12 Places to Find Private Investigator Jobs

Written by Andrew in Private Investigator Career,Private Investigator Jobs

Private investigator jobs

Updated March 25, 2022

Finding private investigator jobs in the investigative industry is a daunting task.  More people are looking to become private investigators than there are positions available.  As I write this the economy in the United States is not at its best so it makes the job market look even bleaker.  Most people continue their education through classes or seminars while they wait patiently for an opening somewhere in their area.  Below are 11 locations to place your focus on when looking for a job in the private investigation industry.



 Linkedin.com

The interesting thing about Linkedin is that most people go on to the site only when they are looking for a job. People are told they need to have a Linkedin profile so they set one up but never visit the site again unless they are congratulating someone on a work anniversary. 

Linkedin will alert you to job openings based on your Linkedin profile, help you form a resume, and give you other helpful advice when looking for a job.

My advice would be to search for private investigation companies through the Linkedin search box and apply for jobs you feel are suitable for you. Follow any companies that you also think might have future jobs you would be interested in.

Finally, make sure your profile is up to date. If you are looking for help with building out your Linkedin resume, you can use my private investigator resume example.

Find Private Investigator Jobs on Unemployment Website

This is a wonderful resource for not only private investigators but anyone.  Many companies list jobs on the state site.  I found one of the companies I worked for through this website (Small Tacoma Washington private investigation firm).  Within a few weeks or so after applying I received a call for an in-person interview.  I nailed the interview and was hired on the spot.  Leave no stone unturned and start searching these sites.

Monster/Careerbuilder/Indeed

If you have not done so already you must set up your resumes on these sites.  If you know of other job posting sites I would put your resume up on there as well.  Not only did I job search every day on these sites, but I also set up alerts for job postings that focused on keywords that I was targeting. I had keywords focused on telecommunications because I was interested in jobs in that field and had email alerts that let me know when private investigation keywords were mentioned in job postings.  Keywords you may want to search for are private investigator, investigator, claims investigator, scene investigator, death investigator, accident investigator, background checks, etc… Monster or Career builder makes you aware of jobs that have your keywords within the job posting. This saves you a bit of time each day.

Hint: Make sure you build a quality resume on these career websites.  Believe it or not, employers do check these services for applicants. I recently received an interview request from Home Depot for an investigator position.  I passed this opportunity on to someone who needed it more than me but the point of the story is that companies check your resume.

Company Websites

Searching company websites directly is a quick way to see what jobs are available.  It has been my experience that companies will post jobs on their company website before reaching out to monster.com or Careerbuilder.com.  I have seen this strategy used to allow internal applicants a chance in positions in other areas of the company.  Many companies have profiles that you can build on their websites and you can sign up for alerts to open positions within the company.

Here are 5 companies you can start looking for jobs at right now:

Job Fairs

To be honest I have only observed a handful of P.I. companies try to recruit through job fairs.  It never hurts to check out a job fair to see what companies are looking to hire.  At the very least job fairs give you a chance to learn about a company before you pursue a job with them.

Private Investigation Conferences

Throughout the year there are investigative conferences all over the United States as well as internationally.   I have only been to local conferences which are informative and instructional. These conferences were associated with the association I belonged to named WALI.  This does, however, give you a chance to meet many small and large investigative business owners (depending on what conference you attend). 

There are other conferences that focus on the insurance industry.  Nationwide investigation companies from all over come to these conferences to reach out to those that make decisions as to where investigative work goes. If you are in the area of one of these events it might be worth attending and trying to meet with these companies.  To be honest I have never done this nor been to one of these large events.  I am only speculating on the opportunity.

Networking with other Private Investigators

Attending one of the aforementioned conferences is a great way to meet a ton of investigators.  You might be able to pick their brain and find out if either they are hiring, looking for an intern, or maybe they know someone who is. 

Private Investigator Associations

Connect with your local private investigator association to see if anyone in the area is hiring. You can also connect with other nationally based associations as they may be able to direct you to companies local or nationwide that are looking for private investigator candidates.

Set up Google Alerts

I have just started doing this.  With Google Alerts I can choose specific keywords I want alerts on when they are mentioned on the internet.  Recently I have seen new job postings under the keyword, “Private Investigator”.  When setting up your alert make sure to diversify your search with terms like; investigator, claims investigator, insurance investigator, background checks, internal investigator, private investigator, etc… You can set your program to search as something happens, once a day or once a week, and then report the findings to you.  I think you will like using it.

Email or Send Letters Directly to Investigation Companies

Every so often I receive emails or letters in the mail from individuals wanting to gain experience or just get a break in the industry.  I don’t have the work to support a second investigator.  With that being said you never know who might be looking to train someone or looking to expand. 

If this is something you are interested in doing I would write a template email explaining your experience and your objective (what you want from the employer).  Make it so that all you have to do is make some minor adjustments to your email or letter for each business and start sending them out.  With some luck, you may hear back from an employer.


Facebook Groups

There are private investigation groups that you should be a part of.  One, in particular, I like to keep my eye on is The Private Investigator and Security Group and of course the Private Investigator Advice and Tips Facebook page.  You never know if there may be an employment opportunity.

Yahoo Groups

Lastly, searching Yahoo Groups is another great way to see if anyone is hiring.  Many mid-size investigative companies post job openings that they have.  Some companies are looking for employees and some are vendors (sub-contract work).  I receive emails daily from these groups and it has helped me find work.

Conclusion

I don’t know that a specific way of finding a job is the best but it is helpful to be everywhere in your search other then one specific target.  Don’t put all your hopes and dreams into building a resume through online job boards to get the job you want.  We have to be a bit more creative to meet the right people and make the right contacts. You need to actively be searching for the job you wish to have.

Thanks for reading and I hope this helps you find that private investigation job.

Andrew

 



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