Is Private Investigator a Good Job?
At some point in their lives, many people will consider the possibility of a career working on private investigator jobs. This profession has always had a certain mystique that makes it quite attractive to people.
However, many people don't have a very good idea of what private investigators jobs entail, outside of what they see or read about in fictional works. Whether or not private investigator jobs are good for you will depend on factors such as your reason for choosing the profession and your ambitions.
What Exactly Do Private Investigators Do?
Many people will be surprised to learn how diverse private investigators jobs are. Aside from the typical agencies, private investigators jobs may also take them to places that you may not expect to find them, including recruitment agencies.
This is why it's important to find out what private detectives jobs involve, and this can include:
- Investigating a suspected cheating spouse
- Going through public records to find out more about a person, organisation etc. (background investigations and due diligence)
- Tracking down a missing person
- Conducting lie detector tests
- Following up on an insurance claims e.g. investigating an accident scene
- Investigating crime scenes for a defence lawyer
- Investigating internal theft in a business
- Carrying out a routine audit of a company's finances etc.
How Much Are Private Investigators Paid?
Private investigators jobs can earn them anywhere between £15,000 and £100,000 in a given year. There are several factors that determine which end of the earning spectrum an investigator is likely to end up in.
These include:
- Level of experience
- Licensing status
- Additional qualifications e.g. an undergraduate degree in a related field
- Type of employer or clients
- Location of their agency
- Specialisation etc.
As with any other profession, private investigators jobs will start to earn them more money as their experience increases. Getting additional qualifications can also be a major boost for those who do detective jobs, and so is being licensed. These allow the private investigator to be more attractive to potential clients when they need someone to take on investigator jobs. It also gives them the qualifications necessary to find investigator jobs in corporate circles.
Why Should You Become A Private Investigator?
Although it's not that hard to get jobs for private investigators in the UK, it's a good idea to pursue this career path for the right reasons. Private investigators hold a lot of power in their hands, thanks to things they uncover as they go about their detective jobs. Unless they're guided by the right intentions, they may be tempted to misuse the information in their possession. This can lead to legal and ethical issues.
The best reason to become a private investigator or to take on private investigator jobs is to be able to help people with the skills and experience that you acquire as an investigator.
Is There A Huge Demand For Investigators In The Uk?
The demand for private investigators has been on the rise in the UK for a while and this is good news for those looking for jobs for investigators. In the past, it was thought that only people wishing to investigate unfaithful spouses hire investigators.
However, in recent times, people have found private investigator jobs can be relevant in:
- Tracing debtors
- Locating missing friends and relatives
- Uncovering hidden assets
- Investigating potential love interests etc.
Businesses and corporations are also turning out to be an important source of jobs for private detectives. Many employers are reaching out to investigators to carry out background checks on potential employees. Many employers are also keen to expose employees who defraud the company by claiming they're ill.
The rise of cybercrime has also opened up a new area of jobs for detectives. People have lost money to online scams, or they've had their personal information stolen. This leaves investigators with the job of finding out the people behind such schemes.