What the Job of a Private Investigator Is Really Like

Some say the life of a private investigator is mostly confined to back ground checks and finding lost people. Others say they mostly do surveillance work with long, monotonous, and tedious hours of sitting and waiting. Overall, 40 percent of a general private investigator's work involves divorce and custody battles, but as a private investigator you may have other clients. For example, you may have annual contracts with corporations to investigate internal problems and protect trade secrets.

For the first two years of employment at an investigative agency, a great deal of research is performed. If you start your own agency, you may expect to battle ail the problems of a small-business owner, such as generating clients, fluctuating income, and unpredictable staffing needs. After about five years, many agencies add security services to increase their clientele. After ten years, private investigators employed by firms should supervise others or look toward starting their own agency. The majority of private investigators who leave the profession do so between four and eight years, if they have not started their own agencies.

Many private investigators work directly with clients or are hired by attorneys. Private investigators and attorneys often perform similar investigative work, but if surveillance or undercover work is needed, attorneys usually prefer not to do such work themselves, but prefer to opt a licensed private investigator.

What Private Investigators Do
 

• Private investigators investigate people, businesses or entities, incidents, accidents, or crimes.
• They may be hired to interview witnesses, serve subpoenas, inspect, photograph or video people, places, or things, or coordinate activities with expert witnesses. They may even evaluate arrests and police procedures.
• A great deal of work exists for private investigators in the area of insurance fraud, particularly for Workers' Compensation and life or health insurance programs.
• Private investigators verify the activities of people who are soon to be divorced, and confirm details that may affect alimony and custody determinations or as otherwise directed.
• Private investigators can confirm a stalker's malicious attempts to harass others, so that stalking claims have increased credibility.
• Businesses may hire private investigators to work undercover for them to disclose employee theft, drug abuse at work, and protection of trade secrets, patents, and copyrights. They may conduct background checks on the financial stability of a company or prospective business partner.

They report information obtained through interviews, background investigation, and surveillance, to their clients regarding
 

1. the character, reputation, credibility, trustworthiness, honesty, integrity, identity, habits, conduct, business, occupation, knowledge, efficiency, loyalty, activity, movement, whereabouts, affiliations, associations, transactions, or acts of any person.
2. crimes or wrongs committed.
3. the cause for libels, losses, accidents, damages, injuries to persons or to property, or fires.
4. the securing of evidence.
5. the location, recovery, or disposition of lost or stolen property.

Getting In and Moving Up

At larger investigative firms a degree in criminal behavior, psychology, or law enforcement may be a plus, but these firms will likely primarily consider your temperament and prior experience. About 75 percent of private investigators have a law enforcement, security, or mihtary background. Some private investigators attend private detective schools.

With the increase in demand for legal services will come an increase in demand for private investigators. Many private investigators are fly-by-night part-timers and do not do a thorough job or provdde their clients with detailed reports. There is a definite shortage of stable private investigative firms that are able to comprehensively address client needs in a cost-efficient fashion.

If you are interested in this profession, the most effective way to get into it is to meet your state requirements for licensure and work with a larger private investigation firm for as much time as you need to learn the ropes. While working in such capacities, you should begin to format a business plan for an agency and purchase some of the equipment you will need, which includes a 35 mm camera, video camera, night vision glasses and lens, binoculars, computer with software, desk, and scanner to pick up radio frequencies.

Most states have boards of private investigators that regulate the profession and require private investigators to obtain a license. The state boards usually establish training programs to be conducted by approved institutions for the acquisition of a license. Annual renewal training may be required. In order to become a private investigator, one is likely to have to pass an examination, have some education and/or training, and post a bond. If you are considering a career in investigative work, you should contact the authorities in your area for more information. Training programs usually address legal limitations on the use of firearms and on the powers and authority of the private investigator. State laws applicable to their services will be reviewed along with field note taking and report writing, range firing, and handgun safety and maintenance.

Private investigative agencies are expected to grow rapidly and increase in size over the next 10 to 15 years, as is the field of law. Economies of scale make it likely that larger, more technologically advanced firms will begin to consolidate many of the smaller firms. This will likely increase the average income for new private investigators and create a generous cash flow for the owners of such firms. If you begin the process of becoming a private investigator and learn how to operate your own business now, you can be the owner of one of these technologically advanced firms at the right time.

A Few Key Points to Remember
 

• You must meet your particular state's requirements for Licensure before working as a private investigator.
• In order to generate a higher income than average, you will have to have keen business sense and the ability and daring to start your own agency.
• Prior experience in law enforcement, in security, or in the military may be helpful, but is not required.
• You should exhibit professionalism and generate detailed reports for clients regarding your services and activities.