1 answer
2
Questions
Asked
652 views
Is it worth it to be a detective if you are good at detective solving?
I am a 9th grader in a high school that you don't you need to know. #IDK
Login to comment
1 answer
Updated
Desiree’s Answer
Hi Johnson, Only you can answer if something is "worth" it, because that is a personal determination.
However, here are some things to consider in your assessment: what sort of detective do you want to be, what qualifications that requires, what will the work be like (e.g., salary, hours). Here's some basics to get you started.
For instance, the FBI has a very good description on its website of what it takes to qualify (college degree and work experience - among other things) and what the work conditions are like for FBI Agents (50-hour weeks, being on call, carrying and using - when necessary - a firearm). You can see that here: https://www.fbijobs.gov/career-paths/special-agents/eligibility
For a Police Detective, the process varies by department, but general you have to first become a police officer (e.g., graduating from the police academy and going through a probationary period) and after a few years, get promoted. There are many websites that describe this process, like this one: https://www.civilservicesuccess.com/a-guide-to-becoming-a-police-detective/ That site also discusses some of the realities of the job and the salary.
For a Private Detective, each U.S. state has its own requirements. California's are here: https://www.bsis.ca.gov/forms_pubs/pi_fact.shtml And basically require a background check and some mixture of education and experience (e.g., 3 years/6,000 hours paid investigative work, or a law degree (4 years of college + 3 years law school), or 4-year course in police science plus 2 years paid experience, or 2-year associate degree in police science, criminal law, or justice and 2 ½ years paid experience) in addition to some other qualifications, pemits and fees.
Research on-line what type of detective you want to be, and the corresponding education and experience requirements
Research on-line what the work performed by each is like - what would a typical day/week be like? what is the salary? what are the conditions like?
Read books or watch documentaries by or about real detectives to get a better sense of their careers. (Not just the fiction of crime TV!)
Consider both the good parts of the jobs and the negatives as you evaluate it as a potential career.
Try to talk to a detective about their career path. Ask for a short information interview and ask them questions about how they became a detective and what the job is really like.
However, here are some things to consider in your assessment: what sort of detective do you want to be, what qualifications that requires, what will the work be like (e.g., salary, hours). Here's some basics to get you started.
For instance, the FBI has a very good description on its website of what it takes to qualify (college degree and work experience - among other things) and what the work conditions are like for FBI Agents (50-hour weeks, being on call, carrying and using - when necessary - a firearm). You can see that here: https://www.fbijobs.gov/career-paths/special-agents/eligibility
For a Police Detective, the process varies by department, but general you have to first become a police officer (e.g., graduating from the police academy and going through a probationary period) and after a few years, get promoted. There are many websites that describe this process, like this one: https://www.civilservicesuccess.com/a-guide-to-becoming-a-police-detective/ That site also discusses some of the realities of the job and the salary.
For a Private Detective, each U.S. state has its own requirements. California's are here: https://www.bsis.ca.gov/forms_pubs/pi_fact.shtml And basically require a background check and some mixture of education and experience (e.g., 3 years/6,000 hours paid investigative work, or a law degree (4 years of college + 3 years law school), or 4-year course in police science plus 2 years paid experience, or 2-year associate degree in police science, criminal law, or justice and 2 ½ years paid experience) in addition to some other qualifications, pemits and fees.
Desiree recommends the following next steps: