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[smookedtrout]

My name is Jeff LIngafelter, I am very interested in a career in Private investigation. I am seeing if you could tell me what types of education/qualifications investigation agency look for in a individual. I have researched on the net but come up with different info every time. What about home course like DTI or Global? I have ran a crossed the P.I union (not sure about this one) or would some course in Criminal Justice at a actual College be better. The home degrees would fit into my life better right now (DTI etc.…) right now but does agency except this as anything.
Thanks in advance

[kedves]

I teach criminology at the university level, but most of my students want to go into law enforcement rather than private industry.  I think that what you should do depends on what field you want to go into, more toward private (e.g., cheating-spouse evidence) or employee-theft risk management, or what?  My advice would be to information-interview (just 15-20 minutes) a few people who have the type of job you want and ask them:  a) what credentials did you earn that helped you get this job?, b) what experience did you get that has helped you, and c) what is your job really like on a day-to-day basis?

Depending on how capable you are academically and what your interests and goals are, don't overlook the government level of investigation.  The FBI has become much more interested in white-collar and corporate crime recently, particularly in the area of forensic accounting.

Good luck.

[alleyoxenfree]

I had a recent student who was a P.I.  He got his training in the military, then got out and is doing a business degree at a state college on the GI Bill (choosing business so he can better manage his own agency).  However, he has taken some pre-law and psychology classes as well.

Kedves is right that the best way to find out more is to meet some private investigators and ask them questions.  The internet should also help you because many agencies may post their investigator's backgrounds online for potential clients. 

You don't say how old you are, but you can call people and ask to do an "informational interview" about the field.  If you're already in school, you could ask if they will be a interview source for a paper you are doing on the career.

If you have trouble finding a PI to interview, ask a local police officer.  Police officers usually know some PI's.

[systeme_d_]

What's embarrassing is your spelling and your bizarre insistence on capitalizing every word in a sentence.

[prytania3]

I worked for a PI one summer. What a slimy business.