Posted On July 18, 2022.

Anyone who has ever picked up a mystery thriller novel or watched a crime fiction film likely has some idea in their head about a typical day in the life of a private investigator. Such works of fiction certainly do make the everyday existence of these folks look far more exciting than the average office worker's daily drudge. After all, what could be more thrilling than getting paid to use one's wits to get to the bottom of perplexing mysteries and gather evidence against crafty ne'er-do-wells (while wearing a fedora and trenchcoat, to boot)?

The truth, however, is that the life of a private investigator isn't always as full of adrenaline highs as pop culture would have you believe. Just like the rest of us, private investigators require a certain set of skills and stick by certain guidelines, not only to be effective at what they do but also to make sure that they don't end up in jail (or worse, dead in a ditch). And just to get this out of the way: Though they refer to people engaging in almost the same work, the words "detective" and "private investigator" aren't always interchangeable. A police detective works under law enforcement, while the latter works with private individuals or corporations (via the Grand Canyon University). Following these definitions, Sonny Crockett from "Miami Vice" is an example of a police detective, while Sherlock Holmes is a private investigator.

Original Post: What It's Really Like Being A Private Investigator