According to people in this career, the main tasks are...
| Task | Importance |
|---|---|
| Write reports or case summaries to document investigations. | 96% |
| Conduct private investigations on a paid basis. | 90% |
| Search computer databases, credit reports, public records, tax or legal filings, or other resources to locate persons or to compile information for investigations. | 88% |
| Expose fraudulent insurance claims or stolen funds. | 87% |
| Conduct personal background investigations, such as pre-employment checks, to obtain information about an individual's character, financial status, or personal history. | 87% |
| Obtain and analyze information on suspects, crimes, or disturbances to solve cases, to identify criminal activity, or to gather information for court cases. | 86% |
| Testify at hearings or court trials to present evidence. | 86% |
| Question persons to obtain evidence for cases of divorce, child custody, or missing persons or information about individuals' character or financial status. | 86% |
| Observe and document activities of individuals to detect unlawful acts or to obtain evidence for cases, using binoculars and still or video cameras. | 85% |
| Investigate companies' financial standings, or locate funds stolen by embezzlers, using accounting skills. | 80% |
| Perform undercover operations, such as evaluating the performance or honesty of employees by posing as customers or employees. | 77% |
| Alert appropriate personnel to suspects' locations. | 75% |
| Count cash and review transactions, sales checks, or register tapes to verify amounts or to identify shortages. | 74% |
| Monitor industrial or commercial properties to enforce conformance to establishment rules and to protect people or property. | 71% |
| Confer with establishment officials, security departments, police, or postal officials to identify problems, provide information, or receive instructions. | 71% |
| Apprehend suspects and release them to law enforcement authorities or security personnel. | 69% |
| Warn troublemakers causing problems on establishment premises and eject them from premises when necessary. | 59% |
