1. Low pay for the work - this may be the lowest paying job that one can have where you could be arrested for not doing your job correctly.
2. Unrealistic stats that take the humanity out of the work - you will be expected to make certain stats based on both quality and quantity of work. This makes you rush your work. You haven't been able to get in contact with anyone because they won't answer your calls? Too bad, your stats will suffer. You drove all the way into the city, parked for $20, and then the guy you're interviewing turns out to have called out sick that day? Too bad! You won't get ANY credit for that. Attempts do not count. Go in for an employment record and it turns out the record is located across the country? That attempt DOES NOT REFLECT IN YOUR STATS.
3. Requirements change almost weekly. It's difficult to keep up because once you're hired, there is hardly any training to speak of.
4. Some of the software is DOS-based and belongs in a museum. They don't care whatsoever about user interface. Good luck being able to remember how to navigate every inch of those programs because you work alone, so no one is there to help you.
5. There is no room to move around. If you're a BI, you can move to a level 2, 3, or 4. Don't expect anything else. I expressed that I wasn't happy in my current position and inquired about other positions in the company. They told me that I'd have to apply externally like the general public. This is because the company doesn't give a hoot, if you haven't caught on so far.
6. This work is BORING. You hardly investigate anything. You basically go to your meeting, rattle off all of the same old questions, write down people's answers, and type your report. There is no freedom to chase leads or look into certain issues as with criminal investigators. This is an administrative position, point blank.
7. They won't say anything when you're doing well, but will come down on you when your stats aren't met.
8. Vacation time is worthless. You might be able to scrounge up a couple weeks off over the year, but remember that your vacation time will reflect in your stats, so if you take a week off, your stats will suck.
I could go on. These contractors prey on recent graduates and people in their 20s who see that they'd have the title of "Investigator" and federal credentials and start dreaming of FBI-level investigations. And CACI will make it seem exactly that great. The truth is that this job is for the birds. I don't know a single investigator who has stuck with the job for more than 3 years. It isn't coincidental. If you can't find any other job, then consider working as an investigator. But there is nothing notable, no redeeming quality, about this position. I don't know anyone who "loves" this work. The vast majority of us tolerate it until something better comes along.
