Security Careers

Security Officer Career Overview

Security Officers are trained professionals who are responsible for the safety and well-being of the people and buildings that they help to protect. In recent years, demand for increased security and protection against acts of terrorism has resulted in large numbers of security officers being hired in a wide variety of departments. Security officers are responsible for reporting any abnormalities or illegal activities to the police, fire department, or Homeland Security Office. Depending on the specific job, these individuals can perform a wide variety of duties, including:

• Patrolling and inspecting property to protect from vandalism and fire
• Performing inspections to deter acts of terrorism
• Inspecting homes and business properties for signs of illegal activity
• Keep detailed reports of observations during a shift

The majority of security officers perform many of the duties above, but their exact duties depend heavily on whether they are on static, or stationary, patrol, or if they are on mobile, or moving, patrol. Security guards who are assigned to static patrols sit or walk around one location every day or night. These individuals have to become very familiar with the grounds and the people who walk on them, and they are often responsible for monitoring close circuit televisions and alarms. However, guards who are on mobile patrols walk or drive by multiple locations in one shift, and their responsibilities include responding to criminal activity calls, issuing parking and traffic violations and taking suspects into custody.

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Security Officer Training & Education

The training and education requirements of security officers depend heavily on the type of security job. Most employers expect armed security officers to possess at least a high school diploma, or a certification that’s equivalent. Armed security officers must also receive more in-depth training than non-gun carrying guards, as the employer is legally responsible for the guard’s use of force. Officers who work in particularly high-stress or high-security situations, such as a power plant, receive extensive specialized training and much supervision before being allowed to perform the job on their own. However, the majority of both static and mobile security officers that can learn much of their job through experience and on-the-job training.

In most states, guards must be licensed, which requires a background check, fingerprinting, classroom training and drug testing. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, each year, more states are requiring that security officers take part in ongoing training in order to keep their license. This training is often tailored to the specific job being held, but usually includes training in protection, public relations, first aid, crisis deference and report writing.

Additionally, security officers who apply to work for Homeland Security careers undergo the most extensive background checks and training, and any applicant that has a criminal record will be automatically excluded from the applicant pool. Since September 11, the amount of training required for security officers working in airports has increased. According to the Transportation Security Administration, while most applicants still need to possess only a high school diploma or a GED, applicants must now undergo extensive training and take a number of tests which are relevant to specifically working in airports.

Security officers who wish to move up to the managerial level benefit from at least a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice or Police Science and three to five years of experience and on-the-job training.

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Security Officer Career & Salary Outlook

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.

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Security Guard

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.

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Career Fields/Specializations

Security Training Specialist Career

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.

Homeland Security Career

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 air, 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.

Security Officer Career

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 Career

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.

Surveillance Manager Career

Surveillance Managers 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.

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