Detectives may be members of a law enforcement agency or private investigators. They are in charge of researching and finding evidence to help solve criminal cases. They gather information by talking to witnesses and informants, collecting physical evidence at the crime scene, and researching records in databases. 

Part of their job also includes issuing warrants for suspects, interviewing witnesses and suspects, which leads them to gather essential information for the case, participating in raids at homes or companies, keeping detailed records for courts when they are necessary, among other essential tasks that will enable them to solve cases.

Are you passionate about solving crimes and dream of becoming a detective? Here’s everything you need to know about what it takes to become a detective.

Those interested in becoming detectives need to earn a Bachelor’s degree related to crime or criminal justice. Among the degrees you can pursue to become a detective we can mention:

Once students earn a bachelor’s degree, they can go on to pursue a master’s degree. A postgraduate degree will provide them with a deeper insight into their field and with more research skills that make them better investigators. Master in Criminal Justice, Crime Analysis or Crime Scene Investigation are some of the options.

After meeting all the academic requirements, detectives may also be required to have experience in the field of law enforcement, on top of some qualities that all detectives must have in order to be successful.

The following are the most important qualities all detectives must have. In general, they can be developed as professionals acquire experience in the field, but it is highly recommended that they develop them beforehand or that they have them naturally.

Detectives usually need to handle more than one case at a time, which is why multitasking skills are a must for all successful detectives. On top of that, even if you only focus on one case at a time, there are plenty of tasks detectives need to do at the same time, including paperwork, researching, taking notes, talking to witnesses, among many others.

Talking to witnesses, suspects, colleagues, and any other person who might play a significant role in the solving of a case is an essential part of the investigation, which is why being a good communicator is a must. Talking in a comforting yet firm manner is not as easy as it may seem, and this is even more important when you need to get as much information as possible from others, which is why it is so important to be an effective communicator.

Good and successful detectives are patient, as they cannot expect to solve cases immediately. Some cases will be easier to solve than others, but sometimes, it can take months or even years to find leads, which is why patience, as well as persistence to make sure they don’t give up when things get slow, are musts. 

Being able to take in all the details of a crime scene is another essential skill for detectives, as they need to pay extreme attention to every possible detail and not miss out on anything. 

If you need more information about a detective’s job, what you will study in any of the possible bachelor’s degree, or anything else you might want to know, please feel free to fill out the form with your contact information and one of our advisors will communicate with you as soon as possible to answer any questions you may have.

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