What Do Private Detectives and Investigators Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Private Detectives and Investigators gather, analyze, compile and report information regarding individuals or organizations to clients, or detect occurrences of unlawful acts or infractions of rules in private establishment. They also write reports or case summaries to document investigations.

Other tasks include:

• Conduct private investigations on a paid basis.
• Search computer databases, credit reports, public records, tax or legal filings, or other resources to locate persons or to compile information for investigations.
• Conduct personal background investigations, such as pre-employment checks, to obtain information about an individual’s character, financial status, or personal history.
• Expose fraudulent insurance claims or stolen funds.
• Obtain and analyze information on suspects, crimes, or disturbances to solve cases, to identify criminal activity, or to gather information for court cases.
• Testify at hearings or court trials to present evidence.

We asked Private Detectives and Investigators how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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73% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 60% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

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Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Private Detectives and Investigators write reports or case summaries to document investigations. They search computer databases, credit reports, public records, tax or legal filings, or other resources to locate persons or to compile information for investigations.

A typical day for a Private Detective and Investigator will also include:

• Conduct private investigations on a paid basis.
• Conduct personal background investigations, such as pre-employment checks, to obtain information about an individual’s character, financial status, or personal history.
• Question persons to obtain evidence for cases of divorce, child custody, or missing persons or information about individuals’ character or financial status.
• Expose fraudulent insurance claims or stolen funds.
• Observe and document activities of individuals to detect unlawful acts or to obtain evidence for cases, using binoculars and still or video cameras.

We asked some Private Detectives and Investigators a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	94% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	31% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	49% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	53% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	5% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	46% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Private Detectives and Investigators also warn troublemakers causing problems on establishment premises and eject them from premises when necessary. They may also observe and document activities of individuals to detect unlawful acts or to obtain evidence for cases, using binoculars and still or video cameras.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Private Detectives and Investigators Confer with establishment officials, security departments, police, or postal officials to identify problems, provide information, or receive instructions. They might also Alert appropriate personnel to suspects’ locations.

In addition, they Obtain and analyze information on suspects, crimes, or disturbances to solve cases, to identify criminal activity, or to gather information for court cases.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Conduct personal background investigations, such as pre-employment checks, to obtain information about an individual’s character, financial status, or personal history.

To some Private Detectives and Investigators, it is also their responsibility to Monitor industrial or commercial properties to enforce conformance to establishment rules and to protect people or property.

Working life

More than 40 hours per week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as a Private Detective and Investigator, you can expect to work more than 40 hours per week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like starting up and carrying out projects. They like leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business..

They also like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/OOH/protective-service/private-detectives-and-investigators.htm

http://www.nalionline.org/

http://www.asisonline.org/

http://www.pimagazine.com/links/pi-license-requirements/