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Detective investigator skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted experts

Gary LaFree,

Daryl Clemens

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical detective investigator skills. We ranked the top skills for detective investigators based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 13.7% of detective investigator resumes contained physical evidence as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a detective investigator needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 detective investigator skills for your resume and career

1. Physical Evidence

Here's how detective investigators use physical evidence:

Conducted field investigations; examined crime scenes and gathered physical evidence.
Compile evidence by observing suspects, interviewing witnesses and suspects, and examining physical evidence.

2. Patrol

Here's how detective investigators use patrol:

FIELD TRAINING OFFICER responsible for formal on-the-job training, coaching and performance assessment of new patrol officers.
Promoted from 103th Precinct Uniform Patrol to City Wide Street Crime Unit Plainclothes to Brooklyn North Narcotics.

3. Law Enforcement Agencies

Here's how detective investigators use law enforcement agencies:

Work narcotic investigations in conjunction with municipal, state and federal law enforcement agencies.
Coordinated investigations with District Attorneys, Department Legal Bureau and other law enforcement agencies.

4. Insurance Fraud

Insurance fraud refers to any willful illegal act committed with the intent to deceptively receiving payment from an insurer, insurance company, or agent for financial gain or advantage to which they are not entitled. Deceitful claims make up a significant proportion of all claims received by the insurers and cost enormous sums of money each year. This may include the exaggeration of otherwise justified claims, intentional misrepresentation of the facts, or complex organized manipulation of the claims process to achieve financial advantage where no actual loss has occurred.

Here's how detective investigators use insurance fraud:

Recognized by New York State Court as an expert witness regarding auto-related document forgery, auto insurance fraud and auto identification.
Investigated and reviewed complaint theft reports and recoveries for possible insurance fraud indicators.

5. Homicide

Here's how detective investigators use homicide:

Investigated and analyzed evidence, and provided documentation leading to the arrest and successful prosecution of approximately 20 homicide perpetrators.
Conducted preliminary field investigations of homicide, robbery and violent, organized and high-profile crime in Brooklyn.

6. Electronic Surveillance

Here's how detective investigators use electronic surveillance:

Performed photo, video and electronic surveillance to obtain evidence of criminal activities.
Utilized proven and sound investigative techniques such as joint task force initiatives, covert surveillance operations, electronic surveillances, etc.

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7. Crime Scenes

Crime scenes refer to places or locations of an offence where forensic evidence may get gathered.

Here's how detective investigators use crime scenes:

Inspected crime scenes and when necessary has processed any additionally located offense.
Conducted preliminary investigations upon arrival at crime scenes.

8. Criminal Investigations

Here's how detective investigators use criminal investigations:

Worked closely with assistant district attorneys in conducting all aspects of criminal investigations within the domestic violence unit.
Conducted criminal investigations involving the organized distribution of illegal narcotics within New York City.

9. Burglary

Here's how detective investigators use burglary:

Trained newly appointed Detectives in the procedures of investigating Robbery and Burglary cases and the techniques of interrogations.
Assigned to the Burglary Division: Investigation and prosecution of burglary and theft cases.

10. Anti-Money Laundering

Anti-Money Laundering or, as it is often shortened to, AML is the name of a set of laws, regulations, and similar rules and rulings which are crafted and applied with the goal of preventing people from engaging in and successfully doing money laundering.

Here's how detective investigators use anti-money laundering:

Follow standards and procedures to mitigate fraud, anti-money laundering and other risk exposures and losses.
Reviewed and investigated unusual transaction activity consistent with Citigroup's established core anti-money laundering program and applicable laws and regulations.

11. Auto Theft

Here's how detective investigators use auto theft:

Surveilled, apprehended, and processed auto theft suspects.
Investigated auto theft, arrested and debriefed identified persons.

12. Subpoenas

Subpoenas are formal and legal documents issued mostly by a court or some other government agency that demands the presence of the person the document is addressed to, to show up at court. Subpoenas are issued to individuals whom the court wants to appear either as a witness in a particular case in order to testify or to provide any evidence such as an object or a document.

Here's how detective investigators use subpoenas:

Prepared subpoenas and search warrants for account information from various companies and entities for follow-up investigations.
Assist Assistant District Attorneys in preparation and trial of criminal cases, execute subpoenas and locate witnesses.

13. Child Abuse

When a child who is under 18 is mistreated by an adult, it is considered child abuse. There are many forms of intentional harm and mistreatment for example physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, medical abuse, and neglect in providing adequate basic life necessities.

Here's how detective investigators use child abuse:

Develop and Implement culturally sensitive programs for victims of Domestic Violence/Sexual Abuse, elder and child abuse and neglect.
Investigate all Felony Sex Crimes and Child Abuse in Manhattan.

14. Nypd

Here's how detective investigators use nypd:

Provided technical assistance using Forensic Technology for data retrieval to other investigative units within the NYPD.
Served as the NYPD representative to the above mentioned institutions in interrogations and investigations.

15. Criminal Cases

A criminal case is a court proceeding in which a person is charged with committing a crime against the state or the community. Such individuals are brought for trials, to decide they are guilty or not. There are two kinds of criminal cases misdemeanors and felonies. A misdemeanor is a crime on a lower level like traffic offenses or minor assaults. While felonies are offenses on a higher level.

Here's how detective investigators use criminal cases:

Use CCTV and still pictures to enhance and aid Assistant District Attorney's in the presentation and prosecution of criminal cases.
Investigated criminal cases involving credit card and check fraud, identity theft, child pornography and stalking.

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What skills help Detective Investigators find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What detective investigator skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Gary LaFree

Chair and Professor, University of Maryland

In criminology, having statistical skills is very useful for either an academic career or a research career. Researchers in police departments are getting increasingly sophisticated. Many criminology positions, both in academia and in the private sector, also depend on statistical training.

What type of skills will young detective investigators need?

Daryl Clemens

President & Chairman of the Board, International Crime Scene Investigators Association

Primary skills for Crime Scene Investigation are: Photography, Fingerprint Processing, and the ability to sketch and measure a scene - think a floorplan or landscape diagram, not an artistic sketch. DNA is important, but DNA collection is dead simple.

Do you want to know more?

List of detective investigator skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for a detective investigator resume and required skills for a detective investigator to have include:

Physical Evidence
Patrol
Law Enforcement Agencies
Insurance Fraud
Homicide
Electronic Surveillance
Crime Scenes
Criminal Investigations
Burglary
Anti-Money Laundering
Auto Theft
Subpoenas
Child Abuse
Nypd
Criminal Cases
Sexual Assault
Domestic Violence

Federal Agencies
DEA
NYC
Firearms
Identity Theft
Police Academy
Background Checks
Grand Jury
Arrest Warrants
Criminal Acts
Internal Investigations
Background Investigations
Federal Bureau
Court Orders
Sex Crimes
Criminal Complaints
Confidential Informants

Federal Courts
Taps
Local Agencies
Court Proceedings
Federal Laws
Financial Crimes
Credit Card Fraud
Evidence Collection
Robbery
Crime Trends
DNA
Drug Enforcement Administration
Intelligence Gathering
Computer Crimes
Criminal Court
Physical Surveillance

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

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