Although most crimes are investigated by law enforcement, private detectives also play an important role in the criminal justice system. Detectives are also often hired to investigate civil cases, pursue missing persons reports and to perform in-depth background checks for various reasons.
If you’re thinking about entering into a career with a law enforcement agency or as a private detective, it is important to know if you have the right skill set to excel in the field. Although you will definitely receive a lot through your technical training, it is also important to assess whether or not you think your personality matches up well with the skills that are critical to succeed as a detective.
Here are eight important detective skills that are essential for success:
Skill #1: A steadfast passion for the job
You’re never going to hear anyone describe the work of a detective as easy. For that reason, it requires a huge degree of dedication to become a successful and thriving private investigation company. In order to truly want this kind of job, you want to relentlessly inquisitive and willing to put yourself in all sorts of uncomfortable situations in order to get to the truth. You have to wake up each morning eager to see where the day’s adventure is going to take you.
Skill #2: A naturally sharp instinct
Although you’ll certainly be given plenty of tips and tricks to assist you during your training, there is really no replacement for a strong natural instinct, or so-called “sixth sense.” It’s a matter of being able to look at a scene and quickly assess the likelihood of certain outcomes.
Furthermore, instinct also comes into play when meeting people who might be involved in the crime or event. That being said, it’s always imperative to review evidence and facts and only reach a conclusion after all available resources have been taken into consideration.
Skill #3: The ability to read people
Related to a strong gut instinct is the ability to read a person’s body language and determine whether or not they are telling the truth. These detective skills can be invaluable in helping to identify suspects and draw conclusions about their cases.
Of course, someone acting suspiciously certainly doesn’t qualify as guilty. A hunch should only be a reason to investigate further, and never to reach a conclusion on its own. Self-awareness is also critical when it comes to reading a person, as it can have a strong effect on how much they trust the investigator and are therefore willing to divulge.
Skill #4: Good critical thinking and problem solving
One of the hallmark detective skills is the ability to analyze complex problems successfully. Critical thinking is imperative in order to be able to reach logical conclusions based on the evidence and therefore detectives must use these skills to remove personal prejudice and opinions and objectively investigate cases.
Skill #5: Attention to detail
Due to the fact that investigations often result in some sort of legal action, detective must pay rigorous attention to detail to ensure that nothing is missed in the investigation that may compromise a court case. In addition, this skill is also necessary when it comes to identifying and examining evidence.
Also, due to the fact that detectives need to conduct interviews and be able to follow legal procedures, it is important that no relevant detail is left behind.
Skill #6: Computer and tech savvy
As with pretty much all high-level careers, a solid knowledge of technology is becoming increasingly important for detectives. As computers are now used when conducting background checks and using financial records to look for missing people, detectives require the know-how to use search programs and databases relevant to the case.
For example, private detectives may use Lexis-Nexis to conduct legal research and police detectives may use the National Crime Information Center database to check for criminal background information.
Skill #7: Written and oral communication skills
Being able to communicate clearly and efficiently is one of the most essential detective skills. In order to provide proper documentation and file clear reports, detectives need to be able to write in a way that is free of error and easy to understand.
Also, if interviews are going to end up being productive, detectives have to able to ask clear questions and actively listen to the answers so that no details are missed.
Skill #8: Patience and quick recall
Of course, there are several other skills that can contribute to the overall success of any detective. These also include patience and the ability to easily recall details of current laws and regulation. Patience is critical for detectives working difficult, slow-moving cases or in the event that they need to conduct surveillance.
Detectives should also have local laws, regulations, and criminal codes memorized so that they are able to process information more quickly and ask more effective questions about a case. Having to break during an interview or interrogation to check a detail can completing upset any momentum that was thus far generated.