| If you are so excited by mysteries that you | | | | getting your own clients down the road. |
| imagine yourself as a private investigator, | | | | |
| there is a series of steps that you will have | | | | 4. Set a budget. The reason for this step |
| to take before starting out on this career. | | | | is your initial pay is not going to be very |
| This is true for any professional career, so | | | | high, ensure you can survive on about $15.00 |
| knowing what you have to do to pay your dues | | | | hr. In your budget include hours you will |
| ahead of time will save you some grief down | | | | not be paid for. This is a career with a lot |
| the road. | | | | of empty overtime, so bank on that. |
| | | | |
| 1. Find out what your state requires of | | | | 5. Establish a fantastic resume and cover |
| private investigators. It might insist upon | | | | letter play up all of your skills and put any |
| your taking a course or a licensing exam, and | | | | extra reading you do on your "hobbies" |
| you will definitely need a background check. | | | | section. |
| You will need to look at a state agency for | | | | |
| this such as secretary of state, department | | | | 6. Look for some investigators in your area |
| of justice, and so on. If you just can't | | | | and send them your resume. You may find some |
| figure out how to get this information, call | | | | directories on the Internet, or you can |
| a general number and they will point you in | | | | simply look in the Yellow Pages. Be willing |
| the right direction. | | | | to relocate, it will make you more hirable. |
| | | | |
| 2. Find out as much as you can about | | | | 7. Do yourself a favor and buy or ensure |
| standard law and legal practice. If you have | | | | you have access to the following equipment: |
| no knowledge in this area, either reconsider | | | | camera with telephoto lens, video camera, |
| career choices, or get some. Take some | | | | car, computer, fax, and cell phone. These |
| courses in Criminal Justice at your local | | | | are all standard private investigator tools, |
| community college. Some classes on Civil | | | | and you will add to your marketability to be |
| Procedures will be important as well. If you | | | | employed if you already own them. Since they |
| have taken an actual private investigators | | | | will be work related, you can write them off |
| course, you will have a decent knowledge of | | | | on your taxes. |
| these subjects. | | | | |
| | | | 8. Try to find a job in a Federal Agency |
| 3. Be prepared to work for someone at first. | | | | such as the FBI, Secret Service, CIA, etc. |
| The reason for this is this will raise your | | | | This is certainly difficult, and applying is |
| credibility and make clients flock to you. | | | | a job all in itself, but they are all very |
| Establishing experience and a good track | | | | good career choices. Having carried out all |
| record are key to successful careers in this | | | | these steps, you will certainly be ready to |
| business, so working for someone else for a | | | | branch out on your own. |
| little while will go a long way in terms of | | | | |