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Background investigator skills for your resume and career
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Below we've compiled a list of the most critical background investigator skills. We ranked the top skills for background investigators based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 18.3% of background investigator resumes contained excellent time management as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a background investigator needs to be successful in the workplace.
15 background investigator skills for your resume and career
1. Excellent Time Management
Here's how background investigators use excellent time management:
- Demonstrated knowledgeable of security requirements with excellent time management and case management and ability to learn new computer programs.
- Demonstrated excellent time management and case management skills and knowledgeable of security requirements.
2. Work Ethic
Here's how background investigators use work ethic:
- Determined applicant's experience level and work ethic by contacting previous employers.
- Recognized twice for my work ethic and completion of assigned cases.
3. Face-To-Face Interviews
Here's how background investigators use face-to-face interviews:
- Conduct face-to-face interviews; obtain authorizations to pull background records, gather information, and deliver orientations.
- Conduct face-to-face interviews to gather information about applicants seeking federal security clearances.
4. National Security
Here's how background investigators use national security:
- Completed federal background investigations for National Security Clearance determinations as credentialed US Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Background Investigator.
- Trained to identify signs that suggest an individual may be a terrorism or counterintelligence threat to national security interests.
5. Law Enforcement Agencies
Here's how background investigators use law enforcement agencies:
- Conduct record checks with educational institutions, law enforcement agencies, courts and military installations.
- Collaborated with Federal and law enforcement agencies to compile and audit security data.
6. Financial Institutions
Financial Institutions come in all sizes, forms, and are meant for all sorts of purposes. Some only keep money, some only trade it, some focus on extending loans, some work with only other financial corporations or regular business and companies, and some are built to be useful and multi-purpose. A central bank, for example, is a banking institution meant to keep an eye on other banks and ensure that no laws or rules are broken or bent.
Here's how background investigators use financial institutions:
- Implemented record searches at police agencies, courthouses, educational/financial institutions and government buildings.
- Perform record searches at police agencies, courthouses, educational institutions, financial institutions, and medical/mental health facilities.
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OPM or The United States Office of Personnel Management is an autonomous agency operated by the US Government that oversees the US civilian service. The organization provides federal human resource policies, support, and oversight, along with healthcare (FEHB), retirement benefits (CSRS/FERS, but not TSP), and life insurance (FEGLI) for government employees, retirees, and their dependents.
Here's how background investigators use opm:
- Completed OPM Investigative/Security Training, and have experience conducting interviews and investigations on a variety of individuals with varied backgrounds.
- Developed clear and concise reports of investigation in adherence with OPM guidelines and instructions while utilizing government mandated computer systems.
8. SSBI
Here's how background investigators use ssbi:
- Performed SSBI investigations to include subject interviews maintaining a Department of Defense Secret Security Clearance
- Conduct Federal SSBI and other background investigations as required- Customs and Border Protection
9. Criminal Justice
Here's how background investigators use criminal justice:
- Apply knowledge of law and criminal justice system as they pertain to employment background screenings.
- Verify previous employment and background checks with other criminal justice departments for postal service.
10. Material Issues
Here's how background investigators use material issues:
- Obtained facts including financial and criminal records needed to resolve all material issues in a case.
- Reviewed appropriate records to obtain facts to resolve all material issues in a case.
11. Police Agencies
Here's how background investigators use police agencies:
- Performed an average of 40 record searches at police agencies, courthouses, educational institutions, and medical facilities.
- Perform record searches at police agencies, Document investigative work through written reports of investigation, and statements.
12. Government Agencies
Here's how background investigators use government agencies:
- Perform extensive background checks to determine suitability of prospective employees for private companies and government agencies and perform applicant security clearances.
- Conducted subject interviews and provided investigations for over 50 government agencies.
13. Employment Suitability
Here's how background investigators use employment suitability:
- Conduct background investigations for the purpose of determining employment suitability for people who require access to sensitive or classified government information.
- Performed detailed background investigations to assess employment suitability and eligibility for obtaining a personnel security clearance with the U.S. government.
14. Knowledgeable Individuals
Here's how background investigators use knowledgeable individuals:
- Conducted comprehensive interviews with subjects, employers, associates, references, and other knowledgeable individuals relevant to the investigation.
- Conduct comprehensive interviews with Subjects, References, and other knowledgeable individuals.
15. Investigative Reports
Investigative report are used in court to find facts, document certain subjects, to recover important records, or to recover certain file forms.
Here's how background investigators use investigative reports:
- Completed specialized background investigative reports for high level management positions reporting directly to the Mayor.
- Draft through documentation and create detailed investigative reports adhering to Immigration Customs Enforcement regulations.
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What skills help Background Investigators find jobs?
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List of background investigator skills to add to your resume
The most important skills for a background investigator resume and required skills for a background investigator to have include:
- Excellent Time Management
- Work Ethic
- Face-To-Face Interviews
- National Security
- Law Enforcement Agencies
- Financial Institutions
- OPM
- SSBI
- Criminal Justice
- Material Issues
- Police Agencies
- Government Agencies
- Employment Suitability
- Knowledgeable Individuals
- Investigative Reports
- Federal Background Investigations
- Criminal History
- CBP
- Comprehensive Interviews
- Federal Government
- DOD
- Government Computer System
- Factual Reports
- Criminal Background Checks
- Public Trust
- Credit Reports
- Security Clearance Determinations
- Pips
- Federal Agencies
- Educational Institutions
- DMV
- U S
- Reference Checks
- Employment History
- Conduct Background Investigations
- PII
- Contractor Facilities
- Sf-86
- Management System
- Employment Applications
- Caci
- Federal Employment
- Credit Checks
- Nuclear Power
Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025