With a growing number of elderly people choosing to stay in their own homes for as long as possible rather than moving to the unfamiliar surroundings of a residential care home, there is a growing need for people to work in the live-in care sector.
If you have been considering a career as a live-in carer, then you may be wondering exactly what soft skills will be of benefit to you in the role.
Here we look at exactly what constitutes a soft skill and the skills that will really be effective to someone working in the live-in-care sector.
What Is A Soft Skill?
When it comes to the skills that are needed for any job people understand the need for the relevant professional and industry-relevant skills.
These are skills that can be gained through training. However, when it comes to soft skills, some people are not exactly sure what this means.
Soft skills, sometimes referred to as core skills or common skills, are a group of skills that are transferrable from one profession to another.
They include things like problem-solving, teamwork, leadership, a professional attitude to work, communication and listening, and a great work ethic.
They are the sort of skills that everyone has to some degree at the start of their career and are improved over time with experience learned in any role.
Here are the soft skills we think are essential for those considering working as a live-in carer.
Top 4 Soft Skills You Will Need As A Live-in Carer
1. Communication and listening
A huge part of the live-in-care role involves providing companionship to the elderly person.
The ability to listen to a person’s opinions and wishes and respect what they have to say will go a long way towards helping to foster a trusting and caring relationship.
This will allow the elderly person to feel comfortable and secure. Communication is a key skill that is not only needed when talking with the elderly person, but good communication skills are essential when accompanying them on appointments with the doctors, opticians, etc.
The ability to retain and then clearly communicate any instructions given during appointments can make all the difference to the person being cared for.
2. Organization
The role of a live-in carer is a varied one and requires a good degree of organization in order to help deliver the appropriate care plan for the elderly person.
This may mean ensuring that medications are taken on time, appointments are attended, and even that trips to regular social activities take place as scheduled.
For many elderly people, a strict routine can really help so it is important for a live-in carer to be organized enough to follow this.
3. Caring
The ability to care for someone is a soft skill that not everyone is suited for. Being a live-in carer takes dedication and compassion, putting the considerations and needs of another before your own.
4. Patience
Being able to handle any situation without becoming frustrated and potentially distressing the elderly person you are caring for is also a vital soft skill.
If you think you have the soft skills required for work as a live-in carer, why not consider it as a career. You could certainly get job satisfaction from ensuring your care charge is safe, well, and comfortable as they age.
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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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Working out of necessity is what mostly everyone can relate to; working because you love your job is rare. If you are looking for a change, a different job, something that makes you feel useful and joyful, you need to research the company before you apply.
If you research a company through an online site like Hush, you will get to know many things about that business. You will learn about the salaries as well as the office hours and what is expected of you as an employee. Best of all, research will give you an idea of whether you will fit in and like the position or not.
Below are 5 useful tips to help you research a company before you apply there. This could help you find your dream career.
1. Go to The Source
When researching a company, always go to their website. This is where you will find the "About" section. Read this part carefully as it will tell you how the company came into form and why.
You will want to read the "Who-is-Who" section of the website as well. You don't have to commit any of this to memory, but you should know who the top people are in the company you want to work for.
Also, read over the “Mission - Vision Statement” because this is where you will find out what the company stands for and why.
2. The Company's Competitors
When looking at a company you are considering applying for, look at their competitors as well. Unless the business is so unique it has no competition, there is always another company who is doing the same thing.
You would want to know the reason behind the opposition so you can discuss possible ways to improve the business if you get the job. Knowing what others are doing and either doing the same or better, is always a plus to the bosses.
3. Network
Find an employee list and see if you know any of them. If you do, great, you can talk to them and ask how they like the job and the company. If you don't know any of the employees, ask your friends and family if they know anyone who is working there or had worked at some point.
Talking to former and current employees will give you an "insider’s" look at how the company treats their employees. If you live in a smaller town, you could find an employee much easily. Getting a firsthand account of the working conditions allows you to make more informed decision on whether or not you want to work at this company.
4. Business Reports
Not every company is featured in a nationwide magazine, but a lot of cities have local business magazines. Check at the public library, or online, and find out if the company you are researching has ever had an article written about them.
Even the local newspaper could have a write-up or two about the company you are considering. Try to find any and all media, both good and bad, about the company to help you make a better decision about working for them.
5. Charity
Through the company's website, you may be able to discover if they support a certain charity. A company that shares its wealth is worth taking a second look at as a possible employee.
Armed with information, you can wow the interviewer and hope to become the next employee of the month.
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Is your event more complicated than just choosing a venue, booking speakers, and making invitations? Do you have vendors to coordinate with or staff members to manage? If so, then event management software might just be the thing you need to take some of the weight off your shoulders. And while there are many options on the market today, this blog post will show you why event management software is the best choice for managing your events.
Registrations And Ticketing Were Made More Straightforward
A significant advantage of using Event Management Software is the ability to register attendees quickly and conveniently. The most important part of this process is collecting the proper information, so Event Management Software offers several ways to register. Event Management Software lets you add attendees directly from your website. They also make registration available on mobile devices such as smartphones. In this way, you can check how many people have registered and in what time frame.
Event Promotion Through Multiple Channels
Event planning is a business-to-business industry, so a single person or team cannot meet every meeting. Organizing an event often requires several organizers in various locations throughout the country or worldwide, so coordinating multiple people can be time-consuming and expensive.
Many event planning software programs help organizations organize, book, and track many events, which means fewer people on staff who need to manage the event. If your company is a local business, scheduling meetings at a time and place that best fits your employees’ schedules is precious. Having to coordinate meetings for a group of people in different locations is also a hassle that could be eliminated with the help of an event management software program.
Timesaving And Cost-Friendly
Event management software can be cost-effective to ensure that your events are well-organized and that everything runs smoothly. Rather than assigning individuals to every task involved in running your event, you can instead choose the right software that can take care of everything you need it to.
Easy To Manage And Confirm Attendees Attendance
With cloud-based event management software, you don’t have to spend hours or even days looking for an attendee. With software for event planners, you can just quickly go into the settings section, look up your staff member by name, and update the attendance by number. If there is an issue, you can simply click an email link, notify all parties and go on with your day!
It Is Simply Scheduling Speakers For Your Event
Event planning software that allows you to schedule speakers before the event is beneficial. If you can’t afford to pay a professional speaker but still want to meet the deadline, you can just use one of these cloud-based event management apps. Just sign up for the app and create a speaker profile and then browse for and select the appropriate speaker.
Conclusion
Event management software assimilates multiple event planning tasks in one place. Every aspect of your event is in the hands of the event planner. Event planners simply require one orientation, and they quickly take it over from there. Event software can be handed off to several vendors at almost half the cost of the time. It saves up time and money for the event planners.
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