National Application Center :: career details :: Private Detectives and Investigators
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Career Details :: Private Detectives and Investigators
Description
Detect occurrences of unlawful acts or infractions of rules in private establishment, or seek, examine, and compile information for client.
Experience
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful in these occupations, but usually is not needed. For example, a drywall installer might benefit from experience installing drywall, but an inexperienced person could still learn to be an installer with little difficulty.
Education
These occupations usually require a high school diploma and may require some vocational training or job-related course work. In some cases, an associate's or bachelor's degree could be needed.
Training
Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees.
Tasks
- Enforces conformance to establishment rules and protects persons or property.
- Questions persons to obtain evidence for cases of divorce, child custody, or missing persons, or individual's character or financial status.
- Observes employees or customers and patrols premises to detect violations and obtain evidence, using binoculars, cameras, and television.
- Assists victims, police, fire department, and others during emergencies.
- Evaluates performance and honesty of employees by posing as customer or employee and comparing employee to standards.
- Locates persons using phone or mail directories to collect money owed or to serve legal papers.
- Testifies at hearings and court trials to present evidence.
- Writes reports and case summaries to document investigations or inform supervisors.
- Alerts staff and superiors of presence of suspect in establishment.
- Confers with establishment officials, security department, police, or postal officials to identify problems, provide information, and receive instructions.
- Counts cash and reviews transactions, sales checks, and register tapes to verify amount of cash and shortages.
- Obtains and analyzes information on suspects, crimes, and disturbances to solve cases, identify criminal activity, and maintain public peace and order.
- Warns and ejects troublemakers from premises and apprehends and releases suspects to authorities or security personnel.
- Examines crime scene for clues or fingerprints and submits evidence to laboratory for analysis.
Related Careers
- Child Support, Missing Persons, and Unemployment Insurance Fraud Investigators
- Correctional Officers and Jailers
- Criminal Investigators and Special Agents
- Fire Inspectors
- Fire Investigators
- Immigration and Customs Inspectors
- Police Detectives
- Security Guards
- Transit and Railroad Police
Important Abilities
General Work Activities
- Getting Information Needed to Do the Job
- Communicating With Other Workers
- Documenting/Recording Information
- Analyzing Data or Information
- Communicating With Persons Outside Organization
Important Skills
Frequent Work Context
- Job-Required Social Interaction
- Consequence of Error
- Responsible for Others' Health & Safety
- Importance of Being Aware of New Events
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
