Civil investigators mainly handle investigations under civil law. Their tasks include, among others: the tracing of people who disappeared without paying their accounts to one or more businesses or without making arrangements for the payment of their debts, and the gathering of evidence for use in civil court cases. Civil investigators can also work as insurance investigators or as security officers at a company.
This occupation involves both office and outdoor work - usually civil investigators do their outdoor work in the morning, for example, tracing people, cars and goods and then liaise with their clients in the afternoon.
Civil investigators have to report daily on their activities and expenses, and present progress reports regularly to their clients, after which they sometimes receive further instructions.
Legal firms are the largest providers of employment to civil investigators, who use them to trace people who neglect to pay their debts. Other important clients are businesses, especially those that sell goods on hire-purchase, and insurance companies that appoint civil investigators to trace witnesses or gather evidence in connection with accidents. Civil investigators often have to testify in court.
Civil investigators must be able to brave all types of weather conditions in their outdoor work, and they sometimes need to have extreme tact in situations where they have to deal with people who are unfriendly or even hostile. It sometimes happens that they find themselves in very delicate circumstances. At all times, their behaviour must be impeccable, especially where they have to take drastic action, taking goods back.
Satisfying Aspects
- bringing cases to a successful conclusion
- working outdoors as well as in an office
Demanding aspects
- having to brave all types of weather conditions
- having to deal with difficult people
Requirements
- integrity, perseverance and tact
- have the ability to gain people's confidence
- be able to perform their task in a humble and compassionate way.
- must always act in the best interest of their client.
- should be at least 21 years old in order to gain admission to train at the Veritas College
Persons above the age of 25 are preferred.
School Subjects
The minimum educational requirement for training in this occupation at the Veritas College is a Grade 10 Certificate.
Compulsory school subjects: None
Recommended Subjects: None
Training
Some civil investigation agencies offer in-service training. The Veritas College in Bloemfontein presents a diploma course in Civil Investigation (D.C. (SA)). This course can be completed on a correspondence basis and takes on average 46 weeks to complete. This is the only course of its kind in South Africa and offers training in all the facets of the work of the civil investigator.
Employer
- any investigation agency.
- with the necessary experience can start their own investigation agencies
Contact
The Head
Veritas College for Career Training (Civil Investigators)
P O Box 1066
Bloemfontein, 9300
Any other civil investigation agency can be contacte