How to hire a private investigator

When someone hires a private investigator (PI), it’s likely that they are dealing with a challenging and stressful circumstance.

Sometimes the reason is suspicions of a cheating spouse. Or maybe someone close has gone missing, and they’re trying to find out what happened. Often, child custody can depend on parental fitness, and private investigators can provide invaluable details on that as well. 

Entire businesses can be affected by the information that private investigators are capable of retrieving. Many private investigators are hired to work on corporate fraud cases and dig out information and assets that settle the case. 

Some of the duties that a private investigator can perform for a company include: 

• Investigate employee misconduct

• Assess cyber and physical security breaches

• Conduct background checks when hiring a new employee

• Uncover more information on stolen merchandise and assets 

To be sure you’re trusting the right person with such delicate matters, you should optimize your private investigator hiring process and make sure you’re hiring someone with strong problem-solving and critical-thinking skills. 

Finding the right detective means not only hiring someone with the right qualifications and experience but also identifying an individual who is reliable and trustworthy. 

In 2022, the global market for private-investigation services amounted to $18.2bn. There are many private investigators out there and you can easily come across one who will do more harm than good. 

Keep in mind, also, that some state laws don’t require a license to practice as a private investigator, which makes it easier for unethical individuals to work in the field and misuse their job role. If there’s sensitive information at risk of being leaked, it’s critical to take every step you can to protect it. 

Using referrals to find a high-quality private investigator is the wisest choice. However, due to the sensitive nature of private investigation, many people prefer to keep to themselves about their work with PIs. This makes getting a referral more challenging, meaning you need an effective and efficient selection process to find the right candidate.

To help you make the right hiring decision, we’ve prepared this detailed guide. 

Here, we will talk about the role of a private investigator, which hard and soft skills are essential for the occupation, how to objectively evaluate these skills using pre-employment skills testing, and where to find qualified private detectives. You can also use our job description template and draw inspiration from our list of recommended interview questions.

✅ Hire a reliable private investigator with the help of pre-employment testing

What is a private investigator?

Private investigators collect information. If you’d like to know something about someone that can’t be found with a Google search, you might need a private investigator, especially if the information is sensitive in nature.

Usually, when you hire a private investigator to gather information on your behalf, you authorize them on your inquiry by signing a retainer agreement. Matters of confidentiality should be discussed and documented beforehand as well. 

Private detectives can work with both surveillance and non-surveillance methods depending on the type of services you want them to perform for you. The four functions of which a private detective’s daily tasks usually consist are:

• Talking to people (interviewing them or taking statements)

• Finding people (skip tracing)

• Asking about people (background checks)

• Watching people (surveillance)

It’s important to know that private investigators are not law enforcement officers. Law enforcement officers are hired by a government agency to investigate criminal cases, while private investigators are regular citizens hired by individuals to collect the facts and provide them with all the information they are able to gather. A private detective’s end goal is to retrieve the truth and hand it over to their client. 

Private investigators are commonly hired by private corporations, law firms, and insurance companies. They specialize in different areas. Look for one who frequently works on cases similar to yours and often tackles tasks like the ones you’ll ask them to perform, such as: 

• Assist lawyers with criminal defense cases. They can use legal methods to collect evidence that holds at court, delve into public records, interview people for clues, or examine digital traces. 

• Support insurance investigations that investigate suspicious claims. This may include retrieving lost paperwork or verifying claims and reports. Some private investigators are hired by clients of insurance companies who were wrongly denied disbursements.

• Collect information during a divorce. In 2021, 689,308 divorces were signed. Unfortunately, many of these divorces are quite stressful and include fighting over child custody, alimony, property, or asset distribution. Allegations of infidelity or bad behavior can be proven by a private investigator who knows how to present the evidence they collected. 

• Conduct background checks. Background checks on someone’s financial, professional, or individual history can be relevant in many ways. They are frequently performed by HR professionals who want to verify information about a candidate’s credentials and experience. 

• Perform due diligence for investors. Before undertaking an investment with a fund manager, investment group, or any type of high-risk business venture, prospective investors might hire a private investigator to reveal if the investment is risky and to protect themselves against fraud. Private investigators can be hired to check if the investor has a suspicious background as well. 

• Deliver documents. PIs might also serve and personally deliver summons and various other legal documents. 

• Trace runaway debtors. If a debtor is hiding, the debt collector might decide to hire a private investigator to find them. 

• Conduct corporate investigations. This can include verifying the legality of business partners, recovering lost or stolen proprietary information, and antifraud work. Private investigators can also manage internal investigations of employee misconduct, copyright infringement investigations, and protection of intellectual property and trade secrets. 

• Manage civil investigations. Private investigators collect evidence such as missing people, domestic surveillance, and asset searches for their clients’ court cases.

• Take countermeasures for technical surveillance. This means locating and dealing with unwanted electronic surveillance, such as hidden cameras or a bugged conference room. 

Be sure to hire a private investigator who has experience with the type of services you would expect them to perform. A private investigator’s job varies a lot based on their specialty, so it’s best to find one who knows the ins and outs of the appropriate field. 

Private investigator hard skills

A high-quality private investigator needs more than basic training and a license. Here, we listed some of the critical hard skills to look for when hiring a private investigator.

Research ability

A private investigator’s job is to find facts, things, or people. Of course, research skills are invaluable for that. Private investigators need to be capable of retrieving information from different sources, verifying their findings, and doing so in a way that doesn’t attract attention since they’re probably dealing with sensitive matters.

PIs with good research skills:

• Perform Internet searches effectively 

• Have experience structuring searches

• Can interview people to get the needed information from them

• Are familiar with public and private databases relevant to various investigations

Sound legal knowledge

Understanding the legal scope of your power is critical for a private investigator. Usually, their job requires collecting and presenting evidence for a court case. To have the evidence hold up in court, there are certain legal procedures that must be followed. Successful private investigators think about every investigation as a potential trial and act accordingly. 

Private investigators handle a lot of tasks that can be considered threatening or dangerous if they are not staying within the boundaries of the law — that’s why it’s important to have extensive knowledge of it, especially of the Criminal Code and privacy laws. Some of these activities include:

• Accessing records

• Following someone

• Conducting surveillance

Technical skills

Private investigators must have basic computer literacy because their job involves a lot of technical aspects such as:

• Working with digitized databanks

• Expertise with GPS trackers

• Skills with video surveillance equipment

• Using software to organize and manage case data and handle lead-tracking

Some of the technical tools that private investigators use are:

• Tracers

• IRBSearch

• SkipSmasher

• Filevine

• Column Case Management

• CaseFleet

Photography 

Taking photographs and videos that can serve as evidence is an important part of a private investigator’s job. That’s why the ability to operate tools such as cameras, video cameras, and audio recording devices is a must-have for any successful private investigator. Taking steady and clear photographs while remaining unnoticed requires practice and experience. 

Report writing 

Being able to write excellent reports helps you log relevant information and access it later. 

An investigation, no matter how thorough and detailed, isn’t complete until a report has been written to deliver its findings. The reports can be presented to court, so they must be clear, concise, and accurate. 

Good record-keeping skills also help a PI maintain and update their case notes. This makes it easier for them to figure out leads and reach conclusions. 

Private investigator soft skills

Private investigators need to have a variety of soft skills, too. Here are some essential soft skills for a good private investigator.

Work ethic

Work ethic is a set of values that determines the way an employee approaches their work. A good work ethic is especially important for a private detective because the protection of oftentimes sensitive information depends on their integrity. 

Private detectives with a strong business ethic are:

• Dependable

• Trustworthy

• Dedicated

• Capable of maintaining confidentiality

• Motivated

• Positive

Critical thinking

Excellent critical thinking skills mean a private investigator can infer key details in a case. To advance the investigative process, private investigators have to use their analytical skills to objectively evaluate information and data and reach logical conclusions. That’s how you crack the case!

People with good critical thinking can:

• Evaluate arguments 

• Identify and solve problems in an objective and systematic way

• Be aware of biases and assumptions, including their own

• Reach logical conclusions

Eye for detail

Catching the tiniest pieces of evidence can make or break a case. The ability to filter relevant details from background noise is crucial when you’re observing situations and carrying out research. Every clue can be the key to completing the investigation. 

Detail-oriented private investigators will:

• Focus on all areas of a task, no matter how small

• Be thorough in their work

• Provide more accurate results

• Be more observant and alert

Organization

Private investigators usually have more than one client at a time, but every investigation demands their full attention and that they keep track of various details and nuances. That’s why it’s important for a private investigator to have strong organizational skills. 

Not being organized can easily lead to mixing up evidence, missing out on important details, and losing focus.

Communication

Being a private investigator is usually a solitary business. However, you also need to have strong people skills for some of its tasks. Understanding how to communicate effectively with people who have different backgrounds is essential for a private investigator. 

Being an excellent communicator will help a private investigator:

• Interview witnesses 

• Speak with family members of missing people

• Collaborate with the police

• Collect the needed information

• Listen attentively

Problem-solving

People usually hire private investigators to solve problems. After all, that’s what an investigation aims to do!

A private investigator with good problem-solving skills can:

• Identify problems

• Analyze answers and clues

• Find different approaches toward a solution

• Identify the most effective solution and implement it

Creativity

Creativity is not a skill that people usually relate to PIs. However, private investigators who are able to come up with creative solutions and think outside of the box often manage to gather evidence for a case faster. That’s because they can find ways to be covert when they’re pursuing a lead. Craftiness is important for a private investigator. 

How to test private investigator skills

The recruitment process for a private investigator can be tricky. 

The sensitive nature of the occupation requires some confidentiality about the jobs candidates have done. This means it’s often easier to find qualified and trustworthy PIs through referrals and word of mouth. But clients tend to keep to themselves about private investigators whose services they’ve used, too, because they usually hire them for sensitive topics they’d like to keep private.

So how can you tell if a detective has the right PI qualifications and skills for the job?

Pre-employment skills testing will help you evaluate relevant skills for a private investigator objectively and screen candidates quickly. It’s a standardized, science-based way to get a clear picture of a candidate’s knowledge, skills, and aptitude. 

Research conducted by Aberdeen Strategy and Research states that hiring managers who use pre-hiring screening tests report 36% more satisfaction with their hiring decision than those who don’t. Pre-employment skills testing will help you optimize your hiring process and find the right candidate for your company. 

With TestGorilla, skills testing is easy. You simply need to build a skills assessment with up to five tests relevant to the job role and send it to applicants. The platform calculates test scores automatically, so you’ll just need to check the results to see who has the skills you’re looking for. 

Here is a list of recommended tests you can use when you’re hiring a private investigator.

• Legal Research and Writing: This test will evaluate your candidates’ skills in performing legal research and writing in the United States. Identify people who can use legal databases and work with documents.

• Computer Literacy: This test will identify candidates who have basic computer knowledge and are capable of using computers and related technology in a professional setting. 

• Business Ethics and Compliance: Evaluate a candidate’s awareness, judgment, and knowledge of ethical issues in a business environment. This test will help you find employees who can adhere to company policies and understand the impact of ethical issues on a company’s reputation. 

• Critical Thinking: This test assesses a candidate’s abilities to conceptualize, analyze, evaluate, and synthesize information to make a judgment or create a logical solution to a problem.

• Attention to Detail (textual): This skills test evaluates candidates’ abilities to consider details when processing textual information. 

• Attention to Detail (visual): Find candidates who can pay close attention to visual details and information. Candidates who perform well on this test can catch minor errors that could cause significant damage if left unchecked.

• Problem-solving: This test identifies candidates who can define problems, break them down into manageable parts, develop creative solutions, and execute them. 

• Communication: This test evaluates your candidates’ skills in communicating clearly and coherently. It will help you find people who can listen attentively to others, communicate confidently and with an open mind, and offer appropriate and useful feedback. 

• 16 Types: Find out more about your candidates’ preferences, personality traits, and how they deal with issues and opportunities. This can help you hire a private investigator with the right personality type. 

Where to find private investigators

The best way to find a qualified private investigator is through referrals. Ask around about people who have hired a private investigator, especially for an issue that is similar to yours. If possible, make a list of private investigators who have been of service to people you know and do some research about their business. A small investigation of your own, if you will! 

No matter where you source your candidates, make sure to:

• Ask for a license

• Check references

• Check for insurance

• Use pre-employment skills test to filter qualified candidates 

Below is a list of platforms where you can source private investigators.

• Thumbtack: It’s an online directory that allows users to search for local providers of various services, including private investigators. Users can rate the providers so it’s easier to see which private investigator is more efficient and leaves their clients satisfied.

• Fiverr: This freelance job board offers a large variety of independent private investigators who specialize in different areas of investigation.

• IFW Global: IFW Global has a wide network of resourceful and experienced professionals who are ready to assist you with physical and cyber investigation methods. 

• PInow: PInow is a network of private investigators where you can easily filter PIs that specialize in cases like yours. 

• Phenix Investigations: Here, you can find experts in the field of private investigation. There are 12 project teams with professional private investigators who work throughout the United States and are in alliance with partners in 27 countries. 

Private investigator job description template

[YOUR COMPANY NAME] is looking to hire a discreet and reliable private investigator to conduct a dynamic investigation [or investigations] and assist in solving a case [or cases]. 

As our private investigator, you will be responsible for performing background checks and researching legal, financial, and criminal information regarding people or organizations of interest. Success in this job role will be demonstrated by providing accurate information that is relevant to the investigation and advances our goals.

Private investigator job responsibilities

1. Review cases

2. Conduct surveillance while adhering to privacy laws and necessary precautions

3. Gather resources from clients

4. Collect viable evidence that is relevant to the case

5. Perform interview-related tasks

6. Search digital databanks, credit reports, public records, tax filings, and other resources to locate a person or provide relevant information for the investigation 

7. Conduct various background checks, such as pre-employment checks 

8. Perform undercover operations

9. Write reports or investigation summaries to document the process

10. Acquire quality surveillance footage or photos

Private investigator job requirements

• High school diploma [or equivalent]

• Private investigator license (if required in the state or city where you’re located)

• At least 1 year of experience in the field

• Flawless criminal record

• Strong surveillance and interpersonal skills

• Discreet and values confidentiality and integrity

• Good self-defense abilities

• Analytical mind

• Proficient in camera usage

• Capacity to perform under stressful and dynamic circumstances  

• Preferred: Bachelor’s degree in forensics or criminal justice

• Preferred: Has experience working in law enforcement 

How much does a private investigator cost?

In 2023, the average salary for a private investigator is $50,102. The range typically falls between $40,502 and $60,602 based on certifications, additional skills, and years of experience. 

On Forbes, you can see a breakdown of the most and least expensive states to hire a private investigator and get a better idea of what payment you can offer. 

Private investigator interview questions

Interviewing private investigators might seem like a daunting task, but if you come prepared with a list of questions, you’ll see that it can be quite easy to compare candidates. 

Here are some questions that can help you identify a professional private investigator. 

1. Which area of investigation do you specialize in? Why?

2. Tell me about an investigation you worked on that you are particularly proud of. 

3. How do you handle violent conflicts?

4. What is your way of sharing unpleasant results of an investigation with a client?

5. What are some reasons that would make you terminate an investigation prematurely?

6. What are some of the software tools that you use for surveillance and organizing data?

7. What is the most stressful aspect of the job for you? How do you deal with stress?

Hire a reliable private investigator with the help of pre-employment testing

Hiring a detective can help you solve issues that prevent the advancement of your goals or cause unnecessary stress. Finding the right candidate can be difficult because of the sensitive and discreet nature of a private investigator’s work. 

To avoid divulging confidential information, optimize your hiring process and use pre-employment skills testing as an objective and unbiased way to assess a candidate’s skills, aptitudes, and personality traits.

Sign up for TestGorilla’s free plan to test our platform today and see how much easier it is to hire the perfect candidate with skills tests.