Security Guard Training
Skills needed for security guard jobs.
If you're wondering about the skills needed forsecurity guard jobsthen welcome to my life! I'm responsible for hiring security guards regularly and have worked the field, myself, too many times to count. So you can imagine that knowing what skills are required to do the job is a matter of course.
In order to break it down you first need to know the various kinds of security work there is available. The duties and responsibilities for one security guard may differ dramatically from another. The two types of security guards that exist are in-house and contract security guards.
In-house security guard.
This is a situation where a company's security is part of it's own staff. You may see these types of security guards in hotels, casinos, and large manufacturing companies where a great deal of the stock is kept on site. The duties of the security staff in these locations may involve surveillance, patrols (indoors and out) and internal investigations.
The important thing to remember with in-house security is that you're likely going to be at the same place every day, unlike contract security. As such, it is a good idea to familiarize yourself with every aspect of the location you're responsible for. If surveillance is part of your job description than learning where your blind spots are is key. These are areas that are out of the field-of-view of camera's and staff. Find out the hot-spots, or areas that are most susceptible to crime. Common examples of hot-spots would be side windows of buildings (of which are vulnerable to vandalism, breaking, or access points to the building) or the meat and cosmetic isles in a grocery store.
In-house security is usually responsible for internal investigation. Taking some advanced courses on interview techniques and learning the common methods of internal theft will serve you well in this case. Learn about the staff working at your location, but in an objective fashion. By this I mean: find out their habits and associations while trying to avoid building personal relationships. You may be put into a situation where you have to take legal action against them... a task much harder to perform if you have a friendship.
Remember that while everyone else is there to make the company money, you're there to prevent loss to the company. For this reason, customer service should not be a focus as much as learning the ways to talk to people for the purposes of getting information. By all means, you may have a problem if you're outright rude, but every aspect of the job requires fact-based reporting. You are going to be talking to witnesses, lawful authorities, and management. Obviously, you don't need to make sure that these people's 'customer satisfaction' is met.
Contract security guard.
A contract security guard is hired by a security company and worked on a contract basis to clients. The duties of these guards are similar to that of an in-house guard with some differences. Although they may request access to surveillance in the event of an issue, it is very unlikely that they will be responsible for surveillance as their primary function. Also, internal investigations are usually handled through management and/or a private investigator if a company has contracted their security out. Foot patrol and mobile (vehicle) patrol are common duties of a contract-based guard.
Quite in contrast to an in-house security guard, a contract worker may not be working the same place from day to day. Depending on staff availability, how many temporary contracts come in, and the time of year the same guard may be switched to multiple locations. Health and safety training, security training, and common sense are factors in this case. Know your job, make sure that you're putting your safety before everything, and be in constant communication with your co-workers. Advanced radio communications, combat training, first aid, and health and safety training may be required or recommended for these guards.
Customer service is a factor for a contract guard. While a company has hired an in-house guard strictly to see it's loss prevention numbers balance, a security company does have a motive to obtain further contracts and retain it's existing business. You would still be associating with lawful authorities and management staff working this position but you're also dealing with the public and the clients themselves. It may be an idea to fine tune your people skills and maybe take some customer service related courses.
Usually unique to contract-based security guards is the mobile patrol unit. You will be required to check multiple locations throughout your city for parameter checks and perhaps and internal inspection of the building. A primary function of this job is alarm response. Learning the different kinds of alarm signals (burglar, fire, failure to close, motion), various alarm panel configurations, and proper protocols would be an asset to you. Obtaining your alarm responder licence may be recommended or required. Knowing the layout of your city is more important, obviously. Advanced driving training may also be required.
Regardless which type you choose, there are skills needed to be a security guard of all kinds. Observation techniques, radio and phone etiquette, report writing, notebook maintenance, and familiarizing the general bylaws of your jurisdiction will be crucial to your job advancement.
