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Federal investigator skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical federal investigator skills. We ranked the top skills for federal investigators based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 10.3% of federal investigator resumes contained background investigations as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a federal investigator needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 federal investigator skills for your resume and career

1. Background Investigations

Here's how federal investigators use background investigations:

Conducted thorough background investigations to determine the suitability, character, and integrity of applicants applying for national security clearances.
Handled high volume of inbound calls from customers and business partners, while providing exemplary customer service regarding background investigations.

2. Law Enforcement Agencies

Here's how federal investigators use law enforcement agencies:

Coordinate activities with law enforcement agencies when appropriate.
Assisted other Federal law enforcement agencies in addressing criminal and civil prosecution cases to the U.S. Department of Justice.

3. Litigation

Here's how federal investigators use litigation:

Prepared civil cases for the Solicitor of Labor for litigation and provided ongoing investigative support as necessary.
Prepared testimony and performed expert witness duties in cases involving Network Solutions and other Internet-related litigation.

4. Federal Agencies

Federal agencies are specialized departments of government set up by the government to perform specific duties. They can have responsibilities such as management of resources, overlooking of financial position of industries, national security issues, and so on.

Here's how federal investigators use federal agencies:

Reported findings in clearly and concisely written reports of investigation that were subsequently furnished to various federal agencies to be adjudicated.
Communicated and interacted with local, county, state and federal agencies regarding joint criminal investigation activities.

5. Security Clearance

Here's how federal investigators use security clearance:

Reviewed immigration records of individuals and their relatives who are being considered for a security clearance.
Administered background and lifestyle focused questions in order to make security clearance determinations.

6. 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 federal investigators use subpoenas:

Drafted subpoenas, reviewed documents, interviewed witnesses for special investigation into allegations of corruption in 1996 election for Teamster president.
Prepare affidavits of information and apply for investigative or grand jury subpoenas and other legal orders necessary for a thorough investigation.

7. OPM

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 federal investigators use opm:

Reviewed other government agency adjudicative actions, ensuring compliance with OPM requirements and making recommendations as needed.
Conduct Federal Background/National Security Investigations for United States OPM

8. EEO

Here's how federal investigators use eeo:

Provided advice to employees and senior management on EEO 29 C.F.R.
Provided EEO education and training.

9. National Security

Here's how federal investigators use national security:

Monitored, prepared and advised on all information with regards to suitability of National Security and Public Trust
Conducted national security investigations on personnel seeking and maintaining cleared status with the federal government.

10. Federal Government

The fеdеrаl gоvеrnmеnt іѕ a ѕуѕtеm thаt dіѕtrіbutеѕ power between a strong national gоvеrnmеnt and ѕmаllеr lосаl gоvеrnmеntѕ. It consists оf thrее dіѕtіnсt brаnсhеѕ: legislative, executive, аnd judісіаl, whose powers аrе dеlеgаtеd bу thе соuntrу'ѕ constitution, the president, аnd the fеdеrаl соurtѕ, rеѕресtіvеlу.

Here's how federal investigators use federal government:

Identified patterns of discrimination for over 50 federal government employees by resolving complex employee-relations issues.
Adhered to Federal government rules and regulations utilizing Kinesic Interview techniques.

11. Face-To-Face Interviews

Here's how federal investigators use face-to-face interviews:

Conduct face-to-face interviews with the subject, his or her neighbors, coworkers, friends and family.
Perform face-to-face interviews with the subject, his/her neighbors, coworkers, friends and family.

12. Federal Laws

The laws formed and upheld by the federal administrating body of a country are known as federal laws. A federal administrating body or government is formed by a political party after being elected by the general public.

Here's how federal investigators use federal laws:

Ensured licensed manufacturers and dispensers of narcotics and other controlled substances complied with Federal laws and regulations.
Conduct civil and criminal investigations regarding violations of state and federal laws.

13. Federal Employment

Here's how federal investigators use federal employment:

Conduct federal employment background investigations as a representative of the Office of Homeland Security.
Complied with state and federal employment guidelines.

14. Government Agencies

Here's how federal investigators use government agencies:

Conducted security and suitability investigations for numerous other government agencies throughout the country, primarily in nation's nuclear weapons facilities.
Assisted Law Enforcement and Government Agencies with investigations and identified suspects of money laundering, terrorist financing and fraudulent criminal activity.

15. Public Trust

Here's how federal investigators use public trust:

Conduct Background Investigations to determine suitability for Government Clearance and Positions of Public Trust.
Scheduled and conducted interviews for multiple levels of eligibility including public trust, secret, and top secret.

What skills help Federal Investigators find jobs?

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

List of federal investigator skills to add to your resume

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

Background Investigations
Law Enforcement Agencies
Litigation
Federal Agencies
Security Clearance
Subpoenas
OPM
EEO
National Security

Federal Government
Face-To-Face Interviews
Federal Laws
Federal Employment
Government Agencies
Public Trust
On-Site Investigations
Federal Statutes
Employment Discrimination

DEA
Federal Regulations
Civil Rights
Sound Judgment
SCI
Criminal History
CBP
DOD
Physical Evidence

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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