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How to Become a Female Private Investigator

A stereotypical private investigator is almost always a man. In works of fiction, the proportion of women who are private detectives compared to males is quite small. However, the reality is that even a female can become a private investigator. In fact, there are quite a number of women who are already working as private detectives.

However, the majority of those working in the industry at the moment are still men. This means that there is plenty of opportunities for women who'd like to get into the investigative business.


Why More Female Private Investigators

Female private investigators are a very important asset in the industry. There are even those who'd argue that there is a greater need for female investigators at the moment compared to their male counterparts.

Some of the reasons why more female investigators are needed include:

  • Certain clients are more comfortable talking to a female investigator compared to a male one.
  • There are certain aspects of an investigation or the subject of the investigation that a female is likely to understand better than a male.
  • Male private investigators are sometimes hampered during surveillance when the subject enters a place with gender restrictions.
  • Female investigators can be more effective in certain situations in an investigation.

Although all the above reasons are valid, perhaps the best reason to have more female investigators is to break the gender bias and demonstrate that females can also be successful in the private investigation business.


Are There Special Licensing Requirements For Female Investigators?

If you wish to become a private investigator, the licensing requirements are the same whether you are male or female. This means that you'll have to:

  • Be over the age of 18
  • Have the right to work in the UK
  • Pass a mental fitness test
  • Have no criminal record that is relevant to the job
  • Attain an IQ Level 3 Award for Private Investigators.

The UK's Security Industry Authority is responsible for the licensing of those working in the security industry.


What Kind Of Experience Is Important For Private Investigators?

Experience isn't a necessity in the work of private investigators. However, you can think of it as having an extra skill set. It can come in handy in certain situations.

The kind of experience that is usually relevant to private investigation is:

  • Having worked in law enforcement
  • Having frequently covered crime-related issues/stories in your previous work
  • Having been in the armed forces

Experience in other areas can also be useful. For example, the rise of cyber-crime makes computing skills an important asset. Having worked as a fraud investigator in a financial institution can also be very useful.


Skills And Characteristics Of A Female Private Investigator

Private investigators, male or female, need a wide range of skills to perform their work. These range from communication skills, technical skills, people skills, computer skills etc. Most kinds of skills can prove to be useful to a private investigator at some point.

When it comes to characteristics, some of what you can expect from a private investigator include:

  • A desire to get to the truth
  • A great deal of patience (surveillance can be long and uneventful)
  • An eye for detail
  • Tenaciousness
  • Good judge of people


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