Skills
Private Investigator Skills & Tools
The technical skills, people skills and tools employers look for in private investigators, and how to build and show them.
What skills do private investigators need?
Private Investigators need technical skills such as surveillance techniques, records research, and interviewing, plus people skills like patience and discretion. They also use tools such as Cameras and video equipment and Investigative databases.
Technical (hard) skills
- Surveillance techniques
- Records research
- Interviewing
- Report writing
- Evidence documentation
- Laws on privacy and investigations
People (soft) skills
- Patience
- Discretion
- Persistence
- Communication
Tools, equipment and technology
- Cameras and video equipment
- Investigative databases
- Public records portals
- GPS and mapping tools
- Laptops and phones
- Case management software
Skills in action: common tasks
These step-by-step guides show how private investigators put their skills to work:
How to show these skills on a resume
- Lead your skills section with the technical skills from the job posting, for example, “Surveillance techniques” and “Records research.”
- Prove soft skills with results: instead of listing “patience,” describe a situation where you used it.
- List credentials such as State private investigator license near the top, with the issuing organization and date.
- Use the employer’s vocabulary. Our private investigator glossary covers the terms hiring managers expect.
How to build these skills
Formal training, supervised practice and certification are the most direct routes. Our Private Investigator training introduces each of these skills with plain-language lessons, procedures and a final knowledge check: a strong foundation before hands-on training or your first day.