Detective / investigator

Detectives investigate crimes, gathering evidence and building cases to identify and prosecute offenders. The work involves examining crime scenes, interviewing witnesses and suspects, analysing evidence and records, following leads, and assembling the pieces into a case that holds up in court.

They work in police departments, usually after serving as patrol officers. The role suits persistent, analytical people with strong interpersonal instincts who can read people, spot inconsistencies, and methodically build cases, sustaining the patience and judgment that complex investigations demand.