Security Guard Responsibilities

Becoming a Security Officer can be a fulfilling and rewarding career. It plays into so many different strengths that it could be a great fit for many. Do you have excellent customer service skills or love solving problems? How about working in healthcare or at an educational institution? These are just some of the aspects of being a Security Officer.

But while there is likely a lot the average person wouldn’t know would be included in the job description, there are also many misconceptions about the gig too. One of the most common thoughts when thinking about a Security Guard or Officer is how one was portrayed in the movie, Paul Blart: Mall Cop, where the main character road around on a Segway trying to enforce the rules. Many also think of bouncers or overnight watchmen who are portrayed to be walking around jiggling doorknobs. While yes, Security Officers work to keep malls and venues safe, their responsibilities are much different than what is often depicted. Read on to find out more about what Security Guard requirements often include.

Basic Responsibilities

As a Security Officer, you are in charge of protecting the property and keeping people safe. Being visible at all times is an important part of the job, as is staying alert. You don’t want to put your guard down, so to speak, while on the clock. You always want to be patrolling and looking for potential risk factors or opportunities to prevent incidents. Acting fast to manage situations and having the ability to maintain order during large gatherings or events are also on the list of responsibilities.

For most organizations now, security is their first responder in their emergency plans. Consider a fire, flood, violent person, or some sort of external or internal disaster: it’s the officer who will be providing the first level of response.

But there’s more to the job than just that. Security Officers often deal with the public, so they need to have strong customer service skills. It’s also important to be able to sustain effective relationships with clients.

Other basic responsibilities include:

• Investigation of alarms and emergencies
• De-escalation of crisis situations
• Providing support to emergency personnel, including police and fire
• Writing clear and detailed incident reports
• Providing first aid when needed

While these are just a few examples of what being a Security Officer entails, there are a few other responsibilities that are important not to overlook:

• Be a punctual and dedicated worker – Security is about reliability, and if you are late or don’t show up, that puts your team in a bind and could even result in a dangerous situation.
• Keep your uniform clean and your look tidy – Security is usually one of the first things the public sees when entering a facility. Your uniform was created to be easily found, so making sure it’s clean and properly worn goes a long way in not only looking professional but feeling good as well. One more tip: shine your shoes!

Various Verticals of Work

There are a number of areas you could be tasked with providing security for. With each vertical, the tasks, and training, are different. At Paladin Security, we work with the client to curate a program to match their specific needs, meaning, no two sites have the same requirements. Read on to find out more about what each vertical may include.

Office & Commercial

When providing office security, strong customer service has to be at the forefront. It’s about building rapport with tenants that you see regularly while also providing strong safety and security. When working office security, tasks could include:

• Concierge services
• Mobile and operations centre support
• After-hours issues/maintenance support
• Special event security
• Fire safety

Retail

Retail security is all about improving guest experience and reducing risks. Customer services skills are in high demand in this position as much of it has to do with dealing with the public. When providing security for a retail space, it’s important to have the proper training as you’ll likely have to deal with all sorts of situations, varying from crisis intervention to mental health issues.

Healthcare

Security at a healthcare facility has the goal of creating a safe culture for patients, visitors, and employees. This includes tasks such as:

• High-risk patient watch services and programs
• Emergency Department security
• Workplace violence prevention
• Parking management
• Healthcare security consulting

Find out more about what it takes to be a Healthcare Security Officer in our ‘How to Become a Healthcare Security Officer’ blog.

Post-Secondary

Campus security is similar to retail where customer service and reducing risk are top of mind. The focus for campus security also includes:

• Roving patrols including bike and mobile
• Event support
• Drug and bomb detection
• Role in special security issues (active shooter, campus violence)
• Security for open-structured buildings & parking lots
• Student misconduct
• Campus property and trespasser threats

Aviation

When it comes to airport security, services range from pre-screening and access control for terminal and airside security, as well as property-wide security. This can be done through the following:

• Mobile patrol
• Escorting services
• Parking management
• Ground and curbside services

Industrial

Safety and security are key concerns for any Oil, Gas, Petrochemical, or Industrial business. Security in this vertical is highly complex and requires significant training for security officers. It also involves the following:

• Safety protocol enforcement
• Access control and site regulation enforcement
• Advanced first aid response

Training

Training ranges from company to company, but at Paladin Security, we offer industry-leading training to help our officers be prepared for their role and site location. The following pertains to the training Paladin Security offers:

1. Pre-Employment Training

Before joining Paladin, all prospective Security Officers must successfully complete our Basic Security Officer Training course (BSOT). This 40-hour course covers basic skills for Security Officers to succeed in their role.

1. Pre-Assignment Training

Once hired, our Security Officers receive additional specialized training based on their site assignment and the type of industry they will be placed in.

1. Site Training & Orientation

Paladin also provides the most advanced methods of delivering and documenting site orientation training at every site project we protect.

It doesn’t end there though, as Paladin also offers training for advancement as well as online training. To find out more about our promotion from within philosophy, click here.

Requirements

Like training, requirements differ at each company. Here are the basic requirements for becoming a Security Officer:

• Be a Canadian or Permanent Resident
• High school diploma or equivalent
• Must pass a criminal background check and obtain a security license
• Physical ability to complete the duties of the role, such as walking 18 to 20 km a day or standing for long periods of time.
• Excellent verbal and written English communication skills
• Minimum age (varies by province) is usually 19 years of age

In order to work as a Security Officer, you’ll need to have a license. If you don’t have one prior to applying, some companies will pay for the cost. Learn more about Security Guard licenses here.

Interested in starting your career in security? Check out our careers page and read more about how to become a Security Guard here.

Unsure about which security role is the best for you? Take our quiz to find your fit with Paladin!

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