Security Career Advice
The private security industry is a multi-faceted field. Most people think of the guard in the lobby when the subject of security comes up. However, there is much more to a career in the security industry.
I've been involved in the private security industry for nearly 13 years in one form or another. I started out as a security guard with a private security company. I've moved into various leadership and supervisory positions. I've also worked as a loss prevention agent and currently work as a loss prevention investigator. There are a variety of options for people interested in security as a career.
The first thing to know is that security guards are not police officers. They have no more power to arrest someone than a private citizen. Security guards are required to be licensed in the state they work in. Generally, security officers must be at least 18 years of age with no felony convictions. There are also training requirements that vary by state.
In the private security industry there are basically two types of security, contract security and proprietary security. Contract security generally involves a private security company that provides security services to clients in exchange for fees. Proprietary security generally involves a security department that exists within, and is a part of, a larger organization.
The most visible aspect of either contract security or proprietary security organizations is the security guard or security officer. People often ask if there is a distinction between "guard" and "officer." The only real distinction is what term the employer chooses to use; their duties are generally the same, so the terms will be used interchangeably. The basic function of a security guard is to ensure the safety and security of a client. Guards do this by maintaining a presence, thus acting as a deterrent to crime. Guards maintain a presence either by patrolling an area of the client's property or by staffing a fixed post. They will control access to a facility by ensuring that only people authorized to be on the client's property are allowed. They may also conduct inspections to make sure that the client's property is not being stolen or vulnerable to theft. If an incident occurs, their primary duty is to observe and report. This means that they will act as professional witnesses, gathering as much information as possible and reporting this information to their managers and clients. Depending on the nature of the incident the authorities may also be notified. Guards may also have first responder duties in the event of a medical emergency; if so, they will have the appropriate training.
Working conditions vary for security guards. An officer may be required to stand at a fixed post outside a building in inclement weather or sit at a desk inside a luxury office building. Officers may be highly paid if the position has a high degree of public contact, a great deal of responsibility, and/or has significant training or experience requirements. More often than not, entry-level security officer positions are relatively low-paying jobs.
While there is a wide range of working conditions, there is generally one thing they all have in common: unpredictable schedules. There may be some assignments where officers work a set schedule, but there are many more without a set schedule. Even assignments with a set schedule may require flexibility in their officers due to changing staffing needs, special events, or incidents with a significant impact to the client's operation. Officers may also be called while they are off duty asking them to come in at a different time or go to a different assignment. There are also security positions called "rovers." Rovers have no permanent posting and receive their assignments either weekly or daily.
A subset of private contract security is special events security. These are generally handled by companies that specialize in providing security services for special events. An officer working in this field will generally have no permanent location to work at. Oftentimes the officer will call the office at the beginning of the week to see what assignments are available, what they pay, and what the schedule is, then selects the desired assignment(s).
Loss prevention is another specialized form of security. Loss prevention refers to the efforts made by an organization to prevent losses, either by providing security, performing audits, and/or conducting investigations. Loss prevention agents (also sometimes referred to as asset protection agents, loss prevention officers, store detectives, etc.) are most commonly used in retail environments. Their most visible role is apprehending shoplifters, though there is much more to their work than that. They also investigate employee theft, detecting fraudulent transactions, and, most importantly, ensuring the safety and security of employees. There are also loss prevention investigators who conduct more complex investigations, such as dealing with organized retail crime or the diversion of merchandise meant for stores.
Once the proper training and a sufficient amount of experience has been gained, a security officer/loss prevention agent may want to consider career advancement opportunities. In both arenas there is the possibility of either further specialization or moving into a management position. For example, someone with experience as an officer in special events security may want to move into executive protection (commonly referred to as "body-guarding," though that term is not favored by professionals in the field). A loss prevention investigator may specialize in dealing with counterfeit merchandise. Another example in specialization would be training and development, where the officer becomes certified to train new officers or provide advanced training for more experienced officers.
The management track can also be a rewarding path to follow. Security management can range from being a shift lead at a client location to the CEO of a multi-national security corporation and everything in between. Even at the lowest level, management is responsible for ensuring that their subordinates are performing their daily job duties, maintaining standards, and meeting the contract requirements (if working for a contract security company). At higher levels managers may be responsible for schedules, budgets, recruitment, or training.
Regardless of which branch or field of the security industry you're interested in, there are several things you can do to improve your chances of achieving your goals, in no particular order:
• Develop excellent communication skills in person, in writing, and over the phone• Develop excellent customer service skills• Build a base of general business knowledge• Seek out learning opportunities, either on-the-job or through outside schooling• Don't be afraid to seek out help from peers, subordinates, or superiors• Maintain a professional demeanor
The private security industry is an important component of the larger business environment and offers a diverse range of opportunities; a security career is what you make of it.
