Private Investigator — Career Preview

Uncover the truth through surveillance and research

Private investigators conduct surveillance, background checks, skip tracing, and evidence collection for attorneys, insurance companies, and private clients — uncovering facts through legal, ethical investigative methods.

A day in the life

You set up surveillance outside a subject's residence at dawn, document their activities with timestamped video, run background searches on a separate case over lunch, interview a witness for an attorney client, and compile a detailed report with evidence for a court filing. Every case is a puzzle.

Quick facts

Start the free Private Investigator Career Explorer — short videos, quick quiz questions and a certificate.

Related careers