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Significant
Points About Private Investigator Jobs
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Work hours
are often irregular, and the work can be dangerous.
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About 30
percent are self-employed.
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Applicants
typically have related experience in areas such as law enforcement,
insurance, the military, or government investigative or intelligence
jobs.
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Keen
competition is expected for most jobs despite faster-than-average
employment growth.
Nature of a
Private Investigator Job
Private
detectives and investigators assist individuals, businesses, and
attorneys by finding and analyzing information. They connect small clues
to solve mysteries or to uncover facts about legal, financial, or
personal matters. Private detectives and investigators offer many
services, including executive, corporate, and celebrity protection;
pre-employment verification; and individual background profiles. Some
investigate computer crimes, such as identity theft, harassing e-mails,
and illegal downloading of copyrighted material. They also provide
assistance in criminal and civil liability cases, insurance claims and
fraud, child custody and protection cases, missing persons cases, and
premarital screening. They are sometimes hired to investigate
individuals to prove or disprove infidelity.
Private detectives and investigators have many methods to choose from
when determining the facts in a case. Much of their work is done using a
computer, recovering deleted e-mails and documents, for example. They
may also perform computer database searches or work with someone who
does. Computers allow investigators to quickly obtain huge amounts of
information such as a subject’s prior arrests, convictions, and civil
legal judgments; telephone numbers; motor vehicle registrations;
association and club memberships; and even photographs.
Detectives and
investigators also perform various other types of surveillance or
searches. To verify facts, such as an individual’s income or place of
employment, they may make phone calls or visit a subject’s workplace. In
other cases, especially those involving missing persons and background
checks, investigators interview people to gather as much information as
possible about an individual. Sometimes investigators go undercover,
pretending to be someone else to get information or to observe a subject
inconspicuously.
Most detectives and investigators are trained to perform physical
surveillance, which may be high-tech or low-tech. They may observe a
site, such as the home of a subject, from an inconspicuous location or a
vehicle. Using photographic and video cameras, binoculars, and cell
phones, detectives often use surveillance to gather information on an
individual; this can be quite time consuming.
The duties of private detectives and investigators depend on the needs
of their clients. In cases that involve fraudulent workers’ compensation
claims, for example, investigators may carry out long-term covert
observation of a person suspected of fraud. If an investigator observes
him or her performing an activity that contradicts injuries stated in a
worker’s compensation claim, the investigator would take video or still
photographs to document the activity and report it to the client.
Detectives and investigators must be mindful of the law when conducting
investigations. They keep up with Federal, State, and local legislation,
such as privacy laws and other legal issues affecting their work. The
legality of certain methods may be unclear, and investigators and
detectives must make judgment calls when deciding how to pursue a case.
They must also know how to collect evidence properly so that they do not
compromise its admissibility in court.
Private detectives and investigators often specialize. Those who focus
on intellectual property theft, for example, investigate and document
acts of piracy, help clients stop illegal activity, and provide
intelligence for prosecution and civil action. Other investigators
specialize in developing financial profiles and asset searches. Their
reports reflect information gathered through interviews, investigation
and surveillance, and research, including review of public documents.
Computer forensic investigators specialize in recovering, analyzing, and
presenting data from computers for use in investigations or as evidence.
They determine the details of intrusions into computer systems, recover
data from encrypted or erased files, and recover e-mails and deleted
passwords.
Legal investigators assist in preparing criminal defenses, locating
witnesses, serving legal documents, interviewing police and prospective
witnesses, and gathering and reviewing evidence. Legal investigators
also may collect information on the parties to the litigation, take
photographs, testify in court, and assemble evidence and reports for
trials. They often work for law firms or lawyers.
Corporate investigators
conduct internal and external investigations for corporations. In
internal investigations, they may investigate drug use in the workplace,
ensure that expense accounts are not abused, or determine whether
employees are stealing merchandise or information. External
investigations attempt to thwart criminal schemes from outside the
corporation, such as fraudulent billing by a supplier.
Financial investigators may be hired to develop confidential financial
profiles of individuals or companies that are prospective parties to
large financial transactions. These investigators often are certified
public accountants (CPAs) who work closely with investment bankers and
other accountants. They might also search for assets in order to recover
damages awarded by a court in fraud or theft cases.
Detectives who work for retail stores or hotels are responsible for
controlling losses and protecting assets. Store detectives, also known
as loss prevention agents, safeguard the assets of retail stores by
apprehending anyone attempting to steal merchandise or destroy store
property. They prevent theft by shoplifters, vendor representatives,
delivery personnel and even store employees. Store detectives also
conduct periodic inspections of stock areas, dressing rooms, and
restrooms, and sometimes assist in opening and closing the store. They
may prepare loss prevention and security reports for management and
testify in court against people they apprehend. Hotel detectives protect
guests of the establishment from theft of their belongings and preserve
order in hotel restaurants and bars. They also may keep undesirable
individuals, such as known thieves, off the premises.
Work environment. Many detectives and investigators spend time away from
their offices conducting interviews or doing surveillance, but some work
in their office most of the day conducting computer searches and making
phone calls. When the investigator is working on a case, the environment
might range from plush boardrooms to seedy bars. Store and hotel
detectives work in the businesses that they protect.
Investigators generally work alone, but they sometimes work with others
during surveillance or when following a subject in order to avoid
detection by the subject. Some of the work involves confrontation, so
the job can be stressful and dangerous. Some situations call for the
investigator to be armed, such as certain bodyguard assignments for
corporate or celebrity clients. In most cases, however, a weapon is not
necessary because the purpose of the work is gathering information and
not law enforcement or criminal apprehension. Owners of investigative
agencies have the added stress of having to deal with demanding and
sometimes distraught clients.
Private detectives and investigators often work irregular hours because
of the need to conduct surveillance and contact people who are not
available during normal working hours. Early morning, evening, weekend,
and holiday work is common.
Private
Investigator Training, Other Qualifications, and Advancement
Most private
detectives and investigators have some college education and previous
experience in investigative work. In most States, they are required to
be licensed.
Education and training. There are no formal education requirements for
most private detective and investigator jobs, although many have college
degrees. Courses in criminal justice and police science are helpful to
aspiring private detectives and investigators. Although related
experience is usually required, some people enter the occupation
directly after graduation from college, generally with an associate or
bachelor’s degree in criminal justice or police science. The 2006
educational attainment for private detectives and investigators, in
percent, was as follows:
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High school graduate or equivalent - 18%
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Some college, no degree - 26%
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Associate's degree - 8%
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Bachelor's degree - 34%
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Master's degree - 13%
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Professional degree or PhD - 3%
Most corporate investigators must have a bachelor’s degree, preferably
in a business-related field. Some corporate investigators have a
master’s degree in business administration or a law degree; others are
CPAs.
For computer forensics work, a computer science or accounting degree is
more helpful than a criminal justice degree. An accounting degree
provides good background knowledge for investigating fraud through
computer forensics. Either of these two degrees provides a good starting
point after which investigative techniques can be learned on the job.
Alternatively, many colleges and universities now offer certificate
programs, requiring from 15 to 21 credits, in computer forensics. These
programs are most beneficial to law enforcement officers, paralegals, or
others who are already involved in investigative work. A few colleges
and universities now offer bachelor’s or master’s degrees in
computer
forensics, and others are planning to begin offering such degrees.
Most of the work of private detectives and investigators is learned on
the job. New investigators will usually start by learning how to use
databases to gather information. The training they receive depends on
the type of firm. At an insurance company, a new investigator will learn
to recognize insurance fraud. At a firm that specializes in domestic
cases, a new worker might observe a senior investigator performing
surveillance. Learning by doing, in which new investigators are put on
cases and gain skills as they go, is a common approach. Corporate
investigators hired by large companies, however, may receive formal
training in business practices, management structure, and various
finance-related topics.
Because they work with changing technologies,
computer forensic
investigators never stop training. They learn the latest methods of
fraud detection and new software programs and operating systems by
attending conferences and courses offered by software vendors and
professional associations.
Licensure. The majority of States and the District of Columbia require
private detectives and investigators to be licensed.
Licensing
requirements vary, however. Seven States - Alabama, Alaska, Colorado,
Idaho, Mississippi, Missouri, and South Dakota—have no Statewide
licensing requirements, some States have few requirements, and many
others have stringent regulations. For example, the Bureau of Security
and Investigative Services of the California Department of Consumer
Affairs requires private investigators to be 18 years of age or older;
have a combination of education in police science, criminal law, or
justice and experience equaling 3 years (6,000 hours); pass a criminal
history background check by the California Department of Justice and the
FBI (in most States, convicted felons cannot be issued a license); and
receive a qualifying score on a 2-hour written examination covering laws
and regulations. Detectives and investigators in all States who carry
handguns must meet additional requirements for a
firearms permit.
There are no licenses
specifically for computer forensic investigators, but some States
require them to be licensed private investigators. Even where licensure
is not required, a private investigator license is useful to some
because it allows them to perform follow-up or complementary tasks.
Other qualifications. Private detectives and investigators typically
have previous experience in other occupations. Some have worked in other
occupations for insurance or collections companies, in the private
security industry, or as paralegals. Many investigators enter the field
after serving in law enforcement, the military, government auditing and
investigative positions, or Federal intelligence jobs. Former law
enforcement officers, military investigators, and government agents, who
are frequently able to retire after 25 years of service, often become
private detectives or investigators in a second career.
Others enter from jobs in finance, accounting, commercial credit,
investigative reporting, insurance, and law. These individuals often can
apply their prior work experience in a related investigative specialty.
Most computer forensic investigators
learn their trade while working for
a law enforcement agency, either as a sworn officer or a civilian
computer forensic analyst. They are trained at their agency’s computer
forensics training program. Many people enter law enforcement
specifically to get this training and establish a reputation before
moving to the private sector.
For private detective and investigator jobs, most employers look for
individuals with ingenuity, persistence, and assertiveness. A candidate
must not be afraid of confrontation, should communicate well, and should
be able to think on his or her feet. Good interviewing and interrogation
skills also are important and usually are acquired in earlier careers in
law enforcement or other fields. Because the courts often are the judge
of a properly conducted investigation, the investigator must be able to
present the facts in a manner that a jury will believe. The screening
process for potential employees typically includes a background check
for a criminal history.
Certification and advancement. Some investigators receive certification
from a professional organization to demonstrate competency in a field.
For example, the National Association of Legal Investigators confers the
Certified Legal Investigator designation to licensed investigators who
devote a majority of their practice to negligence or criminal defense
investigations. To receive the designation, applicants must satisfy
experience, educational, and continuing-training requirements and must
pass written and oral exams.
ASIS, a trade organization for the security industry, offers the
Professional Certified Investigator certification. To qualify,
applicants must have a high school diploma or equivalent; have 5 years
of investigations experience, including 2 years managing investigations;
and must pass an exam.
Most private-detective agencies are small, with little room for
advancement. Usually, there are no defined ranks or steps, so
advancement takes the form of increases in salary and assignment status.
Many detectives and investigators start their own firms after gaining a
few years of experience. Corporate and legal investigators may rise to
supervisor or manager of the security or investigations department.
Employment
in Private Detective and Investigator Jobs
Private
detectives and investigators held about 52,000 jobs in 2006. About 30
percent were self-employed, including many for whom investigative work
was a second job. Around 34 percent of detective and investigator jobs
were in investigation and security services, including private detective
agencies, while another 9 percent were in department or other general
merchandise stores. The rest worked mostly in State and local
government, legal services firms, employment services companies,
insurance agencies, and credit mediation establishments, including banks
and other depository institutions.
Job Outlook for Private Investigator Jobs
Keen
competition is expected for most jobs despite faster-than-average
employment growth.
Employment change. Employment of private detectives and investigators is
expected to grow 18 percent over the 2006-16 decade, faster than the
average for all occupations. Increased demand for private detectives and
investigators will result from heightened security concerns, increased
litigation, and the need to protect confidential information and
property of all kinds. The proliferation of criminal activity on the
Internet, such as identity theft, spamming, e-mail harassment, and
illegal downloading of copyrighted materials, will also increase the
demand for private investigators. Employee background checks, conducted
by private investigators, will become standard for an increasing number
of jobs. Growing financial activity worldwide will increase the demand
for investigators to control internal and external financial losses, to
monitor competitors, and to prevent industrial spying.
Job prospects for private eyes
Keen competition is expected for most jobs because
private detective and investigator careers attract many qualified
people, including relatively young retirees from law enforcement and
military careers. The best opportunities for new jobseekers will be in
entry-level jobs in detective agencies or stores, particularly large
chain and discount stores that hire detectives on a part-time basis.
Opportunities are expected to be excellent for qualified computer
forensic investigators.
Earnings - How Much You Might Earn as a Private Investigator
See Private Investigator
Salary
Other
Suggestions for Finding a Job as a Private Investigator
Following are
suggestions for finding a job as a private investigator:
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Contact some local private
investigation agencies in your area to see if they have any open
positions that match your skill sets. To find a list of
agencies in your area, visit our Private Investigator Directory.
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Post a message, or even
your resume in our Private
Investigator Discussion forum. There is a section
dedicated to jobs.
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Post your Resume on Monster.com - Thousands of
potential employers use online job sites as one of their major
sources for finding new employees. This will increase your
exposure and may lead to a position you hadn't thought of like - a
corporate investigator, risk manager, security teams, etc.
Source: United States
Department of Labor,
Occupational Outlook
Handbook, 2008-2009
Edition
http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos157.htm
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