How to Become a Detective: A Career Guide
If you are exploring policing career options and leaning towards pursuing a detective path, you will need a career guide to move things forward. This role requires patience, logic, intuitiveness, empathy, and observational skills that not everyone possesses. To get to where you want to be, consider the following information.
What Does a Detective Do?
Each day as a detective will be different. However, there are themes that tie activities together. When a crime occurs, a detective is called to the scene to collect and examine evidence that may help solve the case and bring justice. This evidence is used to determine who should be interviewed, for example a witness or a suspect, and then reports are made on the findings. A detective often secures warrants and makes arrests for the case as well.
Explore the Value of a Degree Route
Becoming a detective is different from other policing roles, as it is more specialist. Therefore, while needing a degree is not always a prerequisite for traditional law enforcement, you will stand out from the competition if you have a BS in Criminal Justice in your bag of experience when the time comes to apply. Going up against other candidates is never easy, especially in competitive careers such as this, so anything you can do to make yourself more qualified will help. Plus, if you want to join a federal department, you will need one.
Police Academy Need-to-Knows
Before you can step into a detective position, you have to complete a set amount of time as a police officer, gaining experience and building knowledge about the job. Police academy is where you learn how to pass the policing exams required for acceptance into any role, and also undergo essential training to ensure you are ready for what’s to come when you secure a position. Police academy lasts about six months, and once complete there will be a graduation ceremony. To pass, you will sit a number of exams.
Passing the Exams
After police academy, there will be examinations that you must pass in order to move forward with your career path. Alongside a written test, there will be a physical exam, psychological one and even a polygraph. This will allow you to take the all-important first step into getting actual on the scene experience and moving you closer to achieving your goal of becoming a detective.
What Kind of Salary Do Detectives Make?
Salary is always an important consideration for anyone on the hunt for the perfect career. As a detective, you can expect around $80,000 a year, which increases to about $90,000 if you go down the federal route. This is complemented by a generous pension and benefits too, such as health insurance.
Typical Shift Patterns
A detective may work the standard 40-hour week, with overtime and special callouts thrown into the equation as well. It is a demanding role, but with high reward.
To become an experienced detective, you must invest in your education and experience while undertaking the essential training required to do any form of policing. There are lots of rewards to be found in this career path, and it takes a specific kind of person to find success.
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