Security officers work to ensure the safety and security of designated areas, properties, monuments, and offices against unlawful behaviors. Their job requires a strong body and mind to be alert and act according to the situation quickly and accurately. If this sounds like you, read on! We will help you to write an outstanding resume to give you a leg up in your interviews. Let’s begin with the three resume formats, one of which you’ll choose to create your own resume.
See What People are Saying About Us
Job Duties of a Security Officer
Security officers are responsible for patrolling the premises or remaining around the employer round the clock to monitor and maintain a safe environment at all times. Here is the long list of their job duties in detail:
Patrolling the premises to ensure overall safety.
Installing, monitoring, and inspecting surveillance cameras and equipment on the property.
Administering security procedures on entry and exit points, identifying suspicious behavior, and reporting it.
Identifying potential risks and safety hazards and acting accordingly.
Monitoring team activities on entry and exit points and helping the team learn security measures and protocols to follow for entering or exiting the property.
Taking help from the alarm system in emergencies.
Adhering to policies, regulations, and laws.
Investigating suspicious security breaches and ensuring the security of all personnel and visitors.
Maintaining surveillance records and reports maintained.
Staying with the employer or the designated person to ensure their safety and security.
Security Officer Median Salaries
As per PayScale.com, the annual salary of a security officer is $39,895. The amount is subject to increase based on their experience, specific skills, and techniques.
Top Skills for Security Officers
A security job entails many responsibilities for which you will need a set of soft and hard skills. In short, security officers must have the following skill set:/p>
- Leadership Unlike a security guard, security officers must display leadership skills as they may find themselves managing the security operation of their assigned workspace. They usually work with minimal supervision while simultaneously collaborating with security professionals and other individuals. Although taking on the leadership role in their team when implementing measures to eliminate a potential threat is essential, knowing when to follow is integral to being an effective security officer. Their capacity to lead when necessary also proves to be critical when handling and guiding crowds through emergencies.
- Alertness The primary role of a security officer is to monitor and respond to threats and emergencies quickly. So, you must exercise constant vigilance and always stay alert. Noticing and investigating any suspicious activity, offering help when needed, and preventing disorderly behavior from getting out of hand are just some of the responsibilities that require you to be attentive. It will be your duty to maintain order and protect assets, property, and people, so you must always be on the lookout for potential risks.
- Physical endurance and strength As a security officer, you’ll be patrolling potentially large areas with multiple checkpoints. This means you’ll be walking or driving a lot and sometimes even running if you spot suspicious activity or emergencies. You’ll be expected to remove disruptive individuals from the premises in some roles, whether because they are agitated, drunk, or even combative. In the case of physically intervening in a situation, you should subdue whoever is a threat, which means that you’re expected to handle yourself well in a fight.
Finally, you can also expect to work long days during weekends and holidays and possibly rotate between the daytime and nighttime shifts regularly. - Interpersonal and communication skills Security officers aren’t only on alert for trouble; they also interact with customers, personnel, and other colleagues daily. This includes answering questions, giving directions, and resolving issues in a timely and efficient manner. This requires the guard to be polite, calm, friendly, and helpful. You must also have excellent communication skills. These will come in handy when talking down a disruptive person, engaging in pleasantries, and reporting emergencies to the appropriate authorities.
- Integrity and trustworthiness As a security officer, you must have strong morals, integrity, and be trustworthy. After all, people will be looking to you to keep them safe, handle dangerous situations and emergencies, and help them out. Not only this, but you will be trusted to take the lost and found, manage controlled access, and escort personnel that deliver goods or cash. You will also be expected to investigate accidents, thefts, unusual incidents, and other safety concerns accurately.
- Safety regulations and emergency response Although security protocols vary from one role to another, many of them are common to most organizations. You’ll be expected to be knowledgeable in all general emergency procedures, safety rules, and procedure manuals that the company follows. This includes how to correctly operate and maintain any security equipment given to you on the job.
Many employers also require that security officers be certified in first aid, CPR, and AED. - Documentation and organizational skills As a security officer, you will be responsible for writing daily reports and logs and documenting incidents. This is why employers expect basic proficiency in MS Office from their security officers and excellent written skills in English. Due to the high amounts of paperwork security officers are expected to file, strong organizational skills are an asset. This includes timely follow-ups, time management, the ability to multitask, manage multiple priorities and work under pressure while meeting deadlines.
Security officers education and certifications
There’s a combination of educational and certification credentials you will need when applying for a job as a security officer. Let’s take a look at what employers ask for:
Degree
Security officers must have a high school diploma or an equivalent degree such as GED to get the job. No other level of higher education is required for this role.Certifications
To work as a security officer in some states, such as Maryland, you must first be certified as one. This form of certification, however, is done after your employer has hired you. Despite some states not requiring approval at the state level, some cities and counties within the state do. As a result, it's critical to double-check with your employer or the city clerk's office in your area.
Suppose you don't have a high school diploma or GED or any prior experience in the security field. In that case, you can enroll in a comprehensive training program for security professionals, such as the Professional Security Officer Program (PSOP) offered by the International Foundation for Protection Officers (IFPO). However, it’s important to note that employers seeking security officers ask for relevant work experience from one year to more than five years in a similar role. Thus, after getting the certification, it’s recommended that you start as a security guard to gain experience in the field.
Aside from that, businesses tend to look for candidates who have completed a certification in first aid, CPR and AED. The National Safety Council (NSC) offers certification for all three. Whether or not an employer demands it, you should consider earning this certification because it can help you stand out as a candidate for a security position.Licensure
To work as an unarmed security officer in some states, such as Colorado, you must first obtain a license. However, once you've been hired, you can typically get this license (or must, depending on the state) with the help of your employer. Check this list to see if your condition requires approval. If your state requires one before you can begin the licensure procedure, you must:- Be at least 18 years old.
- Have no violent or felony convictions.
- Be in good mental health.
Apart from these license requirements, you must have a valid driver's license if you work as a security officer and your everyday tasks include driving. If you don't have a driver's license yet, check with your local DMV to see their requirements.
Security Officer Resume-Writing Tips
Resumes are an essential tool to demonstrate to a potential employer that you’re right for the job. Therefore, your resume should be written precisely and attentively. Here we are giving some tips to write an outstanding resume:
- Highlight your skill sets: As a security officer, you need soft skills like attention to detail, problem-solving and communication skills. Highlight these skills and any skills listed in the job description that you possess in your resume’s skills section.
- Don’t brag unnecessarily: It is essential to be transparent with your future employer. If you write something that you have no practical experience in or list skills you do not possess, you may clear the resume shortlisting phase, but you will be stuck at the interview stage. Read the job description carefully and write the relevant skill sets/experience fields, which you do/possess.
- Choose your words wisely: It is important to write a resume that conveys your qualifications and skills direclty and succintly. Do not overwrite, and try to keep your resume to one page. Use action verbs to describe your work accomplishments like: supervised, facilitated, investigated and maintained.
FAQ
How lucrative is the security officer’s profile for an ex-serviceman?
Veterans have always been preferential candidates for security officer jobs. They inherit the traits required for being a security officer. This makes them an automatic choice for the position.
Do you need a license to start your career in the security industry?
To start your career in the security industry in the U.S., you need to have a clean background check. You need to be at least 18 years of age, should be a green card holder, and must have completed an eight-hour pre-assignment training class. After this, you may apply for a license from the respective state department. You can join training schools that train you in various security aspects and help you get a license, such as ASIS International or Alpha security academy.