Criminal Investigator Resume: Templates, Examples & Essential Skills
Are you a talented Criminal Investigator that’s having trouble finding the right clues to get your resume noticed by job recruiters? If so, our expert resume templates can help you solve the case.
Criminal Investigator Resume Example MSWord®
Show hiring manager’s the evidence that you’re fit for the job with our Criminal Investigator Resume template in Word.
Before you can collect and examine evidence, you’ll need to provide evidence that you have the skills and experience it takes to work in this field by producing a detailed, properly formatted criminal investigator resume.
With a strong criminal investigator resume, you’ll make a strong case for being a lead candidate for any position being offered in the field. From a criminal investigator resume headline to a list of criminal investigator resume achievements, it’s important to have a document that contains all the right details from top to bottom.
Some questions you might ask yourself when you begin to assemble information and start writing your criminal investigator resume are:
- How do I build a powerful criminal investigator resume objective or summary?
- Which criminal investigator resume achievements and experience should I highlight?
- What skills should I list on my crime scene investigator resume to get hiring managers to take notice?
In this guide, you’ll have the opportunity to examine a detailed criminal investigator resume sample so you’ll know exactly how your own resume should look.
In addition, by accessing our free online resume builder, you’ll learn how to generate a criminal investigator resume that hiring managers will put at the top of the stack. You can also review professional resume examples and resume templates that ensure your document is as good as it can be.
Throughly Examine This Sample Resume for Criminal Investigator
You can avoid being a victim of a bad resume that will not impress hiring managers by taking a close look at the following criminal investigator resume example.
Criminal Investigator Resume Sample
[Frank Columbo]
[Criminal Investigator]
[22068 Peugeot Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90001 | 323-555-7098 | ltfcolumbo1968@aol.com]
>> Summary <<
Dedicated, detail-oriented Criminal Investigator with analytical mind and 10+ years of experience examining crime scenes, gathering evidence, and interviewing witnesses. Excellent leadership, communication, organizational, and creative problem-solving skills. Expertise in interrogations, criminal law, and court testimony.
>> Areas of Expertise <<
- Interrogations
- Surveillance
- General Investigations
- Police Procedures
- Narcotics Investigations
- Homicide Investigations
- Insurance Fraud
- Report Writing
>> Experience <<
Lead Criminal Investigator
02/2020 to Current
Los Angeles Police Department, CA
• Oversaw the investigation of 200+ cases per year, with a clearance rate above national average.
• Streamlined investigative processes to shorten criminal investigation lead time by 14% over a two-year period.
• Analyzed field reports and forensic evidence, including blood patterns, bullet trajectories, fingerprints, and ballistics.
• Conducted detailed interviews with witnesses, suspects, and professionals.
• Trained and mentored a team of 8 field investigators.
• Provided testimony in court proceedings and hearings.
• Maintained detailed case logs.
• Met with department attorney bi-weekly to review gathered evidence to determine use for court proceedings.
Criminal Investigator
09/2014 to 01/2020
Glendale Police Department, CA
• Performed investigations of major crimes in various units, including Homicide, Missing Persons, Criminal Intelligence, Insurance Fraud, Special Victims, and General Investigations.
• Collaborated with government agencies, forensics technicians, lead investigators, and law enforcement officials to successfully close investigations, resulting in a 98% case resolution rate.
• Recorded and logged evidence.
• Produced reports summarizing investigative findings for lead investigator review.
• Conducted surveillance on individuals being investigated.
• Obtained and executed search warrants.
• Attended weekly meetings with investigative teams to provide updates and review evidence, interview results, and other findings to expedite case closings.
Junior Criminal Investigator
07/2012 to 08/2014
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office, CA
• Assisted investigative team in compiling and marking evidence and taking photographs of crime scenes.
• Oversaw storing and preservation of evidence.
• Located and coordinated court appearances of witnesses.
• Prepared investigative reports, crime scene models, and visual aids to be used in court proceedings.
• Executed search and arrest warrants.
>> Education <<
Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice, 2011
California State University, Los Angeles
Master of Science in Criminology, 2019
California State University, Fresno
>> Skills <<
- Analytical
- Observational
- Attention to detail
- Verbal and written communication
- Criminal law knowledge
- Problem solving
- Time management
- Organizational skills
Hand over a criminal investigator resume like this and CSI: Criminal Investigations has nothing on you!
Uncover the Best Criminal Investigator Resume Format
As a criminal investigator, you’ll follow specific steps and adhere to a rigid investigational process that will lead to the case being solved.
It’ll take the same mindset when you format your criminal investigator resume.
A correct format is simply following a process, such as enforcing a proper amount of white space, using the reverse-chronological order for work experience, inserting bulleted lists highlighting experience, skills, and achievements, and utilizing a 10-point or 12-point font size.
Typically, a criminal investigator resume sample will show skills and possibly areas of expertise before your experience section. This is a fairly standard practice for this type of resume, especially for a seasoned criminal investigator.
💡 top tip
Save your criminal investigator resume as a .docx or PDF file, as these are most compatible with ATS.
On a criminal investigator resume with no experience, you might put your education details following a summary or objective, and then place your experience followed by a skills section and any additional sections covering other achievements, memberships, awards, etc.
Review our many resume templates to help you create your best crime scene investigator resume with the right format.
Your Criminal Investigator Resume Needs an Effective Summary or Objective—Case Closed!
When it comes to your criminal investigator resume, the first thing will be to secure a career summary or professional objective that portrays you as the best individual for the job. That part of your resume will typically be one of the first things a hiring manager will notice.
Right ✅
Motivated, results-driven Criminal Investigator bringing more than 10 years of experience in crime scene investigation, evidence gathering, forensics analysis, and witness interviewing. Strong leadership and management skills displayed in supervising a team of 12 investigators.
Expertise in insurance fraud, tax fraud, and identity theft. Excellent communication, organizational, problem solving, and analytical skills. Consistent case resolution rate well above national average.
You just might be ready for your own CSI show with a summary like this!
Wrong ❌
Experienced Criminal Investigator with strong abilities in assessing crime scenes and interrogating suspects. Supervised evidence collections and generated crime scene reports. Collaborated with necessary authorities to provide investigation updates.
The lack of details in a criminal investigator resume summary such as this just might make you an unsolved mystery to hiring managers.
Criminal Investigator Resume Objective
For an entry level crime scene investigator resume or a criminal investigator resume with no experience, you will start off with a career objective rather than a summary.
Bear witness to an effective criminal investigator resume application of a career objective:
Current Law Enforcement Professional with 5+ years of experience seeking a position allowing for the application of investigative, research, and analytical skills as a Crime Scene Investigator. Exceptional performance in crisis management, negotiations, interrogations, and evidence collections. Bringing strong knowledge of criminal law, law and order regulations, video surveillance, and witness gathering.
The Evidence is In: You Need a Strong Experience Section for Your Criminal Investigator Resume
“Who loves ya, baby?” TV detective Kojak was famous for saying.
The answer is: hiring managers will love you when you present an infallible experience section on your crime scene investigator resume.
Listing your current or most recent position first under a criminal investigator resume header “Work History” or “Experience”, add detailed bullets describing your duties, responsibilities, and achievements for each employer.
For a criminal investigator resume, it’s important to start each bullet with an appropriate keyword, such as “investigate”, “solve”, “analyze”, “interrogate”, “interview”, “collect”, and “examine”.
Wrong ❌
Criminal Investigator
Intertect Detective Agency
12/2019 – 04/2022
- Looked over crime scenes.
- Spoke with witnesses and law enforcement personnel.
- Analyzed evidence.
- Took photographs of crime area.
You might come across as totally clueless with an experience entry like this!
Right ✅
Criminal Investigator
Intertect Detective Agency
12/2019 – 04/2022
- Oversaw crime scene examinations, photographs, evidence collections.
- Reduced criminal investigation lead time by 11% during tenure.
- Communicated with state and federal officials during investigations.
- Analyzed forensic evidence, field reports, and investigation updates.
- Trained and mentored a team of 6 investigators, leading to a 55% increase in case resolutions by entire team over three years.
- Testified at court proceedings and administrative hearings.
- Monitored progress of all cases in the agency through a detailed case log.
It’s no mystery as to why a hiring manager would respond to an entry like this as compared to the earlier example.
Before You Can Give the Third Degree, Include Your Academic Degrees on a Criminal Investigator Resume
A formal education listed on your criminal investigator resume is a great way to show your interest, training, and dedication to the pursuit of a position in this field.
Identify the degree earned, the year your studies were completed, and the name and location of the institution.
Start with the highest degree earned, like this:
Master of Science in Criminal Justice, 2021
East Carolina University, Greenville, NC
Bachelor of Science in Forensic Science, 2019
Fayetteville State University, NC
Associate of Applied Science in Criminal Justice Technology, 2015
Wayne Community College, Goldsboro, NC
💡top tip
If you have prior police experience and completed training in a police academy, you can add this important fact in the Education section.
Need more education in how to list your studies on your criminal investigator resume? Check out our resume format information to make sure your resume is structured properly.
Collect Your Top Abilities for Your Criminal Investigator Resume Skills Section
It takes skill to step into a crime scene and take control, from securing the area to identifying clues and evidence.
So, a list of relevant skills is a must-add to any criminal investigator resume.
💡 top tip
Draw your list of skills from the job posting you are responding to so you are sure to show potential employers you have exactly what they’re looking for in a job candidate.
Review your work history to collect a list of skills that are reflected in past duties and responsibilities.
Did you collaborate with other investigators, agencies, and officials during an investigation? Then you have collaborative skills. Interview suspects and witnesses and produce detailed investigative reports? You have shown exceptional verbal and written communication skills. Analyzed evidence and used deductive reasoning to solve cases? Analytical skills and problem-solving skills, check and check!
You might separate hard and soft skills; in a hard skills list, you might note what types of surveillance equipment you have used, indicate your knowledge of criminal law, and highlight your ability to produce coherent, detailed reports.
Secure Other Sections to Boost Your Criminal Investigator Resume
Under a criminal investigator resume header or headers such as “Awards & Achievements”, “Additional Training”, or “Professional Certifications”, to name a few, you can add further information that supports your ability to become or continue your career as a crime scene investigator.
Other sections on your criminal investigator resume might look like this:
Professional Certifications and Licenses
- Security Guard license
- Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE)
- Certified Professional Criminal Investigator (CPCI)
- FBI search warrant acquisition and execution training
- Advanced CLEET certification with over 2,500 hours of training
Awards & Achievements
- Recipient, Norman J. Sloan Memorial Award, The World Association of Detectives, 2017
- Member of task force awarded the IACP/Thomson Reuters Excellence in Criminal Investigations Award, 2020
Memberships
- The World Association of Detectives
- North Carolina Homicide Investigators Association
Use our professional templates to give you an idea of how to include other sections on an experienced or entry level crime scene investigator resume.
Key Takeaway
Perhaps the main thing to take away from this criminal investigator resume guide is: gather all your information, analyze your experience and skills, note your education details, and organize all other professional highlights that you wish to convey on your document, and put it all together in a correctly formatted resume that will help you solve your biggest case: Finding the Right Criminal Investigator Job For You.
You can’t go wrong with the right tools, such as our free online resume builder and downloadable Google Docs or Word templates that will help you reach this goal.
When finished, conduct an investigation on your resume to be sure that it:
- Presents the correct format, from font size to appropriate amount of white space.
- Introduces your professional experience and goals in a short summary or objective.
- Identifies all relevant experience in the criminal justice field or, for a criminal investigator resume with no experience, a work history that reflects your motivation, leadership, dedication, and goal-orientation.
- Notes your postsecondary academic or related training information.
- Summarizes your hard and soft skills that underscore your professional successes and abilities.
- Wraps up with any additional pertinent information, such as other training, certifications, or awards.
Remember: the right criminal investigator resume will give you much more of chance to be considered for a position as compared to someone who simply does not have a clue how to create the type of document that hiring managers will respond to.
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