How long is orientation?

Orientation usually takes about 3.5 to 4 hours for full-time employees and about 1 hour for part-time employees.

What should I wear on my first day?

Wear business casual clothes—something neat and professional, but still comfortable. It doesn’t need to be as formal as a suit, but it should look more put-together than your usual everyday outfit. Also, you’ll be taking your ID photo that day, so choose something you’ll feel good being photographed in.

Are there additional steps in the hiring process for Forensic Scientist positions?

For our Forensic Scientist vacancy postings, our first objective is to hire the most qualified Forensic Scientist (one certified in the forensic analysis of a specific discipline and certified to testify in court as an expert witness). If we cannot hire a qualified Forensic Scientist, we will re-evaluate the applicant pool for the trainee option. Recruitments that include the Trainee option often take longer than average to notify applicants of their status. This delay is due to several factors:

Documentation Review  Applicants who appear qualified for the Forensic Scientist role are given time to submit supporting documentation.

Two-Step Interview Process  Qualified Forensic Scientists typically complete a phone interview followed by an in-person interview. If a candidate is out-of-state or out-of-country, additional time is allowed for travel arrangements.

Scheduling Constraints  The hiring manager and interview panel must balance recruitment activities with casework responsibilities and court subpoena obligations, which can create scheduling conflicts and delays.

What can I expect during the application, interview, and hiring process?

Application Review – The hiring manager reviews the submitted applications, resumes and supporting documents to determine which applicants best meet the minimum qualifications and additional considerations listed in the job posting. Applicants best meeting the qualifications will be invited for an interview.

Formal Interview(s) – Panel interviews are conducted and can take place in person, virtually, or by phone. The format will depend on the position and scheduling availability.

References – We will contact your current and previous supervisors to verify your work history, performance, and qualifications.

Job Offer – If you are selected finalist, you will be contacted by Human Resources.

Background Check – A comprehensive criminal background investigation is completed on all selected candidates. More information can be found here: DFS Employment Conditions & Requirements. The official start date will be established once the background investigation is complete.

Do all NFKs have to be submitted to DFS for testing?

Unlike PERKs, law enforcement is not required to submit NFKs from reported strangulation cases to DFS for analysis. Va. Code § 19.2-11.8. It is suggested that investigators consult with the Commonwealth’s Attorney to determine whether they recommend submission to DFS. The value of the examination depends on the individual facts of the case.

Do I need to collect an NFK and a PERK?

If an incident of strangulation occurs with a sexual assault, a Physical Evidence Recovery Kit (PERK) should be used to collect the DNA evidence. PERKs contain additional swabs for the collection of relevant strangulation samples. An NFK should not be collected in this situation.