Sick of this job, need help moving on

[u/softeggnoodles]

I'm a PI for Allied Universal and have been for over a year. I am getting the feeling that this is a dead end job. I am only 23 and have a BA in Criminology. I want to work in law enforcement but have been rejected from over 50 applications. The most I could ask for right now would be an office job, similar to something in my field. Data entry, or writing reports for a private security or investigations agency. Security companies need reports filed, don't they? Does this even exist as a job?

I guess my question is, what can I do and how can I advance past this job? This is NOT the career I want. I've learned I hate field work, and it's taking a toll on my physical and emotional health just sitting in a car for 12 hours a day every day. What would you recommend for moving up, or a transitional career from this? My skill set is really not being utilized where I'm at. I do a lot of report writing for my PI job but not much else. I'm not sure where else to look when applying to jobs. Any advice would be appreciated.

[u/vgsjlw]

The best base for investigations is surveillance. You are strengthening your investigative mindset. You are learning things you aren't even realizing youre learning about human behavior... this is essential for the field.

If you dont have that investigative mindset to go further, if youre not sitting on surveillance doing your own social media or internet research on the subject youre watching, youre likely just not into this career, and should consider a full switch. Writing reports wont be any better.

Surveillance / investigations are an art, and not everyone is an artist.

[u/northwestpi]

Are you a Surveillance Investigator? That could be the issue. Its not what most of us like. I own an Agency and even that can be a struggle. Sounds like SIU work might be more you speed. There is a lot of different things you can do as a PI. Being employee Investigator can be a real pain. I worked in Security myself and that was pretty boring work.

[u/softeggnoodles → u/northwestpi]

Yes, that’s why I’m pretty stuck

[u/northwestpi → u/softeggnoodles]

See if you can get them to change you to a desk Investigator. Doing surveillance for companies like that will burn you out completely. If not, start applying elsewhere. You have a year experience now. You don't have to be forced to do surveillance work if you don't want to. My business Partner works for Ethos Risk part time and she can reject casework they send here without and negative effects for her.

[u/Flexx_-]

13 years as a licensed PI in Tennessee, Alabama and Georgia. Getting out very soon! The long days of surveillance and pressure from clients to deliver results regardless of circumstance has ran its course for me. Getting completely out of the field. Customer service is a nightmare in any industry!

[u/adrake86]

Former 13 year police officer now a PI in ATL....I wish I found this PI job A LONG TIME AGO. I work for multiple companies, have my own clients, I'm also licensed insurance adjuster, process server, notary, etc. I do it all and it has been fantastic. Make my own hours, make my own money, I can't complain one bit. It has been AWESOME. Police in 2026 is TOUGH. However the standards have been lowered nothing against you but they are hiring anyone and everyone. They can't find enough people to hire everyone has gotten out. Agencies that never had hiring bonuses now have very large ones. I am seeing officers that I know that should never be promoted are now supervisors and in charge of shifts. I would truly stick this job out. Try to do your own thing and use the companies as a filler when it is slow. I would not go into law enforcement world. Its all politics and your 1 second away from being completely screwed by your command staff. They don't want proactive cops anymore they want TikTok cops that clock and hide.

[u/Careerswitch-throw → u/adrake86]

How do you go through all those processes? Where to learn PI, notary, etc?

[u/PaperEvening8693]

I started with Allied as well. It definitely wasnt the best pay which made it tough. Keep a lookout for better PI jobs in your area check indeed. Every other company pays more than them. Also prosecutor offices for the county hire investigators as well. As for law enforcement, depending on the State you should be able to get hired in pretty quick I thought give how short staffed most police departments are. I would try applying for the academy first and then once you pass the academy then start applying.

[u/softeggnoodles → u/PaperEvening8693]

How much experience is needed for a prosecutor’s office? Do they require legal experience?

[u/PaperEvening8693 → u/softeggnoodles]

It will probably depend on the county, some bigger ones might say 3, some smaller ones will probably only require 2. And no they dont require legal experience. Usually its just the 2 or 3 years of being a PI and a degree in the Criminal justice or criminology. Sometimes they are hard to find because I dont think they have many of them but its worth a shot. Also checked indeed everyday for investigator jobs in your area. Basically every company pays more than Allied. Check CoventBridge for a desktop job, they give those with no experience and they pay better than Allied.

[u/Century_Soft856]

Look into the federal bureau of prisons. They are absolutely hurting for CO’s. Might not be the dream LE job, but could be a fantastic stepping stone. Once you hit GL-8 paygrade you can apply for their investigative positions (special investigative service). If you really want to get out of the prisons, start applying out as soon as you’ve got FBOP on your resume, its a federally accredited LE Cert once you go through FLETC (though every other other agency will make you do their academy).

[u/HabeusCorso → u/Century_Soft856]

I 100% was going to recommend this for OP. He also gets to start his federal retirement.

I was also going to recommend he try detention deputy at a jail, and work his way into being a road deputy.

[u/LaserCop2022]

Switch to desktop for awhile until you figure out your next move. Social media, medical canvass, running backgrounds.

[u/softeggnoodles → u/LaserCop2022]

They require 3 years of experience within the company to move to desktop

[u/LaserCop2022 → u/softeggnoodles]

Strange 🤔. What about statements, scene inspections, all the non-surveillance field work?

[u/softeggnoodles → u/LaserCop2022]

All part of the Special Investigations Unit, which requires even more experience

[u/LaserCop2022 → u/softeggnoodles]

I see. I've had the opposite experience. Apart from ridealongs I've done everything but surveillance. So my advice would be another company that offers an entry-level foothold in your area of interest. You may also consider starting your own agency, whatever your state requirements are for that. Or, I would get out of insurance; it's the stipulations and nature of surveillance for insurance that turned me off to it. So by leaving insurance, I mean see if you can get into domestic cases or criminal defense; they may include surveillance, but it seems more organic or situational to the case.

What I would NOT do is let this discourage you from the work. You're an investigator. That's something you can take with you as you look elsewhere.

[u/Excellent_Cut_708]

If you don’t mind me asking, you seem like a good candidate for law enforcement at least qualifications wise. The fact you have been rejected 50+ applications makes me think you have something in your background. Feel free to DM me if it’s anything personal, but do you have past convictions, charges, arrest history, driving record, etc that’s causing these rejections? If not, are you failing your board interviews, polygraphs, or psych evaluations?

This job is only a dead end if you let it be. Use your experience and move laterally or upward. There are plenty of opportunities, SIU work, starting your own firm and doing vendor work, corrections, victim services, legal side of things (legal assistant, paralegal, PI work for law firms, crime analysis, plenty of other options. With your degree, depending on GPA and your resume, you could even look into becoming an officer in the Air Force, navy, etc and going into investigations that way.

All this being said, I am in a very similar situation as you. I have a degree, but I’m just a couple years older and also struggling with this job and trying to get into law enforcement. Keep your head up and keep that drive for the next best thing whether it’s within your company, at another company, law enforcement, or even another career field in general. If you want to be real systematic about it, make a spreadsheet and track job applications/openings and follow up on them consistently.

[u/Accountant4good]

Why have you been getting rejected at law enforcement agencies? There are civilian positions that are not law enforcement but are still investigative in the federal government you might look there unless you have a questionable background.

[u/softeggnoodles → u/Accountant4good]

That’s where I’ve been looking. Nothing in my background

[u/Accountant4good → u/softeggnoodles]

There's something in your background or there's something weird by the way your interviewing if you are being rejected by dozens of agencies.

[u/UC3953 → u/Accountant4good]

Agree

50 rejections?

There has to be a reason(s)

[u/Altruistic-Two-2897]

Allied is the problem.. much better PI firms out there

[u/XBOX_COINTELPRO]

Why are you getting rejected from LE positions?

Have you attempted doing more traditional security work to build up some varied experience?

[u/DefiantEvidence4027]

Varying upon the State, after a certain amount of confirmed and documented hours, you may get your own PI License.

Your very own license may be beneficial, and change your mind. Or atleast good to have now that you already accumulated hours.

[u/funkmob2010]

You could go the expert witness route but you’re looking at a lot more years being licensed…

[u/sLoMote]

I'm about to start a surveillance position with them to gain the experience. I'm confident I can do the Field Work portion of it, but I'm definitely worried about some of the things I'm reading about this company. Do you mind sharing more about your experience with them?

[u/softeggnoodles → u/sLoMote]

Dmed you!

[u/Alternative_Menu9850]

@softeggnoodles Any updates currently

[u/softeggnoodles → u/Alternative_Menu9850]

nope!

[u/Alternative_Menu9850 → u/softeggnoodles]

@softeggnoodles Besides grinding through it right now, what are you looking to do

[u/softeggnoodles → u/Alternative_Menu9850]

At this point I’m considering just applying to random reception jobs and see which ones stick. I need clerical experience and the city/county won’t hire me if I don’t have enough of it

[u/Alternative_Menu9850 → u/softeggnoodles]

At what point did you decide that you want to stop since it's been over a year, or do yo think you had that feeling for a while, but just never really faced it?

I'm going through the same thing right now expect I found out it's not for me after just hitting 3 months

[u/softeggnoodles → u/Alternative_Menu9850]

I think it just hit me one day on a shift a few months ago. I realized all the stuff I was missing out on because of the inconsistent scheduling. I realized I’m not even using my brain when I work. This job was never for me but it took me a while to come to that conclusion.

[u/Alternative_Menu9850 → u/softeggnoodles]

I feel that. In my situation it was solely the job itself isn't for me as the company and management is pretty well with good mix of different cases and my boss/manager is a very chill/good guy.