Cool Careers. Carolyn Boyes

careers use the mind rather than muscle but they are always interesting and sometimes fast-paced and exciting.

       COOL AND CALCULATING

      Political Journalist – As either a print (newspapers and magazine) or broadcast journalist, focusing on life in Westminster or Washington, you’ll be privy to gossip and secrets, only some of which you’ll be able to pass on to the public.

      Financial/Business Journalist – Perhaps the secrets of what a company is doing what is more your thing? If so, take a look at the work of the financial or business correspondent. However, if you want to be even earlier to the business stories, it might be worth considering working as a Financial/Investment Analyst – for either an investment management or a stockbroking house. Analysts keep in regular contact with a group of companies and need to be up to date on growth forecasts and developments, so they are often among the first people to know what’s really going on.

      Foreign Correspondent – Stationed overseas, from Gaborone to Hong Kong, you’ll interview everyone from the heads of state, to local activists and chairs of industry, chasing down stories of interest to your audience at home. The major TV stations, national newspapers and newswire organisations all employ overseas correspondents. However, you will probably have honed your news skills in many other posts first.

      Undercover Reporter – An undercover reporter may work for a newspaper, magazine or a TV documentary production company. Generally a great deal of experience is called for. You need to be cool in a crisis and an experienced journalist, who is well-versed on the boundaries of what is, and is not, legally possible. You may work near to home or be required to go overseas. This is a dangerous career. You could end up getting on the wrong side of some nasty people.

      Corporate Risk Management Specialists – Often also corporate investigators, these specialists assess risk and carry out security surveys. They may provide executive protection, security services and technical surveillance countermeasures. They need to have details about exactly what is going on in a country and the day-to-day changes in risk

      Security Consultant – If you are ex-army, secret service or police, or speak many languages, you might find employment in the private part of the security industry in areas such as kidnapping, insurance, intelligence gathering and security. Look at companies such as Control Risks in the UK or CTC in the States to see the type of work on offer.

      * UNUSUALLY COOL

       MI5 intelligence Officer -

       Intelligence officers carry out surveillance operations, run agents, assess and investigate threats to national security or carry out other general management work. They generally work as part of a team. MI5 officers must hold a British passport and the recruitment and vetting process can take at least six months. If you have a second language, you may also work in intelligence work with the service. MI5 has a website that shows current opportunities. MI5 Data Analysts analyse trends in electronic data.

       Psychic Investigator -

       Psychic and paranormal investigators seek to uncover whether or not hauntings and poltergeist phenomena are genuine. Some are sceptics who want to disprove phenomena. Others may carry out ‘psychic clearings’. They use a variety of methods ranging from the scientific and cynical to the use of self-proclaimed mediums and psychics, depending on the organisation. Research and university-based organisations require scientific training. Independent companies are not necessarily accredited.

       Alien/UFO Investigator -

       There are a number of independent and scientific organisations researching stories of aliens, alien abduction and UFOs. In a similar vein, investigators of crop circles, cattle mutilations and other phenomena are also popular. Curiosity is clearly a must. Scientific knowledge would theoretically be useful. A related career requiring greater training is astrobiology - these scientists investigate the origin of life on planets.

I want to get to grips with evidence

      One appealing area for those who want a cool career that gets to the bottom of things is forensics. The word ‘forensic’ comes from the Latin forensis, meaning a court or forum. A forensic practitioner is someone who gives evidence as an expert in court proceedings. These careers combine an ability to get to grips with evidence, a concentration on detail and skill as a good public speaker.

       INVESTIGATIVE COOL

      Computer Forensics Specialist – This is a growing profession because of the need to protect businesses from a range of computer abuses, including intellectual property theft and fraud. A computer forensics specialist recovers deleted, encrypted or damaged files, tracks internet files, and investigates illegal, inappropriate or threatening email communications. The evidence may be used for litigation in civil and criminal cases involving areas such as embezzlement or pornography, or in workplace theft investigations.

      Forensic Speech Consultant – Forensic speech consultants analyse speech and voice to identify who the speaker is. This career may involve carrying out voice line-ups and voice identification, comparison and elimination in criminal cases. They may also get involved as an expert in verifying transcripts of speech.

      Forensic Pathologist – The forensic pathologist epitomised by the TV character Quincy carries out autopsies for the coroner as part of investigations into sudden, violent or unexpected deaths. In the UK you need a background in histopathology and forensic pathology and legal training. Further details about the training path towards forensic pathology can be obtained from the Royal College of Pathologists (www.rcpath.org).

      Forensics Explosive Expert – Forensics explosives experts provide evidence in legal cases and insurance work in areas, such as accident reconstruction and crime and terrorism cases. They provide testimony to lawyers and prosecutors as well as government agencies. Forensics experts exist in many areas, for example, maritime accidents, workplace accidents, medical claims and fires. Their work includes reviewing documents and records, site reviews, fire cause and origin investigations, among other areas. Common to these jobs is the ability to analyse evidence, communicate an argument in court and apply scientific techniques practically to an investigation.

      Forensic Medical Examiners – Forensic medical examiners carry out routine work, such as the effect of drink and drugs on detained people, and look at victims of assault. They need to be able to present evidence in court and also be expert in examining wounds and other evidence. More details can be obtained from the Association of Police Surgeons (www.apsweb.org.uk). They are also known as forensic physicians or police surgeons. If you like the sound of this, look also at lawyers specialising in medical negligence or medical defence.

      Forensic Anthropologist – Forensic anthropologists apply anthropology to the law. As an example, if the police were to find skeletal remains they might ask a forensic anthropologist to identify the deceased. They are also used in human rights abuses, such as war crimes where mass graves have been found, or in cases of other buried evidence.

      Criminal Justice Expert – A criminal justice expert will have an investigative agency or legal background and will be involved in writing, consulting and acting as an expert witness in legal matters in areas such as terrorism, drug enforcement, military justices and intelligence cases. They may run training or speak at academic events.

      Forensic Psychiatrist – A forensic psychiatrist is a psychiatrist who understands mental disorders and has a working knowledge of the law. They may work in an outpatient capacity in prisons or provide