Security officers work to maintain the security of people, buildings and contents. Expected to deal with situations as and when they arise, everyday responsibilities of security officers vary, depending on the type of industry.
Who can I work for?
One of the great things about working as a security officer is that there is an increasing amount of jobs within the security industry becoming available. With the option of either working in-house or for a private security firm, some security officers choose to set up their own company once they've gained experience.
Where and when can I work?
In this role, you could expect to work long hours, with 48- hour weeks being normal. Usually involving some evening and overnight work, working shifts, security officers can be called to work with little notice.
What can I earn?
As a security officer you could expect to earn a salary within the region of £12,000 to £15,000, increasing to £20,000 plus as you gain more experience.
What are the benefits?
Security officers working in senior positions earn about £40,000, so experience is worthwhile.
Are there chances of promotion?
Promotion is an option for most security officers, as a result of on-the-job training equipping them with an ever-increasing amount of skills and knowledge. There are many different routes to go down, such as becoming a dog handler.
What will I be responsible for?
Responsibilities vary each day, although it's likely you'd be patrolling the premises in which you work, signing in visitors, performing checks on building traffic, monitoring CCTV footage and checking any suspicious packages.
What qualifications do I need?
There are no specific qualifications needed to work as a security officer, although it's beneficial to have a good standard of both written and spoken English. Working as a security officer can mean you fill in quite a few reports, which need to be readable by a wide audience.
Do I need any experience?
Experience isn't always necessary when working in this role, although having security qualifications under your belt will make you a strong candidate for the position. An example of a security qualification that can be worked towards is the NVQ in Providing Security Services, as well as the City & Guilds certificate for Security Guards/Security Practitioners.
What attributes are needed?
To work as a security officer you need to have a specific set of characteristics, as a result of it being a job that carries with it a high level of responsibility. You would need to be polite and approachable, as well as being trustworthy, and would also need to have a basic knowledge of IT.