It is important to understand that there are many different areas of investigation and very little of it is like what you see on TV. Being a PI is also very different than working in law enforcement. You can't pop a badge on someone and demand information. A PI that gets involved in shoot-outs isn't doing their job. The job is locating, documenting and presenting evidence to the courts. The characteristics that are needed are an understanding of the law, a logical mind, good communication skills, good people skills, being a good actor, honesty, video, camera and technology skills.
1. The hours worked depends on what kind of case it is. For example, you can control your schedule doing witness interviews but you have almost no control doing surveillance. You can't go back to the client and say, "I was following him down the highway and my shift ran out so I have no idea where he went." I have got in line behind subjects at the airport with no idea where they were going. I listened to where they bought the ticket to and bought mine to the same place. In terms of hours, the case always dictates the hours. A person that can't deal with that shouldn't be a PI.
2. I got into the business with very little preparation. I ran into a friend who was a PI, that was complaining about having to drive 150 miles and sit outside of a guy's work and follow him to see where he was living so he could serve legal papers on him. He had a telephone number but it was unlisted so he couldn't get an address. I called the number and put a story on the guy about free prizes and he gave me the address to mail the prize. That saved the PI a lot of time and convinced him I had a talent for it. I helped him some more, passed the state licensing test and we eventually became partners. Later I bought his interest out of the agency when he passed the bar exam and became a lawyer.
3. I was never an employee. I had to provide my own benefits.
4. Some of the work was challenging and enjoyable like putting together pieces of a puzzle. It involved a lot of travel. But some of it was awfully boring like when you sit and wait for something to happen or time in court waiting to testify.
5. I had to deal with guns drawn on me a few times but the only blood I saw in my entire career was in photos. First responders and police detectives see all of the blood. Nobody calls a PI to a crime scene. We get the case after the defendant is charged and has hired a lawyer.
6. I made a lot of money as a PI but not everybody does. Most of the cases originate in a lawyer's office so, you have to gain the confidence of the legal community. I found the best way to do that was to beat the lawyers in court. Many times I was flagged down by the opposing attorney on the way out of court asking for help on another of his cases.
