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Private investigator skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical private investigator skills. We ranked the top skills for private investigators based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 15.3% of private investigator resumes contained background checks as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a private investigator needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 private investigator skills for your resume and career

1. Background Checks

Here's how private investigators use background checks:

Research and data analysis - Mobile surveillance / Stationary surveillance - Undercover investigation - Compiled and created detailed reports and background checks
Investigated insurance fraud, processed background checks, surveillance and initiated claims reports & documentation, policy interpretation and Confidential records

2. Background Investigations

Here's how private investigators use background investigations:

Employed as a private investigator specializing in criminal and motor vehicle accident investigations as well as workman compensation and background investigations.
Completed criminal and asset background investigations, primarily for attorneys, on individuals utilizing multiple database systems and internet research.

3. Video Surveillance

Here's how private investigators use video surveillance:

Conducted discreet video surveillance and photographed auto accident scenes, while performing vehicle inspections and interpret auto repair paperwork.
Conducted witness interviews and performed video surveillance on behalf of insurance companies and private citizens.

4. 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 private investigators use subpoenas:

Served subpoenas, coordinated witness court appearances, compiled information from interviews, and developed/maintained community and informant contacts.
Investigate criminal and misdemeanor cases/Research documents* Appear in Court w Defense Attorneys/Interview clients* Prepare legal documents for Court* Serve subpoenas

5. Law Enforcement Agencies

Here's how private investigators use law enforcement agencies:

Conduct drug interdiction, general crime investigations and surveillance for various law enforcement agencies.
Facilitated various law enforcement agencies and produced investigative reports for prosecution of criminal activity.

6. Computer Database

A database or a computer database is a cluster of structured information stored in an electronic archive. This electronic data is administered through a database management system (DBMS), both (data and DBMS) of which are collectively referred to as a database system. The data is normally portrayed in the form of rows and columns for easy organization, management, alteration, and access. The organization of data in computer database enables users to write and query data efficiently.

Here's how private investigators use computer database:

Research multiple computer databases to develop and locate confidential information used to develop investigations.
Searched computer database to compile information for investigations.

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7. Conduct Surveillance

Here's how private investigators use conduct surveillance:

Conduct surveillance for fraudulent insurance claims and domestic cases* Conduct interviews of fraud suspects* Provide written reports of all investigations conducted
Conduct surveillance and accident investigation/reconstruction with a reputation of excellence in the insurance, legal and corporate communities.

8. Conduct Interviews

Conduct interview is the ability of an individual - the interviewer, to communicate formally or face to face with someone from whom the interviewer is gathering information. The interviewer controls the order of the questions and can ensure that all questions are answered. The purpose of conducting interview is to be able to assess the suitability of the candidate being interviewed for a specific position.

Here's how private investigators use conduct interviews:

Conduct interviews, obtain video evidence and documentation of activities of individuals suspected of fraud.
Conduct interviews, surveillance, undercover assignments and provide investigative reports.

9. GPS

GPS stands from Global Positioning System. It is a navigation system comprising of satellites that helps in determining the location, velocity, and synchronize time data for different modes of travel like air, sea, or land.

Here's how private investigators use gps:

Conducted stationary and moving surveillance and installed and monitored GPS tracking devices.
Utilize GPS tracking devices, high definition cameras, night vision, surveillance vehicles, and other resource equipment as needed.

10. Video Cameras

Here's how private investigators use video cameras:

Conduct live surveillance of suspects using professional video cameras.
Observed and documented activities of individuals to detect unlawful acts or to obtain evidence for cases, using video cameras.

11. Loss Prevention

The steps taken by a business to prevent theft is called loss prevention. There are multiple methods for loss prevention for example usage of automated cash handling, secure physical location, product security staff buy-in, and attentive customer service.

Here's how private investigators use loss prevention:

Assigned to special undercover assignments to check internal loss prevention at various retail and corporate environments.
Provided training to security forces and retail loss prevention investigators.

12. Conduct Investigations

Here's how private investigators use conduct investigations:

Review transcripts and conduct investigations of alleged criminal activity for defendants charged with misdemeanor and felony offenses.
Have extensive experience collaborating with other investigators to successfully conduct investigations of family law and insurance cases.

13. 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 private investigators use investigative reports:

Composed detailed investigative reports and recorded electronic surveillance that provided the client with factual evidence to support their case.
Researched numerous online databases in order to prepare comprehensive investigative reports while interacting with State and Federal Agencies.

14. 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 private investigators use criminal cases:

Operate high end criminal defense investigation practice providing investigation services for counsel in criminal cases across the country.
Conducted private investigations pertaining to worker's compensation, domestic, alimony, co-habitation and criminal cases.

15. Video Evidence

Here's how private investigators use video evidence:

Compiled documentation, including video evidence, on investigated subjects that could potentially be used in mediation/court proceedings.
Demonstrated exceptional research and investigation skills in securing quality surveillance video evidence and conducting accident scene investigations.

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List of private investigator skills to add to your resume

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

Background Checks
Background Investigations
Video Surveillance
Subpoenas
Law Enforcement Agencies
Computer Database
Conduct Surveillance
Conduct Interviews
GPS
Video Cameras
Loss Prevention
Conduct Investigations
Investigative Reports
Criminal Cases
Video Evidence
Court Cases

Credit Reports
Surveillance Operations
Criminal Defense
Workers Compensation Claims
Surveillance Equipment
SIU
Video Footage
Video Documentation
Investigative Services
Scene Investigations
Criminal Investigations
Surveillance Investigations
Law Firm
Court Trials
Interview Witnesses
Court Proceedings

Civil Cases
Local Law Enforcement
Court Testimony
Comprehensive Reports
Binoculars
Investigative Techniques
CCTV
Civil Investigations
Undercover Operations
Court Hearings
Private Investigations
Asset Searches
Private Client
Domestic Cases
Undercover 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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