MockQuestions

Investigator Mock Interview

To help you prepare for your Investigator interview, here are 40 interview questions and answer examples.

Investigator was updated by on February 18th, 2022. Learn more here.

Question 1 of 40

Tell me about your most challenging criminal investigation.

The interviewer would like to know the types and levels of investigations you have been a part of in your career. If you have some years of experience, this question will be simple for you to answer. Be prepared to give an overview of the situation, the most significant challenges, and how you overcame this in the end. If you are new to your career, speak about what you believe will be the most considerable challenge ahead of you. Be prepared to discuss how you plan to overcome the situation.

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40 Investigator Interview Questions & Answers

Below is a list of our Investigator interview questions. Click on any interview question to view our answer advice and answer examples. You may view six answer examples before our paywall loads. Afterwards, you'll be asked to upgrade to view the rest of our answers.

  • Behavioral

    1. Tell me about your most challenging criminal investigation.

  • Behavioral

    2. How do you withstand the ethical dilemmas associated with this unique type of work?

  • Behavioral

    3. How do you react to an increase in your investigative workload?

  • Behavioral

    4. How do you handle the stress and pressure of being a criminal investigator?

  • Behavioral

    5. How do you react when the outcome of a case is discouraging?

  • Behavioral

    6. When an investigation suffers a setback, what is your initial reaction?

  • Behavioral

    7. What is your weakest characteristic, and what are you doing to improve on it?

  • Direct

    8. Our agency performs a thorough, pre-employment background check on all candidates. What is the worst thing that will show up during your background investigation?

  • Direct

    9. This position requires random drug testing twice a year. Do you have an issue with random drug testing?

  • Direct

    10. Some cases require you to work long hours. Do you have an issue working long hours when needed?

  • Direct

    11. Occasionally, our investigative team will travel to pursue evidence or a suspect. Do you have an issue with traveling when needed?

  • Direct

    12. Are you a trustworthy person?

  • Direct

    13. Are you able to communicate with people from all walks of life?

  • Direct

    14. Are you able to work with minimal supervision?

  • Direct

    15. Do you have much experience testifying in court?

  • Discovery

    16. How perceptive are you?

  • Discovery

    17. How do you stay current with changes in this industry?

  • Discovery

    18. Do you have formal training in interrogations?

  • Discovery

    19. What do you like to do in your free time?

  • Discovery

    20. Why did you choose to become a criminal investigator?

  • Discovery

    21. What makes you a stand-out criminal investigator?

  • Discovery

    22. What are your long-term career goals as a criminal investigator?

  • Discovery

    23. In three words, how would you best describe your investigative style?

  • Discovery

    24. As a criminal investigator, clear documentation and reporting are critical. How are your written communication skills?

  • Discovery

    25. What would your coworkers say about your attention to detail?

  • Discovery

    26. What is the worst thing a previous supervisor could say about you?

  • Discovery

    27. What do you find to be the most difficult part of being a criminal investigator?

  • Discovery

    28. For you, what is the most rewarding and motivating part of being a criminal investigator?

  • Discovery

    29. What qualities should a good criminal investigator possess?

  • Discovery

    30. How will you build rapport with your fellow investigators?

  • Education

    31. Have you taken any courses in reading body language?

  • Education

    32. Tell me about your post-secondary education, and how it relates to your career as a criminal investigator.

  • General

    33. What can you tell me about our organization?

  • General

    34. This concludes our interview. Do you have any questions for me?

  • General

    35. What are the core responsibilities of a criminal investigator?

  • General

    36. What do you know about our community and the criminal activity present here?

  • Leadership

    37. Do you consider yourself a leader?

  • Operational

    38. What methods do you deploy in order to properly read people and behavioral indicators?

  • Situational

    39. Think about a difficult superior or fellow investigator. How did you successfully interact with this person?

  • Situational

    40. Tell me about a time when you made a tough ethical decision.