There are many branches of law enforcement and security. Private investigation is one of the most interesting of these. In fact, it is quite broad, and can range from simple intelligence gathering for marital infidelity to large-scale fraud cases in major businesses and corporations. While the tasks for each individual may be different, the common link among all private investigators is that they have the desire to get to the truth, and help and satisfy their clients. In the early 1970′s, there were mostly male private investigators, but recently, more females are entering the profession with phenomenal success. They have been known to acquire data that men cannot get and are often seen as less threatening. In this case, the “non-threatening woman” stereotype works in their favor.
For those who wish to pursue a career in this field, here are some very useful tips.
- Locate the agency that regulates Private Investigations in the area. More than likely, it will be a state agency of some sort, whether the Department of Justice or Consumer Affairs. Find out the required licensure to become a private investigator. This may require simply submitting paperwork and passing a background check or pursuing a degree and getting certification from a university or the state itself.
- Get educated on legal practices. This may require anything from going to a good law library to registering for courses at a university. This is, of course, dependent on the area in which you are working, as some places may require different forms of accreditation than others.
- Learn to budget. The first assignment will normally be quite easy, but, more than likely will not pay much. Most Private Investigation companies tend to be small and usually cannot afford to pay their employees unless they, themselves, have been paid.
- Put together a good resume and cover letter. As with any job, this should show the skills learned and any other special skills acquired. This might help in gaining that competitive edge. Send them out to companies that might be interested, even giving them a call if necessary. After all, the squeaky wheel gets the grease.
- Be sure to get the following required items: A car (preferably one that blends in), a computer, a fax machine, a pager or cell phone, a camera with a telephoto lens and a video camera. These are required tools for the trade. While some companies might have these available, already having them increases the chance of employment.
- Seek employment from state agencies. These include the FBI, CIA, and the Secret Service. All of the above conduct various investigations and may be very good career choices. Another option is to work for the Fire Department and to do Arson Investigation. However, training will be required. Developing a specialization in a particular field, such as computers and accounting, is also a good idea, as that can mean being hired to work for major corporations.
While it is not a guarantee that these tips will help land a job, they should prove to be useful stepping stones in the right direction.
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Originally posted 2010-09-07 17:42:46.
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