Coburn Investigative Agency interview questions

I actually read the review by the other poster who described the interview as a long arduous process prior to applying and interviewing with the company, but ultimately, it was something that I wanted to do, so I went ahead and applied and I have to say, the process was pretty helpful to me. The first interview described the pay structure, the benefits, basically it was set up to provide me with information about how everything worked in order to see if I still wanted to pursue the career. This interview was done over the phone and couldn't have been easier. After my continued interest, they set me up with another interview with the VP and operations manager. They did indicate, as the previous reviewer had said, that the job was very gruelling with long hours and inconsistent hours as your following someone who may or may not cooperate with your plans, but it wasn't like they were rude about it. They said that through the years, they've lost a lot of people who couldn't deal with the hours, so they make it a point to emphasis to new candidates that its problematic for a lot of people who aren't committed to this field. I felt like it was an extremely good interview, and that they actually were looking out for their current team, to ensure they can keep a small company, family environment. After that interview, I was scheduled for a ride-a-long, which was amazing, I am so glad that they do this. Basically, I rode with an investigator during a day of surveillance. We met near my house at 6 in the morning and drove to be on the case by 7am. Our target was active and went to a restaurant in the morning, then a supermarket and then returned home. After that, he never came back into view so the investigator worked on his report in the car while talking to me about the job. I couldn't imagine a better way to show someone who thinks that they are interested in the career field, just what you should expect. We left the target's residence at 3pm, and the investigator took me back to my vehicle and we were done. The investigator did explain that there are days when you aren't working from 6-2 or 7-3, which is what they're most typical routine is, but that usually, it's not common to be out for an incredibly long day. He also explained that when you do have an incredibly long, say a 12 hour day, the management staff tracks your hours and gives you extra time off, to get you to around 64 billable hours each pay period. After my ride-a-long, I talked to the VP again on the phone, and was hired. In all, 1 phone interview, 1 in-person interview, 1 ride-a-long, then a call to ensure I still wanted the job. Its a longer process than most places I have worked for sure, but I see how it is to protect both the company and their staff, as well as ensure the candidate has a complete understanding of the role they are asking to be hired for. I couldn't have been happier with how everything was done, the people are great, especially the other investigators. It really is a family environment.

Interview process is exhaustive. First you do a phone interview, then a Skype interview, then a ride-along, then several more in-person interviews with several people at once. The entire time they claim how difficult the job is and how terrible the hours are but even when I said that that was no problem do to my occupation in general, I was used to it. Initially I was declined after making it all the way to the end after I showed up for an interview and they said that the pres & vice pres & director of ops was called away to a meeting. Then I was called back up to another city after they had already told me that I didn't get the position. At the final interview the vice pres kept grilling me about why in the world I would switch careers at this point. That threw me for a loop but I kept thinking that who was this guy asking me about switching careers when he was an attorney who decided to stop practicing and open up a PI firm? Anyway, all said and done these guys are a disaster waiting to happen. They act very immature, at least that's what I saw throughout the entire process. Ultimately I was happy to not be hired by the agency.