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Private Detectives and Investigators

  • Bright Outlook
  • Rapid Growth

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.

What you’d do

  • Write reports or case summaries to document investigations.
  • 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.
  • Question persons to obtain evidence for cases of divorce, child custody, or missing persons or information about individuals' character or financial status.

Skills that matter

  • Active Listening
  • Speaking
  • Critical Thinking
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Complex Problem Solving
  • Writing

How to get there

Medium preparation: usually vocational school, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree

Also called

  • Investigator
  • Loss Prevention Detective
  • Loss Prevention Officer
  • Private Investigator
  • Asset Protection Detective
  • Field Investigator

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