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33-9021.00 · Task explorer

Private Detectives and Investigators: reported tasks and exploration worksheet

Gather, analyze, compile, and report information regarding individuals or organizations to clients, or detect occurrences of unlawful acts or infractions of rules in private establishment.

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Read the task inventory

This source lists 14 tasks, including 10 marked Core and 4 marked Supplemental. Labels and dates are retained below. Employers can combine or divide these responsibilities differently; explore the task itself before assuming it belongs in every version of the role.

Task source dates: 07/2015.

14 tasks shown

Core · Task 13095 · 07/2015 · Incumbent

Write reports or case summaries to document investigations.

Core · Task 13099 · 07/2015 · Incumbent

Conduct private investigations on a paid basis.

Core · Task 13096 · 07/2015 · Incumbent

Search computer databases, credit reports, public records, tax or legal filings, or other resources to locate persons or to compile information for investigations.

Core · Task 20758 · 07/2015 · Incumbent

Conduct personal background investigations, such as pre-employment checks, to obtain information about an individual's character, financial status, or personal history.

Core · Task 13106 · 07/2015 · Incumbent

Expose fraudulent insurance claims or stolen funds.

Core · Task 13097 · 07/2015 · Incumbent

Obtain and analyze information on suspects, crimes, or disturbances to solve cases, to identify criminal activity, or to gather information for court cases.

Core · Task 13100 · 07/2015 · Incumbent

Testify at hearings or court trials to present evidence.

Core · Task 13101 · 07/2015 · Incumbent

Question persons to obtain evidence for cases of divorce, child custody, or missing persons or information about individuals' character or financial status.

Core · Task 13102 · 07/2015 · Incumbent

Observe and document activities of individuals to detect unlawful acts or to obtain evidence for cases, using binoculars and still or video cameras.

Core · Task 13107 · 07/2015 · Incumbent

Confer with establishment officials, security departments, police, or postal officials to identify problems, provide information, or receive instructions.

Supplemental · Task 13105 · 07/2015 · Incumbent

Investigate companies' financial standings, or locate funds stolen by embezzlers, using accounting skills.

Supplemental · Task 13104 · 07/2015 · Incumbent

Perform undercover operations, such as evaluating the performance or honesty of employees by posing as customers or employees.

Supplemental · Task 13103 · 07/2015 · Incumbent

Alert appropriate personnel to suspects' locations.

Supplemental · Task 13109 · 07/2015 · Incumbent

Count cash and review transactions, sales checks, or register tapes to verify amounts or to identify shortages.

Make the shortlist useful

  1. Choose one to three activities that tell you something different about the work. Avoid selecting several ways of describing the same interest.
  2. For each, write an example you can discuss or a question that would change your understanding of the role.
  3. Keep source task IDs with your notes so you can return to the same description. Do not include private employer or customer information.

The exported worksheet distinguishes the reported task from your own notes. It supports exploration, not a hiring decision or a validated assessment.

Keep your worksheet

Download before leaving this page. Unsaved writing remains only in the page and is cleared on refresh. Notes and learning actions are not sent to a server. This guide describes an occupation and supports study planning; it does not provide clinical, legal or equipment-operating procedures.

Source and practice material

Occupational context uses the O*NET® 31.0 Database from the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, under CC BY 4.0. View the occupation.

Skill Workbench selected and adapted the occupational information and added its own fictional cases, calculations, guidance and worksheets. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed or tested these additions. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.