The start of a new year can often make people wonder if their life is on the right track. From health to employment, people all over the world rang in 2020 by making a few new goals. A major resolution that people often make is to finally start a career that gets them excited to go to work in the morning. These people are like you! Are you also wondering at this very moment how you can make a career change? If you are, you’ve come to the right place. Think about this: In 2020, you can kickstart a new career as a private investigator in just a few weeks. What could be better than that?
But … Why Should I Become a Private Investigator?
Private investigation isn’t just for cheating spouses anymore. The field of the private investigation itself has changed drastically since the ’70s, ’80s, and even ’90s. Gone are the days of seedy transactions with private investigators who seek financial gain over the truth. Modern private investigators are in the field to try and help people get the answers they need – regardless of what the answer might be. These private investigators work with lawyers, police officers, and even within certain areas of the government. This new age of private investigators understands the value of working with the latest and greatest in investigative tools including social media, bugs and wires, and other related surveillance equipment.
A private investigator in 2020 knows the value of the skills they can bring to the table to make their mark in a rapidly growing industry. They also know the value of providing private investigation services to clients. Each time a private investigator takes on a new case, he or she helps to solve a problem and give someone peace of mind.
If any of the above sounds appealing to you, keep reading to find out how you can kickstart your PI career in 2020!
How You Can Become a Private Investigator
It is possible to find a private investigation training course in many cities across Ontario and Canada including, Toronto, Ottawa, Edmonton, Halifax, and more. The first step in becoming a private investigator is to find a local private investigation training course. You must take the private investigation training course to earn your private investigation license. Without this license, it is not legal for you to work as a private investigator.
You will want to make sure that the private investigation training course in your area is offered by a great instructor. The reason for this is because you want to make sure you get the right training. Good training gives you the skills you need to excel as a private investigator.
Private Investigator Training Course
In Ontario, the private investigator training course is regulated by the Ministry of Correctional Services and Community Safety (MCSCS). The MCSCS is a provincial operated organization that monitors this particular industry (private investigation). What this also means is that while one private investigator training course instructor might have a different teaching style compared to another, the course syllabus remains consistent. Every private investigator trainee will need to learn the same material in order to earn a private investigator’s license.
It is possible for several different types of organizations to offer a private investigation training course. These organizations include,
- Licensed agencies
- Registered Employers
- Community Colleges
- Public Universities
- Private Career Colleges
For a complete list of Ministry-approved private investigation training options, you can always check out the MCSCS website. The Smith Investigation Agency also offers highly rated private investigation training.
According to the Ministry, the private investigation course must include, a minimum of 50 hours of training. The cost depends on the agency offering the training (the MSCSC does not provide a standard fee). It might interest you to know that you have the option to take the private investigator training course online or in class. However, if you choose the online option the instructor must also make time to meet with you in person to test learned skills.
One of the most appealing things about becoming a private investigator is that you only have to be 18 years of age to take the private investigation course. So, if you’ve just graduated high school and want to start a career before any of your friends, earning your private investigation license in 2020 is a great option!
Private Eye Training: The Skills You Will Learn
Whether you decide to take the training online or in person, your private investigation training course will cover the following:
Surveillance: This private eye technique/skill is the art of following an individual’s day to day activities without his or her notice. While many movies portray surveillance as an easy task, it’s actually a little more complicated. It is so important that the individual(s) under surveillance do not realize they are under investigation. The reason for this is because the moment someone thinks that they are being watched, he or she will automatically change their behavior. The investigation will fail. It is why learning the proper surveillance techniques is critical in earning your private investigator’s license.
Interviews: A modern private investigator needs to have great social skills. The reason for this is because a private investigator will need to communicate effectively with other people. For example, a private investigator will need to interview clients to gather information about their case. A PI will need to know exactly what the problem is, along with everything the client can tell them about that problem. From there, a private investigator might need or want to talk to other people close to the case. These people might include neighbors, family members, employees, witnesses, bystanders and more.
A private investigator might need to talk to many people over the course of a case. What this means is that if a private investigator doesn’t know or have the skills needed to get information (and the right information) he or she will have difficulty solving their client’s problem. Having great social skills is only part of the job, knowing how to use social skills as a private investigator is something you will learn by taking the private investigation course.
Modern Equipment: It’s no secret that technology is constantly evolving. We just have to look at the latest releases in mobile phones and tablets to see the evidence. In order for a private investigator to work in a modern world, they need to know how to work with the latest and greatest in private investigation equipment.
For example, one client might want to know whether or not someone has bugged the office and is listening in on private business conversations. Another client might need a private investigator to scan an employee’s social media activity for suspicious behavior. A third client might want to know if their employee is lying about an injury just to get some time off work. All three of these examples require a private investigator to work with modern investigative equipment. Taking the private investigator training course will show you how.
Moving Forward in Your New Career
Let’s talk about what happens once you’ve successfully completed the private investigation course. First things first: you will need to write an exam. When you pass the private investigation exam, you will receive your private investigation license. This license is very important as you cannot work as a private investigator without one. In fact, working as a private investigator without a valid private investigation license is illegal! Therefore, you will want to make sure you receive your private investigation license so that you can start to apply for a private investigator position with a private investigation agency.
Applying for Your First Private Investigator Job
Applying for a job can feel daunting no matter the field. When it comes to private investigation, however, you will likely find yourself employed sooner rather than later. Many private investigation agencies not only help clients but also offer great private investigation training courses. Therefore, it’s in your best interest to find a private investigation agency where you can take your private investigation course. If you show great promise and ace your exam, it is very likely that your teacher will become your employer. This is why kickstarting a career as a private investigator could take you as little as a few weeks!
That being said, you could also start your own private investigation agency. After successfully completing the private investigation course, you will have the skills and credentials to make your mark in the industry.
No matter what you decide, taking the leap is often half the battle. At the start of this new year, why not jump headfirst into a new career? Kickstarting your career as a private investigator in 2020 will help to bring about that change you’ve been looking for.
Searching for a new career in 2020? Think you would make a great private investigator? Contact The Smith Investigation Agency today for more information on our highly rated Private Investigation Training Course.
Email: Info@TheSmithInvestigationAgency.com Phone: 888-950-4113
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.
