Security Guard Jobs – Top Facts You Must Know
Security guard jobs, in the simplest words involve guarding property, belongings and people. As a security guard one can seek a job in hotels, stores, hospitals, schools or buildings. It is a wide market and Security guards are recruited as per their clients’ need. Although there is no need for basic qualification, however, if you are serious about your career’s growth it would be a good idea to get a degree in criminal justice and security management.
So, if you are 18 years or older and are looking for an exciting and challenging career opportunity that doesn’t involve years of training, you may consider looking at security guard jobs.
As per the National Employment data in security guards industry, the employment of security guard officers is estimated to grow 13-16 percent between 2010 and 2018.
The main objective of security guards is to prevent criminal activity at the premises where they are working. As per a study by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, security guards on an average earned $26,430 in 2009, and the highest 14 percent actually made more than $40,200!
An armed guard receives training in areas such as self-defense and weapons custody and general law of the land. Security guards are not given authority to make arrests and are regarded as civilians only.
They are often trained to operate emergency equipment, protect property and people by taking proactive measures, undertake surveillance exercises or perform any other security duties as directed by their employer.
People seeking Security guard jobs requiring the use of firearms require special licenses, clearance and training. In current years, with increasing threats of terrorism, most security officers are required to have bomb threat training as well; especially if they are deployed in soft target areas where masses tend to assemble.
Insurance companies (especially fire insurance) give rate discounts to organizations, which have security personnel at the site 24×7. The discounted amount can often go beyond the amount of money spent on a security program.
Help of Security guards is also required to protect money while transferring it from Casinos and other businesses to banks. Then of course most corporate offices and buildings today employ security officers to perform admission control at their entrances ensuring that visitors display proper passes or their identification before entry.
Celebrities and business honchos too employ security guards as bodyguards in plainclothes. In this case, guards are required to have training in arms handling and self defense as well.
This means should you choose to pursue the profession; you won’t have to worry too much about employment opportunities! What’s more you will have plenty of interesting sectors to choose from should wish to change jobs at any point.
Of course, with experience and additional qualifications one can move up the ladder and seek security guard jobs in managerial capacities as well.
Security guard jobs are basically offered to private citizens and come under the same laws and regulations as other citizens and so they are not allowed to represent as law enforcement.