Security Guard Job Hunting Tips

These tips will help you land the best possible security guard jobs. If you follow all the steps and take it seriously, you will be considerably ahead of other officers in your community looking for work.

1. Get your guard license. Regardless of where you live, if you do not have a guard card, you cannot work. Almost all states require some level of certification.
2. Become clear on what kind of security guard job you want. If you don't care, and just want to work, that's fine. However, remember that during your interview you can very likely be asked what kind of environment you want to work in, so be prepared to answer.
3. Make a list of local security guard companies in your city. An easy way to do this is visit a search engine and type in 'security guard companies' and then the name of your city. Numerous guard companies should come up.
4. Get a resume and cover letter together. If you need help with it, then get help. If you lack security experience, that's fine, but put something together. When you apply for a job you should always offer a resume and cover letter, even if you lack a lot of experience. (note: one way to get security experience and build your resume is to work event security. The hiring standards are typically much lower than for full time employment. If you work a few events, you can include that guard experience on your resume. Each event is really a different job. It's a fast, easy way to build your resume. Go to any job listing site and type in 'event security. They are always hiring.
5. When you are ready to visit security guard companies, be well-dressed, in a suit and tie, or conservative dress or pants suit if you are a woman. Be very polite, even to the secretary.
6. Include your resume with your application. Make sure your application is legible and accurate. (Note: there are many articles and books on interviewing well. This article is not devoted to it, but it's essential to learn good interviewing skills.)
7. Give a firm handshake and make eye contact with whoever is interviewing you. Listen, don't talk. Answer questions directly. Be formal. Say "Sir" or "Mam" when you address them. What they are looking for more than anything are officers who have good customer service skills. The best security guard jobs require polite, respectful officers.
8. After the interview is over, be sure to check back with the guard company. Even if they didn't hire you, positions come and go all the time. Let them know that you are available.
9. Apply to as many security guard jobs as possible, especially if you are new to the business. Don't wait for the best security job to come your way. Take what is offered while you keep looking. This secret is the really the best. Because you build your resume.
10. The highest paying security guard jobs are, generally speaking, these jobs:

             a) Private protection (you typically need an armed license and be over six feet).
             b) State and government jobs (these are great jobs with many benefits, but there's many qualifications and a lot of testing, usually).
             c) In-house security. If you can find large companies in your area who hire their own security guards, apply. They typically pay more and have better benefits (note: visit a
 library if you need help locating this list. Most librarians will assist you. Tell them you are trying to get a list of large companies in your area that may hire their own security staff).
             d) Ask around. Meet other guards. Share information. As with anything, the more informed you are, the better.
 
If you want to learn more about what security guard companies are looking for visit their career or job sections on their websites. Most have them. Here's an example for security guards in Los Angeles.

This entry was posted on Thursday, February 24th, 2011 at 4:39 pm and is filed under Security Guard Jobs. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.