Steps
to a Job as a Private
Investigator
You have
seen them on television and in the movies. They use
their knowledge and skills to solve cases when no
one else can, and have exciting and challenging work.
As a private investigator
you too can enjoy challenging work that helps people
in a meaningful way. Whether you're reuniting an adoptee
with her birth parents, helping to solve a computer
crime, or keeping an innocent man out of jail, the
work of a private investigator can make a big difference
to many people's lives. In addition to the other rewards
of this job, the potential exists for a successful
investigator to earn up to $100,000 a year.
If you are interested
in breaking into this career, here are some steps
you can follow, based on the Fabjob.com How to Become
a Private Investigator.
1.
Develop your detective skills
Vital skills for a
private investigator include observation and listening
skills, critical thinking (you don't just take information
at face value), research skills, problem-solving ability,
and verbal and written communication skills. It also
helps if you have computer skills and can take photographs.
Many of these skills can be self-taught with online
resources.
2.
Consider taking a course
A criminal justice
background or education can be a big help in getting
hired. There are many private investigator training
courses available, including some you can take online.
Make sure you investigate any course to ensure you
get what you pay for - consider it your first PI assignment.
3.
Learn about licensing requirements
In most cases, the
only qualification you absolutely need to become a
private investigator is a license from your state
or province to operate as an agent. Generally, this
will require you to be 18 years of age, of sound mind
and with a clean criminal record. In some states you
may also need to pass a course or exam. Licensing
for PIs varies from state to state (and province to
province), so make sure you find out what is required
to operate in your area. Your local police service,
government, or PI association should be able to direct
you to what is required.
4.
Get experience
Start by taking stock
of the experience you already have. If you have ever
worked in any kind of legal or research position,
or done security work, you are already a step ahead
of the competition. However, almost any experience
could be helpful at some point. For example, if you
have ever worked in retail, you might be able to do
undercover work at a department store. If you feel
your experience is limited, consider asking a working
PI to serve as a mentor to you and guide you towards
success.
5.
Find job openings
Once you have some
experience, your next step will likely be finding
work with an agency or other employer. You can contact
PI agencies, lawyers and insurance firms in your area
to meet with them and offer your services. If you
aren't having much luck, initially offering your services
for free might help you land your first few cases
and get you on your way.
6.
Start working towards a specialty
Many private investigators
choose an area to specialize in, such as missing persons,
background investigations, computer crime, executive
protection, forensics, or insurance fraud, among others.
When you are starting out, get involved in a variety
of cases and see what satisfies or interests you the
most. Most successful PIs eventually choose an area
or two of specialization and set out to establish
themselves as experts on these topics.
7.
Set up your own agency
Many private investigators
eventually choose to start their own agency. Even
though not all states require it, it is a good idea
to get a few years' investigative experience under
your belt before you go into business for yourself.
Also, make sure that you plan adequately for marketing
your agency, as this is an area many would-be PIs
overlook - cases will not fall into your lap, so be
prepared to market yourself to potential clients through
a variety of methods.
8.
Become an expert in your field
Once your agency is
up and running, you need to continue to develop yourself
as a private investigator to stay current and competitive.
One of the best ways to do this is to become a recognized
expert in your field. This can be accomplished through
methods such as presenting seminars to local business
groups, publishing articles, and getting involved
with local and national PI associations. Once you
an the expert in your chosen niche, you may find yourself
so busy that you will be hiring PIs yourself just
to keep up!
FabJob.com publishes
e-books that can help you break into a "fab" job.
Visit www.fabjob.com
for information.
