Perhaps it was an impression created by reading Sherlock Holmes mysteries as a child or watching Magnum PI reruns, but a career as a private investigator seemed larger than life to me when I was seriously considering what I would do with my life.

I, like the majority of the general public, misunderstood and undervalued the work of private investigators until I found myself working as a detective. It wasn’t anything at all like the television shows or the Nancy Drew books!

The work of private investigators ranges from surveillance, conducting criminal investigations, detecting insurance fraud to a range of other investigative services. The clients are as varied as the work. They include the government, insurance companies, lawyers, private citizens and any person or organization that needs investigative services.

If you want to be a private investigator, then set yourself up for success and get as much training as possible.  Begin with general investigation courses and move on to those specific types of cases that interest you most, i.e. interview techniques, arson investigations, patent and trademark law or insurance law.

The become “employment ready” by investing in the proper equipment, studying your state’s Civil and criminal code, learn to communicate effectively… then be patient but persistent in your job search.

Tags: Information