When we first enter the workforce, our choices are limited by our lack of education and experience. At times we take meaningless jobs so that we can earn the money to attend college and get a degree or to gain the experience we need to advance to something better. We learn pretty quickly that the work we do has value to someone else even if it doesn’t give us personal satisfaction other than a paycheck, but earning money coupled with the opportunity to do relevant important work is the best way to find success in life. If you are looking for a job that will bring you fulfillment because you are making a difference in the lives of other people, then private companies that are now hiring security guards are looking for you.
You probably already know that a security guard protects people and their belongings in various ways and by using methods that include foot and vehicle patrols and monitoring surveillance cameras. This may seem simple enough but because literally anything can happen, training is essential, but it’s not enough on its own. Having the aptitude and the desire to do the job according to the highest standards is what gives an applicant an edge in getting a job and guarantees his or her success in the future.
So, what are these qualities and skills that security guards need to have?
- Paying attention to detail –noticing anything out of the ordinary might tip you off to a problem or help you solve a crime. Security guards are also required to submit detailed reports regarding their shift activities.
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Being alert –you must be able to keep your focus when you are doing the same thing for hours at a time.
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Communicating effectively – both oral and written skills are important. You must communicate respectfully as well as authoritatively.
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Being honest – looking the other way to protect someone else or yourself or lying about the way something happened is unacceptable.
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Being physically fit –you can’t complete foot patrol duties or defend yourself or someone else from an attack if you don’t have the necessary strength and stamina.
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Using common-sense – doesn’t just mean doing the right thing at the right time. It means being sensitive enough not to say something offensive to a victim, a coworker, or a supervisor.
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Being a team player –anyone who does this job needs support from coworkers, dispatchers, supervisors, and even police officers at times.
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Being able to think critically –you will have to evaluate circumstances quickly to neutralize a threat or anticipate that someone might need medical assistance.
The California Safety Agency is now hiring security guards. We operate in Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, and Orange Counties and provide services to apartment complexes, gated communities, and businesses for on-site security and parking lot enforcement. If you’ve got the passion and the drive we’re looking for, visit our careers page to see our job openings and to apply.