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Cassandra
Student
Sedro-Woolley, Washington
1
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What goals can I think about to become a detective?
Different ways to cope. Helping others. Thinking about the important details through each job i wanna do.
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3 answers
Mary Ann Faue
Communications, Training, and People Development
59
Answers
Hayward, California
Updated
Mary Ann’s Answer
While I am not a detective, nor do I play one on TV, I do know some folks who work in the line of law enforcement. Here are some important skills to have if you want to be a detective:
1. Practice being a good listener. Being a good listener means that you are giving your full attention to the person who is talking. And, it's important to listen to what they are saying, the actual words, and the way they are saying something. Also, listen to what they are not saying. For example, say you run into a friend while you're out and about and you say, "How are you doing?". Your friend responds with "I'm good". A pretty basic statement. But now, imagine when your friend says "I'm good", your friend looks you in the eye and says the words with confidence and energy. Now imagine the scene again, but this time, when you're friend says "I'm good", your friend looks at the ground and says the words with a pause between the "I'm" and the "good". While the words are exactly the same, the way they are said is different and that tells you something. Make sense?
2. Practice asking clarifying or probing questions. When someone is talking about something, be curious. Ask questions to learn more about something they have said. Or in the example of your friend looking at the ground when saying "I'm good", that could be an opportunity for you to say, "sounds like somethings going on. Are you sure you're good?" But, keep in mind when you are being curious and asking clarifying questions, you want to come across as being truly interested and you are just learning more. You're not trying to prove a point or catch someone in a lie.
3. Be observant. A lot of detective work is about observing behavior. Is someone being fidgety? What are they wearing? Are their clothes well put together or are they a hot mess? Anything you can observe can be a piece of data that might be important to your investigation. You can practice this when you are out and about. You can observe the way groups of people interact or how a single person might appear uncomfortable or oblivious to the people around them.
4. And, just for fun, maybe there's a mystery to solve in your own home or neighborhood. Maybe "the case of the missing shoes". Someone can't find their favorite shoes. So, you ask questions to learn more. Maybe you interview multiple people. Then, you process all that information to come up with a hypothesis and then test your hypothesis. And maybe, you find the shoes.
Hope this helps.
1. Practice being a good listener. Being a good listener means that you are giving your full attention to the person who is talking. And, it's important to listen to what they are saying, the actual words, and the way they are saying something. Also, listen to what they are not saying. For example, say you run into a friend while you're out and about and you say, "How are you doing?". Your friend responds with "I'm good". A pretty basic statement. But now, imagine when your friend says "I'm good", your friend looks you in the eye and says the words with confidence and energy. Now imagine the scene again, but this time, when you're friend says "I'm good", your friend looks at the ground and says the words with a pause between the "I'm" and the "good". While the words are exactly the same, the way they are said is different and that tells you something. Make sense?
2. Practice asking clarifying or probing questions. When someone is talking about something, be curious. Ask questions to learn more about something they have said. Or in the example of your friend looking at the ground when saying "I'm good", that could be an opportunity for you to say, "sounds like somethings going on. Are you sure you're good?" But, keep in mind when you are being curious and asking clarifying questions, you want to come across as being truly interested and you are just learning more. You're not trying to prove a point or catch someone in a lie.
3. Be observant. A lot of detective work is about observing behavior. Is someone being fidgety? What are they wearing? Are their clothes well put together or are they a hot mess? Anything you can observe can be a piece of data that might be important to your investigation. You can practice this when you are out and about. You can observe the way groups of people interact or how a single person might appear uncomfortable or oblivious to the people around them.
4. And, just for fun, maybe there's a mystery to solve in your own home or neighborhood. Maybe "the case of the missing shoes". Someone can't find their favorite shoes. So, you ask questions to learn more. Maybe you interview multiple people. Then, you process all that information to come up with a hypothesis and then test your hypothesis. And maybe, you find the shoes.
Hope this helps.
Samantha Stratton, SHRM-CP
Training Manager
2
Answers
Austin, Texas
Updated
Samantha’s Answer
Hi Cassandra!
Thinking about becoming a detective is fantastic! A great way to dive into this is by reading detective stories. I loved spy stories when I was your age, like the Young James Bond books. You might enjoy books like Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys, Enola Holmes, or the City Spies series. Try to solve the mystery before the story tells you! Also, try fun activities like escape rooms, mystery board games (like Clue!), or puzzle books. These are like practice missions where you can test your clue-finding and problem-solving skills.
As you explore these, think about what excites you the most. Do you enjoy finding clues, asking smart questions, solving puzzles, or spotting small details? Detectives need all these skills!
You can also practice real detective skills every day or set a goal to improve a specific skill:
- Listen carefully when people talk and notice little details around you (what’s changed in your room or neighborhood?)
- Practice taking notes to remember things about classes or those you talk to
- Work on solving problems by sticking with tough puzzles or tricky homework
Being a detective is all about being curious and paying attention, so you’re already on the right path by asking this question!
Thinking about becoming a detective is fantastic! A great way to dive into this is by reading detective stories. I loved spy stories when I was your age, like the Young James Bond books. You might enjoy books like Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys, Enola Holmes, or the City Spies series. Try to solve the mystery before the story tells you! Also, try fun activities like escape rooms, mystery board games (like Clue!), or puzzle books. These are like practice missions where you can test your clue-finding and problem-solving skills.
As you explore these, think about what excites you the most. Do you enjoy finding clues, asking smart questions, solving puzzles, or spotting small details? Detectives need all these skills!
You can also practice real detective skills every day or set a goal to improve a specific skill:
- Listen carefully when people talk and notice little details around you (what’s changed in your room or neighborhood?)
- Practice taking notes to remember things about classes or those you talk to
- Work on solving problems by sticking with tough puzzles or tricky homework
Being a detective is all about being curious and paying attention, so you’re already on the right path by asking this question!
gayathri yapamanu
Security
2
Answers
Hyderabad, Telangana, India
Updated
gayathri’s Answer
To become a detective wow firstly its a great carrier choice :) always focus on the objective of thinking out of the box even to start with finding most creative possible ways to solve a puzzle, I suggest you read books of Sherlock Holmes and of course watch Matt Damen's Bourn series it will change your perspective of how to look and respond to things and situation. Be clear of the objective and there is no smoke without fire so always focus on the fire like what possibly could have caused it and what are all the possibilities of that particular situation occur, you need to do your homework well . If you want to be a detective seriously then thin like ONE!!!