Essential Personality Traits for a CSI (Part 2)

Hi everyone,

This week, I want to share Part 2, including a little motivation for those of you chasing your dream of becoming a Crime Scene Investigator. Whether you’re taking your first forensic course, finishing your degree, or applying for your first agency role, remember this truth: success in forensics isn’t something you wait for; it’s something you prepare for.

— Terri

Your Character Matters Just as Much as Your Skillset

Technical abilities can be taught. Character is earned. The personal traits that define trustworthy CSIs include:

• Maturity: You handle sensitive, emotional, and distressing situations professionally.

• Flexibility: No two days are the same — your schedule, scenes, and weather conditions will change without notice.

• Compassion: Families rely on you during some of the darkest moments of their lives.

• Focus: You cannot afford careless errors.

• Commitment: Scenes are long, fatigue sets in, and overtime is real — but professionalism must remain intact.

• Integrity: You tell the truth, document the truth, and testify to the truth.

• An “Iron Stomach”: Crime scenes are raw, and you cannot turn away from the realities of death, trauma, or bodily fluids.

If these resonate with you, you’re already ahead of most applicants.

CSIs testify. They write reports. They explain methodologies. They translate science into language that jurors can understand.

That requires two core strengths:

• Clear verbal communication: You may testify years after a scene, and your words must be confident, precise, and defensible.

• Exceptional writing: Your reports are your testimony in writing. If they’re unclear or incomplete, the case suffers.

This is why my programs emphasize documentation as much as evidence collection.

Want to Increase Your Chances of Getting Hired? Grab the CSI Interview Survival Kit

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It’s perfect for students, career changers, and anyone considering becoming a CSI.“Don’t wait for confidence. Build it. Every class, every workshop, every attempt strengthens the CSI you’re becoming.” — Terri Armenta