Security Officer careers do not always require extensive education, but they do require plenty of on-the-job training, as well as some important personal qualities. Security Officers should be:

• Honest
• Reliable
• Physically fit and healthy
• Confident in order to handle confrontation when necessary

They should have good judgment and the confidence to exercise their judgment without supervision.

Applicants to Security Officer careers may often be required to undergo background checks before gaining employment. In most cases, anyone with a criminal record that includes felonies may be excluded from these types of careers. Background checks for applicants to Homeland Security careers are particularly rigorous.

Airport Security workers and Security Guards and Offers do not typically require more than a high school diploma or GED in the way of education. However these jobs usually require extensive on-the-job training as may require a variety of tests including aptitude and language proficiency tests.

Surveillance Managers and Homeland Security Officers will benefit more from extensive experience within the field than a degree; however opportunities for career advancement to the Management level are much better for applicants with a relevant degree such as Criminal Justice.

Depending on their employer and level of expertise and experience, Security Guards and Officers, Airport Security staff and Homeland Security Officers may earn $25,000 to $50,000 or more. Training Specialists who work in the administrative capacity have excellent salary opportunities, with the potential to earn up to $90,000 or more.

Those who work as Security Officers should find that opportunities for obtaining work and career advancement are plentiful, as there is a high rate of attrition within this field. The outlook for Homeland Security and Airport Security work is particularly good due to the increasing awareness of the possibility of terrorism and the increased focus on national security in America.

A Security Officer Trainer is typically involved with training new Officers and Guards for other companies who employ security workers. Depending on their own special area of expertise, they may train security workers in the use of firearms and other weapons, the use of CPR and First Aid, the use of security equipment, vehicle and foot patrol and surveillance skills, report-writing, and other aspects of security work.

A Training Specialist should have excellent communication and interpersonal skills, and have the ability to teach and train a wide variety of personality types. They should be very knowledgeable about the aspects of the work they teach, and should also have a good broad knowledge of areas that they might not specialize in.

In a slightly different capacity, highly experienced and knowledgeable Training Specialists may also work within larger law enforcement agencies developing and implementing training programs. This type of work is more administrative and less hands-on, as in this capacity the Training Specialist does not train and teach new security workers.

The Department of Homeland Security employs law enforcement officers who may be members of one of several different agencies, such as the US Secret Service, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, US Coast Guard, and Customers and Border Protection. Homeland Security workers may work on land, at sea, or in the are, as part of local, state or federal law enforcement agencies. Officers may be involved in patrolling the country’s borders, working in Airport Security, or work in law enforcement.

Homeland Security work encompasses a wide array of areas including emergency and natural disaster management, law enforcement, and information security. In addition to working as Security Officers, Homeland Security workers may be scientists or computer technicians, or any of a large number of different professions.

Homeland Security Officers should have good communication skills, be physically fit and in good health, including vision and hearing. They should be able to exercise good judgment without supervision, and should also be able to work well in a team. Honesty and integrity are also very important personal qualities for Homeland Security work.

Security Officers are involved in maintaining the security of the building in which they work, as well as the safety of the building’s employees when applicable. They are charged with ensuring that no illegal activities occur on the building or grounds. Security Officers may be required to carry out regular foot patrols on the building or grounds, or work in a control booth to monitor surveillance systems and alarms.

The role of the Security Officer may differ depending on where they work. In department stores, Security Officers are employed as Store Detectives who prevent theft of goods or money, while in banks they may be required to maintain order during working hours as well as protect the building after hours. In high-security buildings and offices, Security Officers may be required to inspect people who enter and leave the building.

Wherever they work, Security Officers are typically required to be in good health, physically fit with good vision and hearing, and should have the ability to remain alert at all times. They should be ready to handle unexpected situations and confrontations at any time, including those that might become dangerous.

Airport Security workers may have a variety of different duties depending on their special area of expertise. Some Airport Security staff are involved in monitoring controlled-access areas such as airfields to restrict access to the area. They may be involved in screening people and luggage for items that are not allowed to be taken on board an aircraft, or inspecting cargo for the presence of dangerous goods or items that are illegal to transport in or out of the country.

A Customs Inspector is involved in a similar line of work, inspecting cargo and luggage for the presence of illegal items or items which people may be attempting to smuggle in or out of the country. Immigration Inspectors inspect passports of those entering the country to ensure that people who arrive are legally allowed to enter.

Airport Security workers should have excellent observation skills, high attention to detail, and should be able to remain alert at all times. They should have good communication skills, and good hearing and vision.

Security Guards are responsible for ensuring the safety and security of the people and the building within which they work. They are there to protect the building and to ensure that no criminal activities are carried out in the building and grounds. Depending on their specific duties, they may patrol the building and grounds periodically, or work within a control booth and monitor alarm and closed-circuit TV systems.

Security Guards may also work within a large department store to protect against theft of merchandise and money, in parking lots to prevent car theft, or in banks and hospitals to maintain order. Their duties are typically related to their place of work. For example, in high-security buildings they may inspect people and items entering and leaving the building.

Security Guards should be physically fit and in good health, be able to remain alert for long periods of time, have excellent vision and hearing, and be ready to handle unexpected situations that might potentially become dangerous.

Surveillance Managers, often employed by casinos, are responsible for coordinating and managing all aspects of security for the building or company for which they work. This may include hiring and training new members of staff, evaluating employee performance, liaising with other staff members and departments, creating security operations protocols, and preparing reports of day-to-day activities and observations, including actions taken in cases where crime or suspicious activity has occurred on the premises.

They will also have a variety of administrative duties, including preparing budgets, purchasing equipment, maintaining employee information files, and preparing schedules, as well as report-writing.

A Surveillance Manager should have good interpersonal and communication skills, excellent judgment, and the ability to work well both alone and with a team. They should be able to think and react quickly when required, and should also have extensive knowledge of surveillance equipment and methods.