I get on average two or three calls a week from people interested in becoming a private investigator.

When I get these calls, I have fixed feelings.  

I certainly don’t want to discourage someone who has done a little homework about the profession and genuinely feels they might have the capabilities of becoming a good investigator.  When I get a call from someone like this, I’m quite happy to chat to them about investigation work and give them some insights.

On the other hand, I also wonder whether the caller has just watched a Magnum PI re-run on TV or read a spy thriller.  Then, on impulse they decide to call a PI to find out more because it all looks and sounds really exciting.  Usually, for this type of caller, it’s turns out to be just a waste of my time.

The excitement factor

Is PI work exciting?  

My usual answer is, no.  

There can be occasions when you will get a rush of adrenaline, such as when conducting a surveillance assignment, or get a great deal of satisfaction in finally being able to uncover some critical evidence in a very complex matter, but generally investigation work is tedious and boring.   

Surely following someone around on surveillance isn’t boring?  

Okay, following someone around isn’t boring, in fact, it can be quite exciting.  But, surveillance work is not all about the surveillance subject being active.  

Surveillance work is generally 90% inactivity and 10% activity.  So, for every ten hours of surveillance, you will spend 9 hours doing nothing but watching and waiting for some sort of activity.  

Are you really ready for that kind of boredom?

Only one person in 10 will make it past the first 12 months as a surveillance investigator
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