Every security guard who’s worth their salt puts a premium on continuous learning and skills improvement. To be fully prepared for a post you’re eyeing, you need to stay fit and keep abreast of the security and safety practices. Equipping yourself with the right knowledge and skills required by the job will keep you ahead of the competition.
If you’re vying for a security guard post, here are some tips to help you get the job and be the best at what you do.
- Learn self-defense techniques.
Wherever a security guard is assigned, they should be prepared to respond to safety risks at all times. Security guards must have the capacity to defend themselves and the people around them in dangerous situations, being mentally and physically prepared when an incident happens.
Early training, learning Judo or mixed martial arts (MMA), and employer training are a few ways security guards can learn how to protect themselves from criminals. They should be able to take immediate action and be prepared to defend the safety of the area they’re guarding.
It’s always a possibility that security guards may encounter a gunman or someone armed with a knife. There may also be a time when they get confronted by an attacker who’s much larger than them. In these cases, knowing self-defense tactics can help them tackle the situation.
- Get fit.
Regular exercise primes your body to be prepared for any physical challenges that come with being a security guard. It’s great for your health as well. Guards who are fit give the impression of being stronger and more trustworthy than security guards who are out of shape.
Body weight and isometric exercises are among the best exercises for security guards. You can easily squeeze them into your schedule (even in long duty hours). Below are examples of these exercises:
- Push-ups – Vital exercise for upper body strength training.
- Planks – Trains the core strength and upper body strength without using any equipment.
- Hip raises – Targets posterior muscle chain (from the erector spinae to the lower part of the hamstring muscles).
- Wall sit – A great isometric exercise that trains leg endurance.
These exercises also strengthen the joints, thus preventing injuries.
- Be in the know of the happenings in your community.
Security guards must also have an idea of the latest happenings in their community. Keep up with news on crime incidents or missing individuals in and around your area/s of assignment. You can prepare for unexpected events when you have sufficient knowledge and background information, allowing you to manage an incident or extend help to someone in your community.
- Develop the key attributes of a competent security officer
Whether you’ll be working at an office building or a mall, it will be your responsibility to be vigilant and protective of your clients. On top of this, you need to hone in on the following attributes to be considered for a security guard post:
- Alertness – A competent security officer is always attentive and aware of what’s happening in their surroundings. It’s essential to stay focused at all times and eliminate distractions when you can to prevent missing anything that could be important.
A guard who doesn’t exercise alertness when on duty might overlook something that might put other people’s lives in jeopardy, or possibly miss out on spotting a criminal in action.
- Honesty – Security guards are expected to be honest as they are responsible for securing access to buildings and ensuring the safety of a business against crimes (especially theft). A dishonest security guard might place the company at risk.
This is the reason why security companies conduct thorough background checks on security guard applicants to make sure they are clear of any dishonest activity or criminal history.
- Rationality – Besides mental and physical toughness, a security guard also has to be rational. The job requires critical thinking and reasoning and guards need to analyze situations in a rational manner. Should a threat arise, you need to identify if before it happens and carry out the right action to address it.
- Good communication skills – Another important attribute security guards must possess is the ability to communicate effectively, be it verbally or through writing. Clear and courteous communication is crucial in maneuvering a tricky situation. It also allows the security officer to do correct and accurate documentation of important incidents that take place in the building, including the facility’s status by the end of their shift.
- Able to serve clients’ needs – Security guards must be sensitive to the needs of the clients and have a keen attention to details. They also need to have the ability to obey post orders. In many cases, every security guard is assigned a post he’s tasked to man. And at every post there will be specific instructions based on the clients’ needs. It’s important for guards to be able to understand instructions and deliver their duties before assuming their posts.
- Quick reflexes – Security officers must have quick reflexes as problems can happen at times you least expect. Being able to respond quickly as they arise is necessary to protect the people and keep places safe.
- Value for life – As human beings, security guards must have a genuine respect and value for life. Underneath their tough and serious exterior should be a patient and understanding spirit.
- Get trained.
Like other professionals, security guards learn skills when they undergo training. This is important so they can obtain a Ministry-issued license. Additional skills are learned during the training program conducted by the company that hires them. If you’re an aspiring guard enrolled in training at a company or taking the Ministry mandated training, be sure to take as many notes as you can.
Note taking and acquiring new skills are in themselves skills that you can master. Several security companies are now investing in advanced technology and equipment to help guards perform their roles better. Security guards who can pick up training at a faster pace stand out from the competition.
You can expand your skill set by attending workshops and seminars. Try to brush up on your knowledge about the security industry and learn more about the best security practices. Employers are more interested in candidates who exude real interest in the field. The more knowledge you have, the more equipped you are to manage various situations in the field.
Be trained by the most trusted security training facility in Toronto
If you’re looking for the best security training school in Toronto, you’ve come to the right place. The Centre for Security Training & Management Inc. (CSTMI) is a landmark training facility specializing in professional protective services and private investigator training for over 22 years.We have trained thousands of students who have gone on to get their security guard and private investigator licenses and obtain employment in the security industry
CSTMI is registered as a Private Career College. We offer several unique courses that educate and train security guards and private investigators with instructors that are subject matter experts. Let us help equip you for the future. For inquiries, call us at (416) 750-4747 or 1 (866) 297-0003. You can also send us an instant message by filling out this form.