Your Background Investigator resume is not complete if you don’t add a skills section to it.
Many resumes are accepted and processed even if hiring managers do not see a skills section in them, but there is no point in taking a risk, since skills information is extremely important to employers. There is no guarantee that your resume will be accepted if it does not present skills information.
How does one go about writing a skills section?
It is important to first determine what the prospective employer is looking for in a potential employee. If for instance, he or she wants to hire an individual whose communication skills are great, it is best that you highlight your communication abilities in a resume. The trick to writing a solid skills section is to align what you have to offer with what the hiring manager is looking for. That is how simple this whole thing is.
The skills section should ideally come right after your objective or summary – yes, that is how important it is. It is at this point that the hiring manager begins to get edgy about having to go through a resume that spans 2 pages or longer. Make it easy for him or her by providing vital information at this point, and maintaining his or her interest.
To see what type of skills statements really work, take a look at the following examples:
Sample Skills for Background Investigator Resume
• Documented success in engaging employers and agency managers in conversation to determine their specific requirements for background checks.
• Track record of success interviewing subjects or prospective employees to derive information regarding their backgrounds and histories.
• Create notes of all acquired information, and ensure that it is properly structured so that it can be used for further investigations.
• Contact previous employers, neighbors, and friends and family members to obtain information of subjects’ or applicants’ prior personal and professional lives.
• Ask questions aimed at determining the personality and everyday goings-on pertaining to assigned subjects or applicants.
• Perform credit and financial background checks by contacting agencies and financial institutes.
• Research and review data obtained from different databases and information systems, and ensure that acquired data from subjects or applicants is verified according to procedure.
• Respond to external and internal requests for information regarding assigned subjects, by first verifying the rights of the requester.
• Ascertain that all acquired information is properly and safely stored in a confidential manner.
• Create and submit reports regarding background investigations, highlighting any special findings.