We all learn from school how important research is. Research, in a nutshell, is a scientific process of gathering information that is found to be beneficial and of important use to a certain study we are making. Now, we might ask ourselves, does research also apply in real life? Will the things we have studied at school be of help to us in the real world, or will it remain to be highly theoretical?
One of the most notable pieces of evidence of how research works in real life is skip tracing. This is the most-known process of gathering information which includes location, persons in contact with, email address, phone number, and other useful data about missing persons of high interest. The common scenarios this process is being utilized is when a debtor goes missing, a fugitive seeks to hide and has a very big bounty placed, and on some occasions, when a journalist gathers information in the creation of a narrative for his or her news.
In this article, let’s discuss the importance of skip tracers, how they can be of help to us, and the do’s and don’ts of the process.
Skip tracers are highly skilled individuals trained to do research that involves missing people. When we talk about missing people, these are not just the usual missing people we find in news, but usually, skip tracers are interested in locating people of value who are faced with lawsuits due to many reasons. To name a few, people who are facing debts and fugitives who are hiding. If you are having a hard time and are faced with the task of locating someone who’s like these people, a skip tracer can be of big help.
Now, we all know how hard it is to look for a person, right? Especially when this person is hiding due to some liabilities but skip traces can do the dirty job on our behalf. Let’s now talk about the do’s and don’ts of skip tracing, since it is also very important to note how the entire process works.
- A skip tracer should be knowledgeable about research involving computer literacy.
Yes, you have heard it right. To become a good skip tracer, one should know how to do desktop research as he or she will be working intensively with data that can be sought from the use of the Internet. It’s not just the basic computer skills we’re talking about here, it’s more of a specialized skill of research specifically targeted to gathering information for the specific purpose of locating a person.
- A skip tracer should have a clear record and should not have been involved with any crime.
This is basic for skip tracers. As these people will be working with legal officers which involves the gathering of information targeted to some fugitives on some occasions, they should really have a clear criminal record to be credible enough for the job. In the United States and some areas of the world, a license should be acquired first by skip tracers to be employed on the said job. That is why if you are a skip tracer, don’t ever involve yourself in any crime.
- A skip tracer should not have any mental condition that will hinder in performing the job.
Like any other professional work, a good and balanced mental health condition is an utmost priority, especially for skip tracers. People with a medical history of drug abuse and liquor addiction are not allowed to be employed as these issues might hinder them from performing their tasks properly and because they will also be working with the police. If you are a skip tracer, never ever be involved in any drug-related activity and don’t abuse your alcohol intake because these will gravely affect your work.
- A skip tracer should know how to handle situations properly in the process of investigating and gathering data.
The main goal of all skip tracers is to locate the person they are looking after. It is undeniable how challenging the entire investigation process might be, so skip tracers should have the mental capacity to handle things and are trained to interact with different types of people especially when they are collecting debts from debtors that are being sought after.
- A skip tracer should be persistent.
The nature of the skip tracer’s job involves a lot of research, and we all know how toxic it might get, especially for some people who leave no track. In these scenarios, skip tracers really have a hard time locating and gathering the information needed, that is why persistence should be practiced by skip tracers all the time.
Indeed, these are just some of the do’s and don’ts of becoming an effective skip tracer. Lastly, like in any other job, honesty and perseverance should also be present to be successful.
