If you are curious about everything, have the habit of finding things and exploring root causes to come up with legit answers, you must try your hand at being a detective. However, if you want to become a detective just because you find Law and Order exciting, then hold on for a second because being a detective is not a cake walk. It requires commitment, refined skills, hard work, and long working hours, working without sleep, working late nights, patience, following leads diligently, and waiting for developments.
If you think you are ready to become a detective then you must read this blog and get yourself familiarized with the career and its intricacies.
What Do Detectives Do?
Police Detectives
A police detective investigates a crime and gathers evidence from the crime scene. He then interviews witnesses, collects their statements, examines records, and furthermore collects facts from people related to the case. They document collected information in the search of evidence. They make sure evidence is not hampered. They work with the department of police. They analyze the data (evidence) collected and attempt to explain the circumstances of the crime. They work on one case at a time, until it is solved or dropped. They are called upon in court as a witness or for providing testimony.
Police detectives work for local, state and federal levels, and these officers must work on patrol between two and five years before becoming a detective. They may work in specific departments of police to help solve cases, such as sex crime, cyber-crime, murder, homicide, fraud or narcotics.
Traveling will be part of the profession, including impromptu ones. During investigations, they will be exposed to a variety of conditions and scenarios, including witnessing murders or other crimes. Just like the department of police, police detectives work in a variety of shifts and often on weekends and holidays. They do not wear uniforms; rather are plain clothed and armed individuals all the time.
Private Detectives
They are licensed professionals. They work individually or work with the government on a subcontract basis or work for an agency. Individuals, the FBI, the law court or the police generally hire private detectives. These professionals investigate a vast number of cases, including finding a missing person, tracking a criminal down, discovering the cause of the crime, or incident, such as fire, recover stolen property, investigate the murder, theft, identity theft, and a whole lot of other crimes and incidences. They may also work to uncover crimes or potential threats to the state or the nation.
They work on the case by interviewing witnesses, performing surveillance, reviewing government and private records to collect evidence. They may work with the law and may require to appear during case hearing as testimony to evidence or a witness. They mostly work undercover and may carry firearms.
The job of detectives is very risky; during tough cases, they stand a high chance of being threatened or warned. Therefore, they earn very well depending upon the region and scope of the case. Their earning potential may also vary based on the specialization, industry, professional background, education, and location.
With the growing need for securing data and people, the demand for private detectives or investigation services continues to grow and evolve.
The work of private detectives is regulated at the state level to ensure the interest of the public is protected and that detectives abide by all laws and regulations, just like police detectives.
Steps To Become A Detective
Step 1: Finish Your Education
If you want to be a desirable candidate for a detective, you must finish your high school and then pursue a bachelor degree course. You must graduate with a bachelor degree in something relevant to policing and law, such as criminal law, criminology, human relations, political science, forensic science, criminal justice, and judicial procedure. While you are receiving education, make sure you sign up for an internship program to get needed exposure to real-life experiences and learn a foreign language. Urban departments and federal agencies prefer candidates who know any foreign language. With a college degree, you stand a chance of getting a higher salary even as a fresher.
Also, you must be 21 years old to enter this profession. Like Nancy Drew, teenage sleuthing may give you the needed bonus point. However, you cannot be a professional detective until you are 21 and have gone through the required training.
Step 2: Meet The Additional Requirements
Apart from education, you must also pass a physical examination to make sure you have the perfect hearing, vision, strength, agility, and stamina. In addition, you can only become a detective yourself, if you have a clean chit. Any past act of felony can get you disqualified. You will have to go through a series of tests and interviews, especially if you are joining the police force, FBI or CBI. They may even put you on a lie detector test. So make sure you are honest during your application process and speak the truth only.
You will also have to get a driving license for both car and two-wheeler.
Step 3: Five Qualities You Need To Become A Detective
Whether you work on your own or work along with the police force, CBI, or FBI, you must possess certain skills and qualities to qualify as an excellent detective. While education, training, and experience do count, you will also be required to have sound judgment and critical thinking ability, and go beyond and above your cognitive skills to identify evidence and come to fruitful conclusions.
Here are the 5 qualities of detectives you must have:
Gut Instinct
You should have the ability to use your sixth sense. Mastering the art of reading a crime scene is one of the best skills of a detective. You should be able to immediately review a crime scene or smell foul play. For this, you need to have a clear conscious and presence of mind.
Interrogation Skills And Communication
You must learn to read people subtly and clearly. Detectives interview a whole lot of witnesses, potential criminals, victims, and other suspects. Therefore, you must work discreetly and extract as much information as possible. You must also know to read people by their gestures, and facial and body language.
Emotional Check
You cannot deviate from the case because you have to deal with emotional issues. Keep your emotions under control and do not exhibit any overwhelming emotion, including anger. You have to create a safe environment, and at the same time, use your emotional card at the right places to make people share things comfortably.
