Does Your PI Keep Their Skills Current?

I have said for some time not all Professional Investigators are alike. One item that separates us is the development of skills and abilities. Unfortunately many investigators do not take the time or effort to maintain proficiencies that make them more effective to their clients.

An example of this are the changing laws, not only for professional investigators, but for their clients as well. Technology is another area that is constantly changing and as professionals we must change with it. A colleague, Debra Allen from Arizona, stated it very well in a recent post of hers.

Most of us have worked for companies or agencies that required professional training on a regular basis, to acquire and hone skills which benefited the organization. Most private investigators are self- employed, and many are not taking advantage of training available to them. They may not understand the value of ongoing professional development for themselves and for their staff.

You know the time and effort it took to become a licensed private investigator. It requires a diverse set of skills, skills that were not innate but developed through training and development. You finally get your license and you think “you’re good”, that’s all you need to get yourself up and running. I’m here to tell you, that kind of thinking is going to get you stuck.

Everything in our profession is constantly changing. If you just think about private investigations on a technological level, things are changing and evolving at breakneck speeds. Why would you not keep up? Why would you not want to do everything possible to ensure your success? Training and professional development is an ongoing process and should continue throughout your career.

Professional development allows you to acquire new skills, sharpen existing ones, perform at a higher level, increase your productivity and could make you a leader in the field of private investigation. Increased proficiency in the way you run your business could result in financial gain. Training builds confidence and credibility, it re-energizes you. It is important because it ensures you continue to be competent in your field.

Some areas where your skills can be enhanced are in the areas of elder abuse; fraud, identity theft, computer crimes, stalking, genealogy and solving cases using DNA.  Just turning on the evening news can give you a mountain of ideas on how to enhance your skill set.

If you have a staff, don’t forget about getting them the most up to date training possible in the area where their skills enhance your business. They are ALSO the face of your business. Invest in them. Create a training program to strengthen their skills. When they are better, YOU are better.

At PROVIDENCE-Specialized Investigative Solutions we strive to maintain our skills by attending classes, webinars and research laws pertaining to our profession. In addition we constantly look for new ways to make our job more proficient by upgrading our abilities and equipment.

It takes time and money which both have its limitations. We feel it is the cost of doing business and maintaining the title of “Professional Investigator”.