Do you live in Nova Scotia? Why not consider starting a career as a private investigator? To become licensed in Nova Scotia you need to have relevant training within the industry or from a course offered in Canada.
What is a Private Investigator?
A private investigator is a person that is hired by an individual, group of individuals, organization and/or company to investigate a particular problem. It’s not a private investigator’s job to twist the truth for the client and say what they want to hear. A private investigator’s primary goal is to gather evidence and present the facts—and only the facts—to the client.
Private Investigation Services
It’s possible to request many different types of services from a private investigator or private investigation agency. Some of these services include:
Surveillance:
One of the services a private investigator is best known for is surveillance. Surveillance is the act of observing an individual or group of individuals as they go about their day. The purpose of surveillance is to observe without being noticed, which is something a private investigator learns to handle in the private investigator training course. It’s really important that no one notices they’re being watched during a surveillance operation. The reason for this is because when someone thinks they’re being watched; they change their behaviour. The moment someone changes their behaviour, they will not provide the right information. For example, the thief will not steal the product, or the cheating spouse will not cheat. This is one of the reasons why private investigator training is so important. It truly helps a private investigator get the job done right.
Locates:
Locate services require a private investigator to find missing items or people. For example, a company might need help locating stolen property from a disgruntled employee. A private investigator would also need to provide locate services to a client looking for their long-lost brother, or an adoptive parent. In both situations, finding whatever the client is missing or looking for requires a lot of patience and determination from a private investigator. The reason for this is because sometimes the trail of clues goes cold. A private investigator requires training to know where to look and what to look for in order to solve the locate case.
Background Checks:
A background check is a service provided by a private investigator. A private investigator will look into an individual’s past to check for various information including:
- Education
- Work experience
- License history
- Credit check
- Medical (although some restrictions apply here)
- Criminal records
A private investigator will provide background check services to many clients for many different reasons. For example, a wealthy gentleman starts dating someone new and wants to make sure they aren’t just after his money. Companies across Canada require potential hire and employee background checks too.
Asset Searches:
An asset search is an investigation service that requires a private investigator to find any property or goods that an individual might have hidden. Asset searches become particularly important in divorce cases. Lawyers will want to make sure that their client receives what they’re owed. Therefore, they will often hire a private investigator to check for hidden assets like money, property, art, jewelry and more. If a private investigator finds assets, the evidence they find can help in court.
The number of private investigators working on a case is dependent on the size and scope of the case. If, for example, a company requests help locating several millions worth of stolen retail, the case will likely require several private investigators to help track it down. If, however, a client needs a private investigator to run surveillance on their cheating husband, that private investigator will likely work alone. It’s important to know this information because a licensed private investigator will need to have what it takes to work both with others and alone. Both aren’t always easy!
Why Become a Private Investigator?
If you want to become a private investigator, you only need four things:
- That you are at least 18 years of age
- A clean criminal record
- Canadian citizenship (or allowed to work in Canada)
- Not an active member of the police force
Private investigation work is also a growing industry. More and more companies are hiring private investigators because they understand the value of having someone help to protect their assets. This means that in the future, private investigators will be in high demand. You can earn your license and know that you’ve chosen an in-demand career path.
Characteristics of a Good Private Investigator
While there are many characteristics that lend themselves to private investigation work, some will help you succeed more than others. Some of the characteristics that make a private investigator successful in their work include:
Leadership Skills: A private investigator will often need to take charge on a case, even when working with others or for a private investigation agency. The ability to be a leader, to pass along information and guide others in completing tasks will only serve you well in your career.
Problem Solving Skills: Solving a case isn’t as cut and dry as the movies make it seem. Quite often, a private investigator will bump up against problems with difficult answers. In some situations, a private investigator won’t have any answers. A good private investigator will push through and think outside the box to come up with a solution. So, if you like to problem solve and you really like a challenge, chances are that a career as a private investigator is right for you.
Researching Skills: When it comes to services like background checks, asset searches and locates, a private investigator will need to utilize some research skills. With so much information at our fingertips, it’s often incredibly easy to track down people or stolen goods. A good private investigator, however, will know exactly where to look when a Google search doesn’t pan out.
The Private Investigation Training Course in Nova Scotia
Currently, Nova Scotia does not have any training programs available. They do accept training and licensing from other provinces in Canada.
Do you live in Nova Scotia? Do you want to become a private investigator? Want to know more about our online private investigator training course? Then contact us today for more information.
Email: info@smithinvestigationagency.com Call: (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.
