How to hire a forensic document examiner

How to hire a forensic document examiner, step by step

Here's a step-by-step forensic document examiner hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a forensic document examiner job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new forensic document examiner
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your forensic document examiner job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a forensic document examiner for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A forensic document examiner's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, forensic document examiners from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list presents forensic document examiner salaries for various positions.

   Type of Forensic Document Examiner	Description	Hourly rate
   Forensic Document Examiner	Forensic science technicians aid criminal investigations by collecting and analyzing evidence. Many technicians specialize in either crime scene investigation or laboratory analysis... Show more	$13-52
   Crime Scene Technician	A crime scene technician specializes in gathering and processing evidence from crime scenes. They must visit and closely examine crime scenes, find potential clues, gather fingerprints and DNA samples, take photos and videos, recreate the crime scene through sketches or computerized models, and keep records... Show more	$15-38
   Criminalist	A criminalist works in the forensic science or law enforcement field. Their duties depend upon the agency or place they work for, but they are often responsible for conducting crime investigations, studying crime scenes, gathering and examining evidence, processing evidence, and coordinating with investigators... Show more	$17-61

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Customer Service

   Responsibilities:

   • Examine evidence hard drives and other media devices with FTK following chain-of-custody procedures for manual processing procedures.
   • Bob provide computer expertise for DOD criminal, fraud, and counterintelligence investigations and analyzing all computer evidence.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your forensic document examiner job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A forensic document examiner can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, forensic document examiners' average salary in kansas is 67% less than in alaska.
   • Seniority. Entry-level forensic document examiners 74% less than senior-level forensic document examiners.
   • Certifications. A forensic document examiner with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a forensic document examiner's salary.

   Average forensic document examiner salary

   $56,007yearly

   $26.93 hourly rate

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   Entry-level forensic document examiner salary

   $28,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 17, 2025

4. Writing a forensic document examiner job description

   A good forensic document examiner job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a forensic document examiner job description:

   Forensic document examiner job description example

   APPOINTMENT TYPE: Full-Time Regular (FTR-A)
   
   PURPOSE: To perform independent routine to moderately complex technical examinations of biological evidence to include DNA analyses. Responsible for conducting specialized analytical procedures, preparation of reports concerning examination of evidence, maintaining operability of laboratory equipment and instruments.
   
   + Performs routine to moderately complex analyses, tests, and examinations involving a variety of biological materials.
   
   + Conducts assigned examinations and experiments utilizing well defined methods and a variety of scientific tools, equipment, instrumentation and techniques. Participates with senior examiners to decide the nature and extent of examinations to be conducted on more complex materials and items of evidence.
   
   + Assists in maintaining laboratory instruments are in a state of readiness, supplies are sufficient to support laboratory operations and that all necessary safety precautions and applicable regulations are followed.
   
   + Assigned to coordinate routine to moderately complex matters related to scope of analyses with other laboratory units, outside agencies, and related entities.
   + Travel: OCONUS deployment required on rotational basis.
   
   + Bachelor's degree in Biology, Forensic Science, Chemistry or related discipline.
   
   + Must have four (4) years of experience working in a forensic laboratory performing DNA analysis on criminal evidence, including blood and bloodstains, body fluids, and stains of body fluids, hair and other items requiring DNA or related analysis; generation of DNA profiles, performance of visual and microscopic examination of hairs; comparison of evidence from victims, scenes, or instruments of incidents to evidence from suspects.
   
   + Professional certification such as American Board of Criminalistics (ABC) is desired.
   
   + Must pass U.S. Government security background investigation and be able to obtain & maintain Secret security clearance.
   
   + Must pass both a physical and dental examination (as required for OCONUS assignment).
   
   + Must possess a current U.S. Government issued passport
   
   + Per current US Government / Client contract and deployment requirements, all employees must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, without exception, upon hiring.
   
   ELIGIBLE FOR SIGN-ON BONUS
   
   
   External Company Name: ORAU
   
   External Company URL: www.orau.org/
   
   Street: NEFB - Defense Forensic Science Center
   
   Telework: No

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right forensic document examiner for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with forensic document examiners they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit forensic document examiners who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your forensic document examiner job on Zippia to find and recruit forensic document examiner candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit forensic document examiners, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new forensic document examiner

   Once you have selected a candidate for the forensic document examiner position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   To prepare for the new forensic document examiner first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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