene investigator resume to get hiring managers to take notice?

In this guide, you’ll have the opportunity to examine a detailed criminal investigator resume sample so you’ll know exactly how your own resume should look. 

In addition, by accessing our free online resume builder , you’ll learn how to generate a criminal investigator resume that hiring managers will put at the top of the stack. You can also review professional resume examples and resume templates that ensure your document is as good as it can be.

Throughly Examine This Sample Resume for Criminal Investigator

You can avoid being a victim of a bad resume that will not impress hiring managers by taking a close look at the following criminal investigator resume example.

Criminal Investigator Resume Sample

[ Frank Columbo ]

[ Criminal Investigator ]

[22068 Peugeot Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90001 | 323-555-7098 | [email protected]]

>> Summary <<

Dedicated, detail-oriented Criminal Investigator with analytical mind and 10+ years of experience examining crime scenes, gathering evidence, and interviewing witnesses. Excellent leadership, communication, organizational, and creative problem-solving skills. Expertise in interrogations, criminal law, and court testimony.

>> Areas of Expertise <<

• Interrogations
• Surveillance
• General Investigations
• Police Procedures
• Narcotics Investigations
• Homicide Investigations
• Insurance Fraud
• Report Writing

>> Experience <<

Lead Criminal Investigator

02/2020 to Current

Los Angeles Police Department, CA

• Oversaw the investigation of 200+ cases per year, with a clearance rate above national average.

• Streamlined investigative processes to shorten criminal investigation lead time by 14% over a two-year period.

• Analyzed field reports and forensic evidence, including blood patterns, bullet trajectories, fingerprints, and ballistics.

• Conducted detailed interviews with witnesses, suspects, and professionals.

• Trained and mentored a team of 8 field investigators.

• Provided testimony in court proceedings and hearings.

• Maintained detailed case logs.

• Met with department attorney bi-weekly to review gathered evidence to determine use for court proceedings.

Criminal Investigator

09/2014 to 01/2020

Glendale Police Department, CA

• Performed investigations of major crimes in various units, including Homicide, Missing Persons, Criminal Intelligence, Insurance Fraud, Special Victims, and General Investigations.

• Collaborated with government agencies, forensics technicians, lead investigators, and law enforcement officials to successfully close investigations, resulting in a 98% case resolution rate.

• Recorded and logged evidence.

• Produced reports summarizing investigative findings for lead investigator review.

• Conducted surveillance on individuals being investigated.

• Obtained and executed search warrants.

• Attended weekly meetings with investigative teams to provide updates and review evidence, interview results, and other findings to expedite case closings.

Junior Criminal Investigator

07/2012 to 08/2014

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office, CA

• Assisted investigative team in compiling and marking evidence and taking photographs of crime scenes.

• Oversaw storing and preservation of evidence.

• Located and coordinated court appearances of witnesses.

• Prepared investigative reports, crime scene models, and visual aids to be used in court proceedings.

• Executed search and arrest warrants.

>> Education <<

Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice, 2011

California State University, Los Angeles

Master of Science in Criminology, 2019

California State University, Fresno

>> Skills <<

• Observational
• Attention to detail
• Verbal and written communication
• Criminal law knowledge
• Problem solving
• Time management
• Organizational skills

Hand over a criminal investigator resume like this and CSI: Criminal Investigations has nothing on you!

Uncover the Best Criminal Investigator Resume Format

As a criminal investigator, you’ll follow specific steps and adhere to a rigid investigational process that will lead to the case being solved.

It’ll take the same mindset when you format your criminal investigator resume.

A correct format is simply following a process, such as enforcing a proper amount of white space, using the reverse-chronological order for work experience, inserting bulleted lists highlighting experience, skills, and achievements, and utilizing a 10-point or 12-point font size.

Typically, a criminal investigator resume sample will show skills and possibly areas of expertise before your experience section. This is a fairly standard practice for this type of resume, especially for a seasoned criminal investigator.

Save your criminal investigator resume as a .docx or PDF file, as these are most compatible with ATS.

On a criminal investigator resume with no experience, you might put your education details following a summary or objective, and then place your experience followed by a skills section and any additional sections covering other achievements, memberships, awards, etc.

Review our many resume templates to help you create your best crime scene investigator resume with the right format.

Your Criminal Investigator Resume Needs an Effective Summary or Objective—Case Closed!

When it comes to your criminal investigator resume, the first thing will be to secure a career summary or professional objective that portrays you as the best individual for the job. That part of your resume will typically be one of the first things a hiring manager will notice.

Motivated, results-driven Criminal Investigator bringing more than 10 years of experience in crime scene investigation, evidence gathering, forensics analysis, and witness interviewing. Strong leadership and management skills displayed in supervising a team of 12 investigators.

Expertise in insurance fraud, tax fraud, and identity theft. Excellent communication, organizational, problem solving, and analytical skills. Consistent case resolution rate well above national average.

You just might be ready for your own CSI show with a summary like this!

Experienced Criminal Investigator with strong abilities in assessing crime scenes and interrogating suspects. Supervised evidence collections and generated crime scene reports. Collaborated with necessary authorities to provide investigation updates.

The lack of details in a criminal investigator resume summary such as this just might make you an unsolved mystery to hiring managers.

Criminal Investigator Resume Objective

For an entry level crime scene investigator resume or a criminal investigator resume with no experience, you will start off with a career objective rather than a summary.

Bear witness to an effective criminal investigator resume application of a career objective:

Current Law Enforcement Professional with 5+ years of experience seeking a position allowing for the application of investigative, research, and analytical skills as a Crime Scene Investigator. Exceptional performance in crisis management, negotiations, interrogations, and evidence collections. Bringing strong knowledge of criminal law, law and order regulations, video surveillance, and witness gathering.

The Evidence is In: You Need a Strong Experience Section for Your Criminal Investigator Resume

“Who loves ya, baby?” TV detective Kojak was famous for saying. 

The answer is: hiring managers will love you when you present an infallible experience section on your crime scene investigator resume.

Listing your current or most recent position first under a criminal investigator resume header “Work History” or “Experience”, add detailed bullets describing your duties, responsibilities, and achievements for each employer.

For a criminal investigator resume, it’s important to start each bullet with an appropriate keyword, such as “investigate”, “solve”, “analyze”, “interrogate”, “interview”, “collect”, and “examine”.

Intertect Detective Agency

12/2019 – 04/2022

• Looked over crime scenes.
• Spoke with witnesses and law enforcement personnel.
• Analyzed evidence.
• Took photographs of crime area.

You might come across as totally clueless with an experience entry like this!

• Oversaw crime scene examinations, photographs, evidence collections.
• Reduced criminal investigation lead time by 11% during tenure.
• Communicated with state and federal officials during investigations.
• Analyzed forensic evidence, field reports, and investigation updates.
• Trained and mentored a team of 6 investigators, leading to a 55% increase in case resolutions by entire team over three years.
• Testified at court proceedings and administrative hearings.
• Monitored progress of all cases in the agency through a detailed case log.

It’s no mystery as to why a hiring manager would respond to an entry like this as compared to the earlier example.

Before You Can Give the Third Degree, Include Your Academic Degrees on a Criminal Investigator Resume

A formal education listed on your criminal investigator resume is a great way to show your interest, training, and dedication to the pursuit of a position in this field.

Identify the degree earned, the year your studies were completed, and the name and location of the institution.

Start with the highest degree earned, like this:

Master of Science in Criminal Justice , 2021

East Carolina University, Greenville, NC

Bachelor of Science in Forensic Science , 2019

Fayetteville State University, NC

Associate of Applied Science in Criminal Justice Technology , 2015

Wayne Community College, Goldsboro, NC

If you have prior police experience and completed training in a police academy, you can add this important fact in the Education section.

Need more education in how to list your studies on your criminal investigator resume? Check out our resume format information to make sure your resume is structured properly.

Collect Your Top Abilities for Your Criminal Investigator Resume Skills Section

It takes skill to step into a crime scene and take control, from securing the area to identifying clues and evidence.

So, a list of relevant skills is a must-add to any criminal investigator resume.

Draw your list of skills from the job posting you are responding to so you are sure to show potential employers you have exactly what they’re looking for in a job candidate.

Review your work history to collect a list of skills that are reflected in past duties and responsibilities.

Did you collaborate with other investigators, agencies, and officials during an investigation? Then you have collaborative skills. Interview suspects and witnesses and produce detailed investigative reports? You have shown exceptional verbal and written communication skills. Analyzed evidence and used deductive reasoning to solve cases? Analytical skills and problem-solving skills, check and check!

You might separate hard and soft skills; in a hard skills list, you might note what types of surveillance equipment you have used, indicate your knowledge of criminal law, and highlight your ability to produce coherent, detailed reports.

Secure Other Sections to Boost Your Criminal Investigator Resume

Under a criminal investigator resume header or headers such as “Awards & Achievements”, “Additional Training”, or “Professional Certifications”, to name a few, you can add further information that supports your ability to become or continue your career as a crime scene investigator.

Other sections on your criminal investigator resume might look like this:

Professional Certifications and Licenses

• Security Guard license
• Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE)
• Certified Professional Criminal Investigator (CPCI)
• FBI search warrant acquisition and execution training
• Advanced CLEET certification with over 2,500 hours of training

Awards & Achievements

• Recipient, Norman J. Sloan Memorial Award, The World Association of Detectives, 2017
• Member of task force awarded the IACP/Thomson Reuters Excellence in Criminal Investigations Award, 2020

Memberships

• The World Association of Detectives
• North Carolina Homicide Investigators Association

Use our professional templates to give you an idea of how to include other sections on an experienced or entry level crime scene investigator resume.

Key Takeaway

Perhaps the main thing to take away from this criminal investigator resume guide is: gather all your information, analyze your experience and skills, note your education details, and organize all other professional highlights that you wish to convey on your document, and put it all together in a correctly formatted resume that will help you solve your biggest case: Finding the Right Criminal Investigator Job For You.

You can’t go wrong with the right tools, such as our free online resume builder and downloadable Google Docs or Word templates that will help you reach this goal.

When finished, conduct an investigation on your resume to be sure that it:

• Presents the correct format, from font size to appropriate amount of white space.
• Introduces your professional experience and goals in a short summary or objective.
• Identifies all relevant experience in the criminal justice field or, for a criminal investigator resume with no experience, a work history that reflects your motivation, leadership, dedication, and goal-orientation.
• Notes your postsecondary academic or related training information.
• Summarizes your hard and soft skills that underscore your professional successes and abilities.
• Wraps up with any additional pertinent information, such as other training, certifications, or awards.

Remember: the right criminal investigator resume will give you much more of chance to be considered for a position as compared to someone who simply does not have a clue how to create the type of document that hiring managers will respond to.

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Top 16 Crime Analyst Resume Objective Examples

Updated July 17, 2023 14 min read

A resume objective is a summary of your qualifications, skills, and experience that you include in your resume when applying for a crime analyst position. It should be tailored to the job you are applying for and should showcase why you are the best candidate for the role. When writing a resume objective for a crime analyst position, it is important to emphasize any relevant experience and qualifications such as data analysis, problem-solving, research methods, or knowledge of criminal justice systems. You should also highlight any interpersonal skills such as communication, collaboration, or customer service skills. For example: "Experienced crime analyst with 5 years of experience in data analysis and research methods seeking to apply problem-solving skills and knowledge of criminal justice systems to the role at ABC company." Or "Highly organized individual with strong analytical skills and an understanding of criminal justice systems looking to use interpersonal skills to contribute to ABC company as a crime analyst."

or download as PDF

Top 16 Crime Analyst Resume Objective Samples

• To obtain a position as a Crime Analyst utilizing my knowledge of data analysis, research and investigative techniques to support law enforcement efforts.
• To use my expertise in crime analysis and criminal justice to help law enforcement agencies identify patterns and trends in criminal activity.
• Seeking an opportunity to leverage my experience in data analysis, crime mapping, and criminal profiling to contribute to the success of a crime analyst team.
• To utilize my knowledge of criminology, statistics, and research methods to support law enforcement initiatives as a Crime Analyst.
• Looking for a challenging role as a Crime Analyst where I can apply my skills in data mining, statistical analysis, and problem solving.
• Seeking an opportunity to apply my analytical skills in crime mapping, trend identification, and predictive modeling as part of a crime analyst team.
• To use my background in criminal justice and research methods to analyze data and develop effective strategies for preventing and responding to crimes.
• To gain employment as a Crime Analyst with an organization that values innovative thinking and creative problem-solving capabilities.
• Utilizing my experience in research methods, trend analysis, and predictive analytics to contribute effectively towards the success of the organization’s crime prevention strategy.
• Applying my knowledge of criminology theory, statistical analysis techniques, and computer programming languages towards developing effective solutions for law enforcement agencies.
• Seeking an opportunity to join an organization that values creative problem solving abilities by utilizing my expertise in data mining techniques, pattern recognition algorithms, and predictive analytics tools.
• Aiming for a position as a Crime Analyst where I can use my skillset in data visualization techniques, statistical modeling software programs, and risk assessment models.
• To utilize my background in criminal justice systems combined with analytical skills such as trend identification & forecasting towards helping organizations reduce crime rates & increase public safety levels.
• Applying strong technical abilities including GIS mapping software & database management systems towards creating comprehensive reports & recommendations on criminal activities & trends within the community or region being served by the agency/organization.
• Leveraging exceptional communication & interpersonal skills along with advanced analytical abilities including quantitative & qualitative analysis towards providing valuable insights into criminal behavior patterns & trends within the jurisdiction being served by the agency/organization.
• To bring forth extensive experience working with various computer programs such as SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) & SAS (Statistical Analysis System) towards producing accurate reports on criminal activities & trends within the area being served by the agency/organization

How to Write a Crime Analyst Resume Objective

A crime analyst resume objective is an important part of creating a professional and effective job application. It should be concise, direct and to the point, highlighting your experience, skills, and accomplishments as they relate to the role you’re applying for. Crafting a strong crime analyst resume objective can help you stand out among other applicants and give potential employers an understanding of why you are the best fit for the job.

When writing your crime analyst resume objective, begin by introducing yourself. Include your name and any relevant certifications or credentials that demonstrate your qualifications for the position. You should also include a few brief sentences about why you’re interested in this particular role and how it fits into your career goals. This will provide a clear picture of what you bring to the table as a candidate.

Next, describe your experience in the field of crime analysis. Include details about any research or data gathering projects you have completed along with any software programs or databases you have used to complete them. Highlight any specialties or areas of expertise that make you stand out from other applicants – such as advanced statistics or criminology – to demonstrate your commitment and passion for the job.

Finally, convey confidence in yourself by mentioning specific achievements related to crime analysis that illustrate how successful you have been at similar roles in the past. Examples could include awards received for excellence in data collection, presentations made at conferences or publications written on criminology topics. This will help employers get an understanding of how valuable an asset you would be if hired for the position.

By following these tips when crafting a crime analyst resume objective, you can ensure that yours stands out among other candidates vying for the same job. An effective summary statement will clearly highlight why you are uniquely qualified for this role and give potential employers an understanding of what makes you an excellent choice for their team.

Related : What does a Crime Analyst do?

Key Skills to Highlight in Your Crime Analyst Resume Objective

In the competitive field of crime analysis, your resume objective should not only reflect your career aspirations but also emphasize the key skills that make you an ideal candidate for the job. This section titled 'Key Skills to Highlight in Your Crime Analyst Resume Objective' will guide you on how to effectively showcase your abilities and expertise in crime analysis. The aim is to help you craft a compelling resume objective that captures the attention of potential employers and sets you apart from other applicants.

1. GIS Mapping

A Crime Analyst needs the skill of GIS (Geographic Information Systems) Mapping because it is crucial for analyzing and interpreting crime patterns, trends, and hotspots. This skill allows them to visualize data in a spatial context, providing valuable insights that can guide law enforcement strategies and operations. By including this skill in a resume objective, it demonstrates the candidate's ability to effectively use technology in understanding and predicting criminal activity, which is essential for proactive policing and community safety.

2. SQL Queries

A Crime Analyst is often required to handle large amounts of data related to criminal activities, suspect profiles, crime rates, and patterns. SQL Queries skill is needed because it allows the analyst to retrieve, manipulate, analyze and manage this data effectively. This helps in identifying trends, predicting potential crimes and providing actionable insights for law enforcement strategies. Thus, highlighting this skill in a resume objective shows the candidate's capability to handle and interpret critical data efficiently.

3. SPSS Statistics

A Crime Analyst needs to have a strong understanding of SPSS Statistics because this software is widely used for statistical analysis in social science. It helps in managing data, creating graphs and tables, and conducting complex statistical analyses. This skill is essential for a resume objective as it shows the ability to interpret and analyze crime data effectively, predict crime trends, and provide evidence-based recommendations for crime prevention strategies.

4. Python Programming

As a Crime Analyst, the ability to use Python programming is crucial for several reasons. This skill allows the analyst to manipulate and analyze large datasets, automate tasks, and develop algorithms that can help in predicting crime patterns and trends. Python programming also enables the creation of visualizations that can aid in presenting findings in a clear and understandable manner. Therefore, mentioning this skill in a resume objective shows potential employers that the candidate has the technical capability to handle complex data analysis tasks effectively.

5. Tableau Visualization

Tableau Visualization is a critical skill for a Crime Analyst as it allows them to effectively interpret and present complex data in an easily understandable format. This is particularly important in the field of crime analysis, where large amounts of data need to be analyzed and interpreted quickly and accurately. By mastering Tableau Visualization, a Crime Analyst can create compelling visualizations that can help law enforcement agencies make informed decisions, identify patterns and trends in criminal activity, and allocate resources more efficiently. Therefore, having this skill on a resume can demonstrate an applicant's ability to handle complex data sets and convey information clearly, making them more attractive to potential employers.

6. Crime Pattern Analysis

A Crime Analyst needs the skill of Crime Pattern Analysis as it is crucial in identifying and predicting trends in criminal behavior. This skill allows them to provide accurate information and strategic recommendations to law enforcement agencies, helping them prevent or solve crimes more effectively. Including this skill in a resume objective demonstrates the candidate's ability to analyze complex data, draw meaningful conclusions, and contribute significantly to crime prevention efforts.

7. Social Network Analysis

A Crime Analyst requires the skill of Social Network Analysis because it enables them to understand and interpret complex relationships and networks involved in criminal activities. This skill is crucial for identifying key individuals, mapping out their connections, and predicting potential criminal behaviors or patterns. It helps in providing actionable insights that can aid law enforcement agencies in preventing crime or apprehending criminals more effectively. Therefore, having this skill can make a candidate more appealing to potential employers as it demonstrates their ability to use advanced analytical techniques to support crime prevention strategies.

8. Intelligence Gathering

A Crime Analyst needs the skill of Intelligence Gathering as they are required to collect, analyze, and interpret complex data related to crime patterns and trends. This involves gathering information from various sources, including law enforcement databases, surveillance systems, and intelligence networks. This skill is crucial in helping to predict potential criminal activity and providing strategic recommendations for crime prevention measures. Hence, highlighting this skill in a resume objective can demonstrate a candidate's ability to effectively contribute to law enforcement efforts.

9. Predictive Modeling

A Crime Analyst needs the skill of Predictive Modeling because it involves using statistical techniques and algorithms to estimate future outcomes. This skill is crucial in analyzing patterns and trends in crime data, which can help predict future criminal activities or behaviors. It can also assist in developing strategies for prevention and intervention. Including this skill in a resume objective demonstrates an applicant's ability to utilize advanced analytical methods to support law enforcement efforts, making them a valuable asset to any team.

10. Data Mining

A Crime Analyst needs the skill of Data Mining because they are required to gather, analyze and interpret complex data related to criminal activities. This includes identifying patterns, trends, and key insights that can help in predicting potential criminal behavior or activity. Data mining allows a crime analyst to extract valuable information from large databases which can be used to develop effective strategies for crime prevention and solution. Therefore, this skill is crucial in helping law enforcement agencies make informed decisions and take proactive measures against crime.

In conclusion, your crime analyst resume objective should effectively underscore your key skills that align with the job description. This not only showcases your qualifications but also demonstrates how you can contribute to the prospective organization. Remember, it's not about listing all of your skills, but rather highlighting those that are most relevant and valuable to the role you're applying for. Crafting a compelling and tailored resume objective can make a significant difference in capturing the attention of hiring managers and setting yourself apart from other candidates.

Related : Crime Analyst Skills: Definition and Examples

Common Mistakes When Writing a Crime Analyst Resume Objective

Writing a resume objective for a crime analyst position can be challenging, as you must highlight your qualifications and professional experience in a concise manner. However, there are several common mistakes that many job seekers make when constructing their resume objective.

One of the most common mistakes is not tailoring the objective to the specific job or organization. You should avoid using generic statements such as “seeking an opportunity to utilize my skills” or “an entry-level position” as these do not provide any information about your qualifications or experience that would make you stand out from other applicants. Instead, focus on providing concise but specific details about your background and why you are a good fit for the crime analyst position. For example, “Experienced crime analyst with 5+ years of experience in data analysis and criminal research seeking to contribute expertise to XYZ agency’s data-driven initiatives.”

Another mistake is being too vague in describing your qualifications and skill set. Your resume objective should clearly explain how your background and experience will benefit the organization you are applying to. Include keywords from the job description that align with your skillset, such as “statistical analysis,” “surveillance techniques,” or “trend identification” to demonstrate that you possess the necessary qualifications for the role. Additionally, detail any awards or certifications you may have earned that could give you an edge over other candidates.

Finally, avoid using overly long sentences or technical jargon when writing your resume objective. Keep it concise and straightforward while still providing enough information about yourself and why you would be an asset to the organization. By avoiding these common mistakes when writing a crime analyst resume objective, you can effectively showcase your qualifications and increase your chances of landing an interview!

Related : Crime Analyst Resume Examples

A right resume objective for a crime analyst would be to demonstrate an understanding of statistical and investigative techniques while using data-driven approaches to solve crimes; whereas a wrong resume objective would be to prove one's superiority in the field, without any regard for the ethical implications of their actions.

Editorial staff

Brenna Goyette

Brenna is a certified professional resume writer, career expert, and the content manager of the ResumeCat team. She has a background in corporate recruiting and human resources and has been writing resumes for over 10 years. Brenna has experience in recruiting for tech, finance, and marketing roles and has a passion for helping people find their dream jobs. She creates expert resources to help job seekers write the best resumes and cover letters, land the job, and succeed in the workplace.

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