5 jobs that require digging for information p1 - Military Transition - Military Times EDGE

Is snooping your forte? Or maybe you refer to it as “investigating.” Whatever you call it, your skills can be put to good use in many careers. Maybe as an FBI agent, investigative reporter, museum curator or even a law librarian.

Applicants for some of these jobs may be increasingly in demand as baby boomers retire, recruiters say.

Most investigative jobs require a college degree, so you may need more education before you can start your “snooping” career.

FBI agent

• Description: Protects the U.S. from terrorist attacks, investigates criminal activities, obtains evidence. Applicants must be at least 23, no older than 37, and willing to relocate.

• Training: Bachelor’s degree. Currently recruiting for those with computer science or IT degrees/backgrounds or those fluent in a foreign language (Middle Eastern and Asian languages and Spanish).

• Average salary: $67,888.

Museum curator

• Description: Manages, cares for and plans for exhibits at a museum. Assembles historical data for the exhibition using the museum’s current artifact inventory or travels to gather additional artifacts.

• Training: Bachelor’s degree in art history, the sciences or anthropology.

• Average salary: $57,221

Genealogist

• Description: Conducts research into genealogical background of individual or family in order to establish descent from specific ancestor. Consults American and foreign genealogical tables and publications and documents, such as church and court records, for evidence of births, baptisms, marriages, deaths and legacies in order to trace lines of descent or succession.

• Training: Typically, a bachelor’s degree.

• Average salary: $43,908.

Law librarian

• Description: May serve as a director, reference or technical librarian. Reference librarians should have a law degree and provide reference help to faculty, students and the general public, as well as teach legal researching.

• Training: Depending on the job, may require bachelor’s, master’s, law degree or doctorate.

• Average salary: $48,844. Directors may earn $150,000 to $175,000.

Investigative reporter

• Description: Collects and analyzes information about newsworthy events for publication or broadcast. Uses research and interviews to verify information. May specialize in sports, politics, police, courts, business or serve in an online writing capacity. Must have excellent written and oral communication skills, be a problem solver, quick thinker and flexible.

• Training: Bachelor’s degree or extensive experience.

• Average salary: $40,902.

(Originally published May 5, 2008)