Not Another Tools List: Let’s Talk OSINT Skills

We briefly touched on skills in Where in the OSINT World Do You Belong?.
I consider this another vital part of the journey.

Why?
There are several things I believe are not talked about enough. Early in my journey, I focused mainly on the Collection phase and finding every bit of information — thus, neglecting some of the most important skills.

Note: Depending on your industry and job duties, your needed skills may vary.
For example, if you're working within a law office, you need to be aware of the terminology used and how to navigate court databases.

💻 Technical Proficiency
This will vary depending on your job, but you need to be able to gather information online. Many people have asked me if they need to be technical to be an analyst — that depends on your definition of “technical.”
I would HIGHLY recommend basic IT and cybersecurity knowledge.

In the field:

• Using tools like Maltego or Spiderfoot to map connections.
• Understanding IP addresses or WHOIS data when researching domains.

🧠 Creative Problem Solving
You need to be able to problem-solve and think outside the box.
This is also where you start connecting the dots.

In the field:

• Using Pinterest boards to find where someone wants to travel next.
• Using historic street view to confirm a photo's location.

🔄 Adaptability
You need to be able to adapt to changes — especially as you’re analyzing the information gathered.

In the field:

• A client suddenly wants a deeper dive into a subject you didn't prioritize.
• Learning a new tool on the fly during a live investigation.

🗣️ Good Communication Skills
This includes both verbal and written.
You need to be able to communicate effectively with your team.
You also need to be able to communicate your findings in a non-technical way to your stakeholders. Who does the report go to?

In the field:

• Writing a short executive summary that tells a busy lawyer exactly what they need to know.
• Writing an internal team update that outlines next steps clearly.

⏳ Time Management (not my favorite — but necessary)
I would love to say that you can spend countless hours on a project.
I wish! The reality is that we can’t. We need to prioritize and manage our time effectively while conducting our research.

In the field:

• Setting limits on "lead chasing" so you don't get sidetracked for hours.
• Breaking a large report into sections and assigning soft deadlines to each.

🕵️‍♀️ OpSec (I’m sure some of you will disagree)
Depending on your research, you need to remain anonymous.
You may need to use sock puppet accounts, VPNs, virtual machines, etc.

In the field:

• Creating unique email/phone combos for each alias so they can't be tied together.
• Checking your digital footprint before conducting sensitive investigations.

🔍 Curiosity
This is what got me here.
The WHY? This skill will keep you determined to find the answer — if there is one. (Sometimes there’s nothing. But that’s for another post.)

In the field:

• Reading through forum threads to understand how a community communicates.
• Looking at old socials media bios because people often forget to update.

👥 Social Skills (not everyone will agree on this one)
I personally think it’s important to network and build relationships with others in the field. This can also make or break your team.

In the field:

• Collaborating with another analyst to double check your findings.
• Joining an OSINT community to learn from others.

📝 Report Writing
You need to be able to clearly communicate your findings.
Yes, I touched on it under Good Communication Skills, but this deserves its own heading. I wish more people talked about the importance of analytical writing.
You get all excited about all the findings you had — and now you have to professionally spin up a report for the client.

In the field:

• Writing with your reader in mind.
• Making a timeline of activity that a non-technical person can understand.

What I’ve Learned (So Far)...
These skills take time to develop — and that’s okay.
You don’t have to master them all at once. Focus on one or two, keep learning, and remember: every case, challenge, and rabbit hole is helping you GROW.
No two analysts take the same path — and that’s what makes this field so unique.

💬 Now I’m Curious...
Which of these skills do you want to build next?
Drop a comment below or share this post with someone who’s exploring their own OSINT journey.