The most important duties of a private investigator are to perform the job without getting noticed and to collect all the facts and bring it to the client. If you are someone who wants to be a private detective, this article would be a guiding hand on how to be one...
Although the life of a private investigator seems very exciting and adventurous on TV, in reality it's very different. Private detectives or investigators are professionals who work undercover for people and solve their judicial or personal problems.
In most cases, private investigators are hired by top-notch businessmen and attorneys to search for private and valuable information. Mostly kids and teens are fascinated with this action figure and most of them dream to be a private investigator someday. This job is best suited for people who come from a defense background.
As a private investigator you can be hired by a detective agency or you can also work independently from your own office or home. People who are genuinely interested in this profession should be well versed with the duties of a private investigator and what other skills you need, to be a successful detective.
Private Investigator - Education Required
Before we uncover what the responsibilities of a private investigator are, let's have a look at how much studying is required for this job.
There is no specific degree required to be a criminal investigator, but most of them working as one have degrees in criminal justice, police science, cybersecurity, cyberterrorism, juvenile justice, criminal psychology and social psychology.
Some of them get their certification from institutes like the National Association of Legal Investigators which confers the title of certified legal investigators on people who have more than 5 years of experience in this field.
Most detective agencies hire people who have prior experience in this field, although some of them have been picked up directly after graduation. Since detectives face different cases on a daily basis, computer and financial knowledge is also considered as an asset in this field. Proper training is given on the job. The good news is many universities and institutions have also started offering Bachelor's or Master's Degrees in this field.
Majority of the people who become detectives are mostly cops or army officers who have taken voluntarily retirement. Junior investigators get on the job by training under senior officials and helping them solve different cases. The learning process of a private investigator never ends as he/she needs to be familiar with the latest happenings in the technological world.
Private Investigator - Duties
Other than offering their services in solving tough cases, private investigators also offer their services for witness protection and celebrity guardsmen. They use many methods, which can be right or wrong, to get the facts of the assignment handed to them.
They may also perform database searches for their prime suspects to obtain all the information, such as previous records, address, vehicle registration number, club memberships, etc.
In important cases, an investigator might also need to visit the suspect's work place and house while undercover. It's a good idea to be well versed with latest technological gadgets like night vision binoculars, GPS, mini-trackers, video cameras and cell phone trackers. Most of them will spend their time on foot doing interviews and chasing suspects.
As an investigator you are also expected to get your job done in any circumstances, so be ready for some violent confrontations. If you are working undercover, most of the time you would be given a weapon for you and your client's safety. It's important that all the evidence you gather should be documented and be in safe hands.
Private Detective - Salary
Private investigator salary usually depends on the assignment which they undertake. Most private investigators charge fees on an hourly basis. Most of them charge about $70 an hour and this can rise up to $200 to $450 an hour.
As I've mentioned before, the pay scale also depends on which types of cases the private investigator specializes in solving, while the location also plays a major part, as a detective from New York will definitely charge more than a detective from North Carolina.
As a beginner you can get at least $20,000 per annum and with experience this salary can go up to $70,000 per annum.
Hope this article on duties of a private investigator was an interesting read. Most people are just infatuated with the decorative concept of being a detective, but not all of them are suited for this job. You actually need a good presence of mind and good people skills to be a detective, also you should be someone who knows the tricks of disappearing in a crowd.