Published on: 30 September 2021
Last Updated on: 10 January 2025
Is Business Services A Good Career Path In 2021? In terms of career opportunities, it is difficult to beat business services.
An individual with a business degree can provide valuable skills to accountancy firms, banks, non-profit organizations, corporations, and other domains.
When choosing any career path, you should deliberately consider all the aspects of that particular career path and then decide whether you are willing to take the same in the long run or not.
Business professional is one of the most flexible categories of employment, offering many work opportunities and environments.
However, business services can be a good career path if you are determined to this service and willing to continue the same in the future.
Is Business Services A Good Career Path In 2021
According to the research, there will be more than six lakhs of jobs for business services by the end of 2024. Today, it is worth discussing different business services career choices that are available.
So, the answer to your question “Is Business Services A Good Career Path?” is Yes. It is because you will find many career options in this path.
Some of the entry levels jobs in business career paths are Accounting Assistant, Management Analyst, Operations Research Analyst, Assistant Buyer, Sales Representatives, and Financial Analyst.
Even the entry-level jobs in the business services are very high. Therefore, you can imagine how much experts or high-level, experienced individuals are paid for the post.
Top Reasons Why You Should Start A Business Career
You should carefully consider what the top aspects of business careers that can offer you in the long run are. Now, it is not possible for everyone to work from 10 am to 6 pm in the United States.
Thus, some of the major reasons why you should consider business services as your career path are listed below:
1. You May Have The Opportunity To Retire Relatively Young
Unlike jobs, you have the excellent opportunity to retire relatively young in business careers. Those individuals who do jobs retire in their fifties or late forties. Actually, the high salaries in jobs enable individuals to work long hours.
On the other hand, in business services, you are the owner of your own job. There is no one above you to give you any pressures or targets that you need to meet at the end of the month. You can also retire at your own will. This is the benefit of choosing a career in the business path.
2. Business Careers Give Many Opportunities For Advancement
There is no doubt that business careers give many opportunities for advancement. This is actually an opportunity to challenge yourself and also other millennials of your age.
You may always like to do the work as you want and not how others put pressure on you to do the same. This way, you get to improve more than in the job career.
3. It Is Easier To Switch To A Different Job Mid-Career
Another reason why business services is a good career path is that it is easier to switch to a different job mid-career if you aren’t satisfied with the work you are doing.
The skills that you have acquired in business can be useful to other industries. This makes it easier for you to adjust to the areas you are interested in.
4. The Opportunity For Specialization Is High
Yes, the opportunity for specialization is high in business service careers. You will have many services to specialize in if you enter into a business studies program.
The best advantage of business service is that you are not tied to a particular field for a long time. Leaving a job becomes difficult because you have many bills to pay and meet your needs.
A career in business gives you more flexibility than any other career. It is because you have the right to make any decision, unlike careers in jobs. You will understand the benefit of this when you will meet with experienced individuals in the same field.
The Final Verdict
I have tried my best to answer your question, “Is Business Services A Good Career Path In 2021?” The above-listed reasons will help you to understand the same. However, if you come across any doubts, don’t hesitate to mention them in the comment section below.
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Your company’s onboarding process is the start of a new working relationship between you and your employee. Whether or not your new employee succeeds and feels a part of your team can depend somewhat on this process. The onboarding process is the way your employee can see how business is conducted at your company. It is also an opportunity for you to get to know your new hire and have your working relationship off to a good start.
Start Slow:
While it is entirely natural to want to have your new employee working as soon as possible, it is best to allow your new hire to warm up to the environment. Give the new employee breathing room. Take the process one step at a time to avoid the beginning of employment being completely overwhelming.
Have a Plan:
Have a documented onboarding and training plan even if you only have a few employees or small business. Be clear about your expectations. You can make updates to the program as needed. As your company grows, you will be able to determine if portions of your plan need tweaking. Make the necessary changes as needed, but keep it in writing, clear, and concise.
Conduct Training for the Onboarding Process:
Train the employees who will be conducting the onboarding. They need to have critical points for explaining expectations and other processes. If possible, keep one person in charge of the onboarding process.
Do Something to Make Your Employees Feel Welcome:
Let your new employees know that you feel fortunate to have them with your company. Encourage them to give their input on individual decisions. A welcome email or a company mug will go a long way to let your new hire feel wanted in the company.
Make Your New Hire Feel at Ease:
Take steps to ease any anxiety or uneasiness your new employees might have. Ask your other employees to give them a warm greeting. Introduce your new employee to everyone on your team. Personalize the experience as much as possible. Give your new employee a company roster so other employees can be easily contacted. Have your employee's workstation set up, and, encourage your other employees to introduce themselves.
Make the Experience Interactive:
Gamification works great with human resources and new hires. This will keep your new employee engaged during onboarding. LinkedIn, Bazaarvoice, and Rackspace is excellent for utilizing gamification and bringing new employees up to speed on company culture.
Help them to Be Clear about How to be Successful:
Help your new hire to understand your company’s goals. Let them see their own key performance indicators. Give them an overview of the promotion process and the resources provided to help them.
Familiarize them with The Target System:
Security procedures and features should be introduced to your new employee right away. Provide them with the domain name and IP as well any other information they might need to access files needed or the online workplace. Answer any system questions or concerns your new hire might have. Provide adequate training for your system.
Conclusion:
If you implement an excellent onboarding system, your employees will trust you, feel comfortable with you, and they will do an excellent job for your company, which, in turn, will be helpful to you.
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When you hear the term "detective," you might think of the fast-paced, well-groomed characters from television series. True detective work demands extreme patience, rigorous investigation, and unwavering ethics; it is very different from the glamorous portrayals in the media. The process of solving cases can take months or even years, during which time a lot of time is spent sifting through files, documents, and photos.
On top of that, solving cases may expose investigators to potentially dangerous people and situations. Notwithstanding the difficulties, though, working as a detective can be fulfilling because it offers the intense sense of accomplishment that results from cracking cases and giving victims closure.
Despite the overlap in their areas of expertise, private investigators (PIs) and police detectives are two different professions. Police detectives usually obtain investigative experience through their work in law enforcement and become detectives as a promotion through the agency. This is according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS 2022).
At work, they might interview witnesses or suspects, look through documents, gather and meticulously record evidence, write reports, watch subjects at work, secure crime scenes, obtain arrest warrants, assist in apprehending offenders, and also testify as experts in court.
In contrast, private investigators, or PIs, are citizens who usually require state licensure. They gain experience in obtaining legal, financial, and personal information about their clients through surveillance and background checks. They also participate in missing person tracking, snooping for hints in documents, and speaking with relevant individuals. Detectives can focus on corporate malpractice, insurance fraud, computer forensics, and other areas.
There are a hoard of professional courses you can do, and your scope is equally varied. Keep reading to learn about the salary detectives draw and the qualifications, training, and personality needed to enter this field. Here is everything you need to know about how to become a detective.
Skills To Become a Detective
Most prosperous detectives are inquisitive, meticulous, and diligent. Perseverance may also be crucial because solving crimes isn't always a straight line or a quick process. The Bureau of Labor Statistics states that the following abilities are critical for successful detective work:
Communication skills: When speaking with witnesses, victims, and possible offenders, detectives need to pay close attention to what they are saying, ask the right questions, and be aware of nonverbal cues.
Decision-making skills: Detectives need to be able to make decisions quickly and calmly, especially when someone's life is in danger or when acting quickly can lead to the discovery of information that can help solve a crime.
Curiosity: Skilled investigators possess an innate ability to solve puzzles and can consider potential reasons behind a crime as well as determine the means of commission.
Perseverance: As mentioned earlier, solving a crime can take several months or even years. Crimes go unsolved occasionally, turning into cold cases that may be reopened years later, particularly with the development of forensic technologies like DNA testing.
Resourcefulness: Although detectives always need to be quick on their feet and adhere to protocol, they also need to be able to solve crimes by using their intuition and the resources at hand.
How To Become a Detective?
There are several ways to become a detective or private investigator (PI), but they all involve a consistent mix of classroom learning and real-world investigative experience. If you want to know how to become a detective, then this is one standard way:
Step 1: Complete your four years of high school
At this point, prospective detectives are advised to cultivate critical thinking, deductive reasoning, and inductive reasoning. To obtain practical experience in the field, some students might look for volunteer opportunities. They can do it through their local police departments, community organizations, or federal agencies.
For instance, high school students who are interested can enroll in the FBI's week-long Future Agents in Training (FAIT) program. Similarly, eligible high school and college students can apply for the Pathways Internship Program offered by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).
Step 2: Complete degree program in criminal justice, criminology, sociology, or related field
Many police academies require at least some college to qualify. Whereas some police academies may be able to accept prospective police detectives directly. Eileen Carlin is a state coordinator for Rasmussen College's School of Justice Studies and a 20-year law enforcement veteran. According to him, most departments prefer detectives with two- to four-year college degrees.
Step 3: Complete a police academy and gain investigative experience
The next step for someone who wants to work as a police detective is to enroll in a police academy. This is an option that can be more profitable than working as a private investigator (PI).
The qualifications for a police academy differ depending on the department and area, but applicants must be US citizens, be at least eighteen years old, have a driver's license, have never been convicted of a felony, and have some college experience.
Note that most state as well as federal agencies require a minimum of four years of undergraduate study. Typically lasting six to eight months, police academy programs provide specialized training in the use of firearms, patrol procedures, ethics, self-defense, writing reports, CPR and first aid, physical fitness, and emergency response.
Aspiring detectives can enhance their resumes by pursuing advanced training and responsibilities in investigative units after graduating from the academy. Homicide, surveillance, fraud, cybercrimes, financial crimes, and missing persons are among the different investigation branches.
Step 4: Private investigator's (PIs) licensure and on-the-job investigative experience
Prior to receiving a license, private investigators frequently need to have investigative experience gained through on-the-job training. Before being issued a license to operate, a prospective PI must first fulfill the eligibility standards of their home state, pass an exam, and finish additional state-mandated requirements. The number of hours required for this type of work varies depending on the state.
After receiving their full license, the PI may choose to focus on specific investigation fields, such as litigation support, insurance claims, cybersecurity, and criminal investigations. An online resource for investigators, Pursuit Magazine (2022), notes that 46 states (as well as certain cities) require a license for private investigators to practice, and it offers a useful table of state-by-state private investigator licensure policies.
Step 5: Police detective exam for professional certification
Both private investigators and police detectives can obtain certifications. For investigators with a focus on criminal defense or negligence, the National Association of Legal Investigators (NALI) offers the Certified Legal Investigator (CLI) credential.
Candidates for the CLI program must pass an exam with a minimum score of 70%, finish a 1,000-word research paper on investigations, and have at least five years of full-time experience (or qualify through appropriate academic coursework). Every three years, CLIs must complete 50 hours of continuing education (CE) to keep their certification.
For investigators who specialize in security, ASIS International offers the Professional Certified Investigator (PCI) certification. Candidates must have five years of investigative experience (two of which must be in case management) and a high school diploma to be eligible. People's knowledge of case management, investigative techniques and procedures, and case presentation is tested on a 140-question exam.
Step 6: Local credentialing
State-specific requirements may differ for becoming a detective. The procedures to enter the state's detective division may differ as well. Because most states have distinct standards for becoming police officers.
Generally, some police departments only accept a GED or high school certificate. Others demand a two- or four-year college degree, as well as certain college courses. For instance, you need a high school degree or GED to work in the Los Angeles Police Department Detective Bureau. Here, the first promotion after completing officer training is detective or sergeant.
However, candidates must have completed two years of military service or 60 college credits to be considered for employment with the New York Police Department. Candidates from Dallas, Texas, between 21 and 44, must have a 2.0 GPA and 45 semester credits (college-level).
In contrast, candidates in Miami, Florida, must obtain a GED or a high school diploma and pass the Florida Basic Abilities Test (FBAT), a law enforcement exam. To put it briefly, state requirements for becoming a detective differ greatly. Moreover, it is advised that prospective candidates check their eligibility by contacting their local government offices.
Institutions to Consider
When you are looking for more details regarding how to become a detective, the consequent thought to follow it up is which are the top colleges and universities offer the relevant courses. Here are some premier institutions that you should check out.
California State University
A Bachelor of Arts (BA) in criminal justice is also offered by California State University in San Bernardino (CSUSB). It combines structured coursework in criminal law and statistics in criminal justice. It also has correctional counseling with beneficial research and internship opportunities.
Graduates from this program will be well-versed in the criminal justice system, how it functions, and how laws, as well as law enforcement, affect society.
The program, which is worth 120 credits, consists of classes on topics like criminal law, research methodologies in criminal justice, statistics in criminal justice, police and police systems, theories of correctional theory and institutions, crime and delinquency, police and police systems, and criminal investigations, among other things. If you are seriously looking for the answer to how to become a detective, then CSU is your top bet.
John Jay College of Criminal Justice
Many respectable undergraduate degrees with criminology, criminal justice, and criminal justice management majors are offered by this institution. Students can pursue a Bachelor of Science (BS) in criminal justice program. They will receive specialized training in constitutional law, police and community relations, and the law and politics of racial relations. It lays special emphasis on institutional theory and practice.
The 120-credit program comprises courses like:
Drugs, Crime, and Law in Latin America
Police and Urban Communities
An Introduction to Corrections
An Introduction to Police Studies
Criminology
Community-Based Approaches to Justice
Police and the American Criminal Justice System
Pennsylvania State University
Penn State Harrisburg School of Public Affairs and Penn State World Campus have partnered to offer an online associate in science (AS) degree in criminal justice through Pennsylvania State University. Through this program, students will acquire the abilities and information required to start or progress in a variety of criminal justice and social services careers.
The 64 credits that make up the program include the following courses among others:
Criminology
Policing in America
Courts and the prosecution process
Corrections in America
Introduction to ethics
Race
Ethnicity
Culture
Statistical Analysis for the social sciences
Research methods in criminal justice
Graduates of this program will be prepared to work in the legal and correctional fields, protective services, security management, social services, court administration, and other related fields, serving both public and private interests.
How To Become a Detective: Specializations?
Depending on the county as well as the state, police detectives may be able to choose a specialization within their detective division. Additionally, because of compliance regulations and technological advancements, ongoing training might be required. Certain departments might also conduct ongoing research, design, and implementation of improvement strategies. This is done to improve the caliber of their investigative methods and procedures.
Some of these specializations or divisions, which are typically headed by lieutenants, captains, or commanders, are listed below:
Homicide and Robbery: Detectives assigned to the Homicide and Robbery unit will concentrate on cases involving murders, suspicious deaths, kidnappings, and robberies.
Forensics: This section examines the digital and tangible evidence discovered at crime scenes.
Juvenile: Investigators work on cases involving minors, including those involving child abuse and exploitation.
Gangs and Narcotics: These detectives deal with violent street gangs and the use and distribution of illicit substances and weapons.
Commercial: In addition to auto theft, commercial crimes can also involve fraud and cases of forgery.
Technical Investigation: Financial crimes and online crimes against minors fall under the purview of this investigative division.
Detective Support and Vice: This division deals with pornography, animal abuse, human trafficking, missing people, and hate crimes.
Special Victims Unit: Also known as SVU, these detectives investigate violent crimes against adults, including sexual assault, domestic abuse, and crimes against children.
How Long Does It Take to Become a Detective?
In general, there are many different routes to becoming a police detective. But it can take five to eight years to advance from police officer to detective after earning a high school degree or GED. The BLS (2022) states that to become a detective, a person must complete high school or earn a GED. Most will do so by earning an associate or bachelor's degree in criminology, criminal justice, sociology, psychology, or a similar discipline.
Moreover, passing physical exams, background checks, and other requirements is necessary for prospective officers to be considered as competitive applicant in a police department. Candidates may occasionally attend a police academy to receive additional training after being hired as police officers. Academies differ in duration depending on the department, city, and state. Basic police training takes place in Portland, or, for 16 weeks, while it takes place in San Jose, CA, for 0 weeks.
In addition, prospective detectives need to work as police officers for at least three years after completing a police academy to be promoted to detective. Officers who want to advance in the police department must pass exams and/or review their service history.
How Much Do Detectives Earn?
It's crucial to remember that four of the states with the highest salaries in the US also have the highest cost of living. To illustrate the point, the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center (MERIC 2023) discovered that among the top fifteen most expensive states are Alaska, the District of Columbia, Maryland, Hawaii, and Washington. In contrast, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, and Alabama were the five states with the lowest cost of living.
Ultimately, over the next ten years, job growth rates for private investigators and police detectives are anticipated to be comparable. For example, in 2022, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicted that employment for police investigators (BLS) would increase by 3% and for investigators (PIs) by 6% between 2021 and 2031. This growth is almost equal to the average growth predicted for all occupations during that period (5%).
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS, May 2022) makes a distinction between police detectives and private investigators. First, the following salary ranges were reported by the 32,050 private investigators and PIs in the United States:
Annual mean wage: $59,400
10th percentile: $33,710
25th percentile: $38,360
50th percentile (median): $52,120
75th percentile: $75,740
90th percentile: $92,660
In comparison, the salary ranges reported by criminal investigators and police detectives were significantly higher (BLS May 2022):
Employment: 107,400
Annual mean wage: $91,610
10th percentile: $47,990
25th percentile: $61,240
50th percentile (median): $86,280
75th percentile: $110,530
90th percentile: $150,570
Additionally, there's good news for Americans who want to work as federal agents nationwide: coastal states are home to the highest-paying states for criminal investigators and detectives (BLS May 2022):
District of Columbia: $133,890 annual average salary
Alaska: $128,410
Hawaii: $119,290
Maryland: $117,800
Washington: $110,620
If you were thinking about how to become a detective, the salary should be enough to push you towards achieving your target. It is a highly rewarding job, both morally and financially.
Wrapping Up
People who want to work in law enforcement and make their communities safer or who just have more questions about becoming detectives should check out the criminal justice degree programs offered by the various universities across the states.
If you want to serve your community and the nation at large, becoming a crime investigator in any capacity is very rewarding. If you have thoughts to share or questions to ask about how to become a detective, please leave a comment below. We would love to hear from you!
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An average person spends about 90,000 hours at work. These hours are equivalent to one-third of a person’s life. During this time, there are higher chances that an individual will meet new people at work. There are also chances that an individual would want to make friends with their colleagues.
Making or not making friends with co-workers can be an individual preference as both decisions come with an array of advantages and disadvantages.
Being friends with your co-workers has been proven to help increase job success. At the same time, many strongly believe that people who work in a toxic environment should avoid making friends with colleagues.
The question arises: should you be friends with your co-workers or not? If you want to know, read on.
Job Satisfaction
Undoubtedly, many people spend most of their time at work, which is tiring. That is why many people try to diversify the working process with friendly relations.
Findings have shown that when people make friends with their co-workers, it helps increase job satisfaction. Moreover, it helps perform better at different designated tasks and can motivate people to want to take part in other projects.
Making friends with co-workers can bring higher morale, so you are always motivated to perform at your best. You will want to show more commitment to your work and the organization as a whole.
Your colleagues will always motivate you whenever you feel down or tired about a specific task. Even when you are off from work, they can always cover for you, especially when you have an unfinished project that is due.
Mutual Trust, Care, And Respect
Beyond discussing workplace-related matters, there is more to getting along with your co-workers. Think about a nice time after work hours.
Spending some time at the cinema or doing outdoor activities at the weekend can positively impact your friendship. You can enjoy a better work relationship by asking each other questions freely, discussing ideas, and solving issues.
Indeed, the friendship you build at your place of work can sometimes last for a lifetime whether you remain in the organization or not. A workplace friendship built this way will create more respect, trust, and care. You would always want to check and look after each other.
According to the Australian Institute of Management's poll, good relationship with co-workers is an integral part of finding friends for a long time.
Read Also: 7 Fun and Simple Outdoor Activities for Your Child Under Ten
Employee Engagement
Friendship with co-workers can be a great way to increase employee engagement. Seeing a close friend who is busy with tasks assigned to them can motivate you to engage more.
This is backed up by a workplace study by Gallup in 2012 where employees who worked in the same place with their close friends admitted that seeing their best friends at their workplace helps them engage better in the working process. When workers became more professional at work, they ignored friendships.
Psychological And Social Support
Findings have shown that women are more enthusiastic about making friends at their workplaces to get emotional and social support whenever they are stressed.
Men, on the other hand, want to make friends with co-workers that will benefit their careers. They also want to make friends to help them finish pending tasks or job duties whenever they arise.
If you have friends at work, you feel happier and more supported which results in the improvement of your psychological state. You can always ask for help or advice, or just tell something that is bothering you.
If you want to make friends at work but do not know how, find phone numbers or emails of people you work with. You can do it on Nuwber, BeenVerified, or AnyWho. Try to find their social media accounts and send them a nice message.
Why Should You Not Make Friends With Your Co-Workers?
Too many benefits lie in making friends at the workplace. However, you may also be doing more harm than good if you do not know how to handle being friends with people you work with. Here are some reasons why workplace friendship may not be good for you.
1. Fallout Can Be Unpleasant
To be honest, if you prioritize socializing with your friends at the workplace over your office duties, your work process will suffer and may lead to unproductivity.
You will make a smart move if you do not mix personal interests with office duties because when the friendship hits a rock, the outcome will be negative.
What if you divulge career-related information to the wrong person? The outcome may be more terrible. It may take a toll on your emotional being and overall wellness.
If you do not make friends with your co-workers, you will not have an emotional attachment to gossip at the workplace. You will not be concerned with unnecessary discussions or workplace politics.
You can then focus better on assigned tasks. Do not forget that you can always enjoy your job even when you are not closely related to those you sit with within the cubicle.
2. Co-Workers Can Question Your Motives
This is another reason why being friends with your colleagues is not worth it. In some cases, if you have a good rapport with your boss, co-workers may accuse you of being a favorite worker, especially if it is related to being promoted. This is why it is often better to remain neutral and not build strong friendships.
Every step you take becomes suspicious and co-workers may use anything against you that may cost you your promotion, especially if you have gossiped about your boss in the past.
3. Jealousy May Set In
There are chances that you will have one jealous person among your fellow employees. Take, for instance, if you are someone that loves nice wear.
Others who have no taste in fashion may think you are trying to stand out. Even if this does not relate to the way you dress, jealous colleagues will not hesitate to hate you for anything when you are doing well.
Conclusion
Making friends with your colleagues can be good and at the same time something that should not be worth considering. In most cases, it is best to stay neutral. However, both decisions come with pros and cons.
When you decide to think about whether to make friends at work or not, compare all the benefits with the drawbacks and make your choice.
Additionals:
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