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Private Detectives & Investigators

Also called: Loss Prevention Officer, Loss Prevention Detective, Private Investigator, Investigator

Where in the military? In the military: see titles from the Army.

What they do:
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.
On the job, you would:
  • Write reports or case summaries to document investigations.
  • Search computer databases, credit reports, public records, tax or legal filings, or other resources to locate persons or to compile information for investigations.
  • Obtain and analyze information on suspects, crimes, or disturbances to solve cases, to identify criminal activity, or to gather information for court cases.

Knowledge

Arts and Humanities
  • English language
Business
  • customer service
  • administrative services
Safety and Government
  • law and government
  • public safety and security
Engineering and Technology
  • computers and electronics

Skills

Basic Skills
  • listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
  • talking to others
Problem Solving
  • noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it
Social
  • understanding people's reactions
  • changing what is done based on other people's actions

Abilities

Verbal
  • communicate by speaking
  • listen and understand what people say
Ideas and Logic
  • make general rules or come up with answers from lots of detailed information
  • use rules to solve problems
Attention
  • pay attention to something without being distracted

Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include
leading, making decisions, and business.
They do well at jobs that need:
  • Integrity
  • Dependability
  • Attention to Detail
  • Self Control
  • Independence
  • Analytical Thinking

Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Electronic mail software
  • Email software
Graphics or photo imaging software
  • Computer imaging software
Word processing software
  • Microsoft Word

Education

Education: (rated 3 of 5)
associate's degree or
some college
usually needed

Get started on your career:

Find Training Find Certifications Registered Apprenticeship Eligible for the Veterans Retraining Assistance Program

Job Outlook

Average Outlook
New job opportunities are likely in the future.
Salary
$43,710
per year, on average
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See more details at O*NET OnLine about private detectives and investigators.