Do You Have What It Takes?

call my book Rent-A-Cop Reboot because that’s what needs to be done with the way we think about private security professionals, especially guards. We, including many of the guards themselves, must reboot the way we view the essential service security guards provide.

Paul Blart: Mall Cop was a fun movie, but security guards can quickly find themselves in serious life-or-death situations. For example, in July a security guard in Tacoma, Washington, was brutally killed by a member of the Army. Memphis security guards have recently made news for both killing and saving lives.

Security guard training and certification requirements can vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, sometimes making it hard to get a good start in the business. But as I say in the video above: Don’t stop going after the career of your dreams, in security or any other field. The world may need you.

When it comes to security, the world definitely needs it provided by people who are ready, willing, and able to provide high-quality services. Are you one of them?

Here are 3 questions to ask yourself:

• Are you committed to learning? The best guards regularly read the policies, procedures, and regulations of their companies and work sites. They also study ways to improve their performance, and they stay informed about the people and communities they serve. You never know when your knowledge, training, and instincts will come together to serve you on the job.
• Are you a good communicator? Security professionals do their best to make sure they are understood, when speaking or writing. Ask yourself a question you’ll find on Page 9 of Rent-A-Cop Reboot: “Can you make sure the person you’re speaking to hears your care as much as your command?” If you must approach someone on the job and you immediately boss them around or act aggressively, then depending on the situation, your communication style may not be right for this work.
• Are you willing to practice? You can improve your communication skills, and other skills you need for security work, with practice. Ask a seasoned security professional, supportive manager or colleague, or an honest friend, to help you assess your skills. Based on their feedback and what you know about yourself, find resources that work for you—books, magazines, videos, training courses, etc.—and practice the appropriate skills.

I hope you think you’ve got what it takes to succeed as a security professional. Dig a little deeper with our quick quiz, here.

If you don’t want to make security a lifelong career you can still get a lot out of it. Security helps you fine-tune valuable professional skills such as showing up on time, customer service, and earning a professional credential. Plus, since shifts are often available 24-hours a day, 7 days a week, there are many opportunities to make money. This is especially true as you get more experience and let people see your professionalism. But, never work just for the money. Find something about it to love.

I love the private security industry! It has made it possible for me to keep people safe, know my strengths, and run a business. In other words, live my dreams. What are your dreams? Whatever they are, some part of the security business can help you turn them into reality.