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Is being a private investigator a good fit for you?

Collects and reports information about people or organisations for clients. Also looks into rule-breaking in private places.

What the work involves

  • Writes reports or case summaries to record investigations.
  • Carries out private investigations for payment.
  • Searches databases, public records and legal filings to find people or gather information.
  • Uncovers fake insurance claims and stolen money.

The interests that suit it

People in this work tend to be organising, persuading and curious. Here is how much each of the six kinds of interest comes into it.

Hands-onLow. Building, fixing, and working with tools, machines, animals or the outdoors.
CuriousSome. Finding things out, solving problems, and working with ideas and data.
CreativeLow. Making things: art, writing, music, design and performance.
HelpingLow. Teaching, caring for and supporting people.
PersuadingSome. Leading, selling, and making the calls.
OrganisingStrong. Keeping things in order: records, numbers and systems.

What it tends to reward

Compared with other work, this job stands out for:

  • Mastery. Getting really good at something over time.
  • Independence. Trusted to decide how the work gets done.

How much training it needs

Apprenticeships and training. Usually vocational training or an apprenticeship. Rules differ from country to country, so check locally before you commit.

Find out if it fits you

Answer quick questions about what you like doing and what keeps you going. We match you with roles from over 900 kinds of work, and you can see if a private investigator is one of yours.

Free. About 15 minutes. No account.

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