It's a tough life being a security guard. You never know what you're going to face from one day to the next. But despite the challenges, it's also an enriching career. Not only do you get to help keep people and businesses safe, but you can also grow in education and income. In this article, we'll take a look at what it's like to be a security guard and how you can make the most of your career.
As a security guard, you play a vital role in the safety and security of businesses and individuals. Your job is to maintain order and protect people and property from harm. This could involve performing preventative patrols, responding to emergencies, or providing customer service. No matter your day-to-day duties, it's essential to maintain a professional attitude and a critical mindset. One of the best things about being a security guard is that you never know what challenges you'll face. Every day is different, and this keeps your job interesting.
One of the biggest benefits of being a security guard is the income potential. In most cases, your income will depend on your experience and education level. However, with hard work and a clear plan, it is possible to grow in several directions.
If you're looking for a career that is interesting, challenging and offers income potential, then becoming a security guard may be the perfect choice for you. With the right attitude and dedication, you can make great strides in your education and income. So what are you waiting for? Start building your career plan today!
Your Income
Income should not be the goal of your short-term plan. Income is the result of your plan. Companies hire and pay based on problems that you can solve.
For example, an entry-level security position in Alberta, Canada, often starts security guards at $15-17/hr. The primary problem being solved is that staff needs to fill a team and a foundation person to perform essential patrols and response. By contrast, if you are working as a security supervisor, your role may include the primary guard duties and staff scheduling, performance evaluations and client relationships.
As we can see, the changes are minor and often feel like additional training and education are not required. Yet, this observation often creates a gap in communication and expectation. It would not be easy to staff a security shift if you were unaware of the common types of interactions required. For example: Let's say an office downtown during the day needs high-level customer service, but the same building at night may require a high level of first aid due to overdoses.
Your Education and Training
There are many choices when it comes to your professional development. At SCOPE Safety & Security, we help you with part of the journey, but having a relationship with the International Federation of Protection Officers and ASIS can go a long way.
If you are starting off within your role as a security professional, the recommendation is to have a solid foundation. This would include Report Writing, First Aid, Non-Violent Crisis Intervention. If you discover that you want to grow in a specific area, you can build your First Aid up to STOP THE BLEED and Tactical Emergency Casualty Care
Your Next Step
Building a plan towards a career path that can help you reach your goals is a simple process.
Identify a program within a job posting or organization you feel you can solve
If your current skills can help you solve the problem, then adjust your resume and interview method to clearly identify you have a solution to this problem.
If your current skills do not match the solution required, this is a great opportunity for employment growth and seek out an education opportunity to help you achieve this step
If you are with a security company already, you could as for a meeting to discuss your career goals and explain that you are committed to a path of education and practice.
Once you have found yourself in a position to solve a problem, It is recommended not to ask for more money right away, but to seek out more opportunities for experience.
Once you have enough experience to effectively demonstrate you can solve this problem, you can discuss income options or seek out externally new employment options.
You can start this plan today, All you have to do is ask the right questions and build your plan. Good luck and feel free to contact us if you would like more help and support.