Private Investigator Career Information
Detective Jobs & Training

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Want to become a private detective? Start at our private investigator career information center & learn how to begin your bounty hunter, PI or detective career

A private investigator career is full of variety--much more so than the formal detective or even the bounty hunter.

Because the private investigator performs a great many functions within the world of private security, the job is suited more towards an individual who is able to switch gears (both mentally and professionally) rather quickly, moving from one type of job to the next.

And while private investigating is quite different than it appears in the movies and in popular fiction, the job does involve a degree of danger, too.

If you don't think you're the kind of person who can deal with this kind of pressure and change, you may want to look elsewhere on your job hunt.

If, however, these things appear to have no negative effect on you at all, then you may be interested in learning more about a private investigator career.

Private Investigator Career Information

So what kind of work does the private investigator do, exactly?

A private investigator is a hired individual with detective skills, able to perform a variety of functions to assist their clients' needs. They can:

• Locate missing people
• Serve legal documents
• Perform background checks
• Provide security
• Investigate computer crimes

In truth, the private investigator is able to do all of these things and much more. Of course, each investigator has his or her own specialization, but you can find a PI who can perform a variety of different duties, as well.

Private Investigator Jobs vs. Other Detective Jobs

As opposed to a formal detective, the private investigator really doesn't have all that much authority. In fact, the average PI has about the same amount of authority as a private citizen.

A real detective can exercise control over a person or situation using the arm of the law. A private investigator cannot.

Bounty hunters generally have a singular purpose. And while they perform many of the same duties as the private investigator (like tracking down records and locating missing persons), their function is much more limited than a PI's.

A private investigator can be employed to do almost anything, whereas the bounty hunter's main goal is to find someone.

Private Investigator Certification

Becoming certified is the first step on your trip to a long and fruitful career as a private investigator. Training and education will help you learn what your job is all about.

But even more than that, a great looking resume will help you get a leg up on the competition.

Jobs for private investigators are on the rise--this is a field that shows no signs of disappearing--but so are the potential investigators out there. In order to get the best paycheck, the best benefits, and the best job out there, you need to make sure your credentials are the best.

This may mean any (or all) of the following:

• Getting a college degree in criminal justice or police science
• Taking correspondence PI training courses
• Attending online classes in the field
• Procuring your license

If it's at all possible, the best recommendation would be to get your college degree before doing more specialized training in the field of private investigation.

This will not only help to prepare you for the future, but it will also give you that edge you're looking for when hiring time comes around.

Get FREE Info From Schools Subject: Criminology Criminal Justice Corrections Crime Scene Investigation Criminal Justice Administration Forensic Science and Technology Forensic Psychology Forensic Nursing Forensic Accounting Emergency and Crisis Management Fire Science Fire Services Administration Homeland Security and Terrorism Juvenile Justice Law Enforcement Police Law School Legal Studies Court Reporting - Legal Transcription Legal Administration and Assisting Legal Administrative Assistant - Secretary Legal Office Management and Administration Paralegal - Legal Assistant Public Safety and Personal Safety Security and Loss Prevention Services Computer Crimes Cyber Security Private and Public Investigations Security Services Administration - Management Degree: - Select All Degrees - Associate's Bachelor's Master's Doctoral Certificates Diplomas Zip Code: (optional) Online Campus Both

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