For private detective and investigator jobs, most employers look for individuals with ingenuity who are curious, aggressive, persistent, and assertive. A candidate must not be afraid of being confrontational, should communicate well, and should be able to think on his or her feet. As an Investigator for Security and Loss Prevention my duties will be to investigate work related accidents and workman s compensation claims as well as to conduct safety inspections and address safety issues to prevent future accidents. I ll interview workers, do background checks on potential employees and investigate internal as well as external theft. My ultimate long-term goal in the investigative field is to become the owner of my own business as a private investigator.
Private investigators are diverse in the services they offer.
Some do covert observation while others work with attorneys. Some private investigators locate people and investigate workmen s compensation claims. Most private investigators do a little bit of everything except covert observation, according to Gary Adams, chief investigator for his own private detective agency in Newport News. Because of the level of danger involved, the insurance company for the investigative agency plays a large role in what services that agency will offer. For example, covert observation can be a dangerous part of the profession, both from a physical perspective, but also from a legal standpoint.