The Smith Investigation Agency is the largest female-owned private investigation company in Canada. Therefore, we know firsthand that women make great private investigators. While we’ve got plenty of reasons why the main reason has to do with trust. In general, people tend to trust women more than they trust men.
This absolutely isn’t to say that men don’t make great private investigators too. However, in some situations (and thanks to today’s stereotypes) a female private investigator can often do her job without notice.
Interviews & Undercover: Automatic Assumptions
When a female private investigator works an undercover case or conducts interviews, it’s rare for someone to peg her as a private investigator. While it’s considered stereotyping, this automatic assumption actually gives female private investigators the upper hand.
Here’s an example. Let’s say that two private investigators approach the same convenience store. Both private investigators want to interview the owner about a violent fight that occurred outside. The private investigators want to know the same thing: who started the fight? Both private investigators think that someone in the store likely saw something important. It might also be that the convenience store owner also has video surveillance they can use. In this scenario, one of the private investigators is a male and the other is a female.
If we look at response rates, there is a greater chance that the convenience store owner will give the information to the female private investigator. The reason for this has everything to do with stereotyping. People tend to trust a woman they don’t know over a man they don’t know. In addition, most women typically appear less threatening than a man. Women have a friendly face and many people will step up to help a woman if she asks for help. This isn’t to say that men can’t or won’t get any information from the convenience store owner. However, he will likely be met with suspicion or concern. A male private investigator will need to work a little bit harder to get the same information. A male private investigator will need to work harder to gain a person’s trust.
Surveillance: Blend into the Crowd
When it comes to surveillance, women private investigators have an easier time blending in with the crowd. Again, the reason for this is because women gain trust from people much faster than men.
So, if you see a woman sitting in a coffee shop, chances are you aren’t going to question her presence. If you see a woman sitting alone at a bar, your interest might be piqued, but you aren’t going to think, “Oh! She’s a private investigator.” That is likely not your first assumption. A female private investigator simply blends in with the rest of the crowd.
What this then means is that a female private investigator can get a lot closer to an individual in a surveillance case. This is a great asset to any surveillance case, as sometimes a private investigator is required to get close to the target, or even go undercover. If an individual even slightly suspects they are being followed, or that someone they’ve met is working undercover, the case will be compromised. The private investigator will never get the information they’re looking for. Therefore, sending in or hiring a female private investigator for surveillance actually increases the odds of success. Again, this is due to the fact that a female private investigator blend into a crowd.
Of course, male private investigators can also run surveillance operations. However, a private investigator does need to know his or her strengths. A man will generally have a more difficult time blending into a crowd. He will need to run his private investigation surveillance operation much differently. It will also likely take him more time.
Research: Focus on the Finer Details
A huge part of the legwork for a private investigator is research. Before a private investigator jumps into a case, he or she must pull together all the facts. This requires a private investigator to do a lot of research. During this research phase, a private investigator will need to make connections, link details, and problem solve.
What we’ve found is that female private investigators tend to pay attention to the finer details. Those finer details often carry the truth and really help to solve the case. This isn’t to say that all men don’t pay attention to the finer details. However, as the leading female company-owned private investigation agency in Canada, it’s something that stands out on a day-to-day basis. Our female staff will often point something out about a case that a male private investigator has not considered. Also, female private investigators will also often pick up on details much sooner than their male colleagues.
Again, this is a trend that has everything to do with the skills and personality a female private investigator brings to the table. Most of these skills relate to trust, which helps to make female private investigators great at their job. Male private investigators simply need to find different ways to approach the same goal.
Private Investigation: It’s all About Trust
At the end of the day, if you’re searching for a private investigator that gets results you might want to consider hiring a female private investigator or private investigation agency. The honest truth is those female private investigators can work a case more effectively because people trust a friendly face. A female private investigator can get more information thanks to stereotyping and assumptions people make. In addition, a female private investigator can run a tight surveillance operation thanks to their ability to blend into a crowd.
Working with a female private investigator also gives you the opportunity to work with someone who will always notice the finer details. Ultimately, you can trust a good female private investigator. She will get the job done and present you with the facts to help you solve a problem. We can’t think of a better solution than that!
Want to work with the best female company-owned private investigation agency in Canada? Contact us now for more information on our private investigation services.
About the Author
Whitney Joy Smith
Founder of The Smith Investigation Agency in 2014, Whitney Joy Smith’s extensive background as a private investigator is matched only by her passion for the role. A graduate of several respected institutions, including Northwest Florida State College and George Brown College, her early years in life were spent between Canada and the United States. This education, along with her formative years as a private investigator in various agencies, informed much of her knowledge of private investigative laws, regulations, and operating standards in both countries.
The recipient of numerous industry awards and accolades, including the Consumers Choice Award, Best in Ottawa, and many others, Whitney takes pride in working closely with her ever-growing agency to raise the bar, maintain compliance, and meet the investigative needs of clients. Whitney is active in various membership and supporting roles, including the CPIRC, CBN, CAPI, Canadian Women’s Chamber of Commerce, and many others. Her experience-driven, thought-provoking articles have been featured in everything from Readers Digest to Business News Daily, and she strives to continually redefine standards for those in the private investigative and security fields. Learn more about Whitney and the team at The Smith Investigation Agency today.
