At Paladin, we're all about helping our team members grow and reach their full potential. The first value of Paladin’s C.A.R.E. culture is to be “Curious” by seeking opportunities to learn and improve. We believe that investing in our employees is the key to building a strong, successful team. Through our Promotion-from-within philosophy, employees can plot their career paths within Paladin. Our goal is not just to fill shifts; it’s to nurture careers and professionalize the security industry.
In our feature, Then and Now, we showcase the inspirational journeys of our Paladinians rising through the ranks. This week, we're delighted to share the story of Nick Khoja, a Security Program Manager in British Columbia.
Nick, tell us a bit about your journey. What role did you start in, and what role do you hold now?
“I started in 2009 as a Bike Guard within Metrotown and am a Program Manager. I’ve held almost all the field positions Paladin has to offer, like Bike Patrol Team Lead, Control Room Supervisor, Scheduling Manager, and Client Service Manager.”
What a journey! When you first started, were you aware of Paladin’s promotion-from-within philosophy?
“When I first joined, I was new to the security industry and did not know how the hierarchy worked, nor was I aware of the promotion-from-within philosophy. As I grew in my tenure, I started to get a sense of this philosophy.”
You’ve advanced a lot within the company. When and how did you decide to pursue these promotions?
“I was promoted from a Bike Guard Team Lead directly into the Control Room. Usually, most would be moved into a mall guard position. I was able to bypass that by showing my dedication to the position and my eagerness to learn. The site supervisor at the time helped me with this transition.”
Starting as a security officer, what did you enjoy about being in the field?
“I really enjoyed interacting with the public on a regular basis, there is always a variety of different personalities you encounter. While being part of the Undercover Security team, we were able to make several high-profile arrests of prolific offenders who targeted high-end electronics stores such as the Apple Store and Microsoft.”
Wonderful! What was the transition like from field to office?
“It was not that big of a change moving from the Assistant Supervisor position, which included both office work and fieldwork. Although there is a lot more screen time involved now as opposed to before.”
In terms of post-secondary education, what schooling did you take to help you progress in your career?
“I did go to school for Criminology and earnedmy degree. I am not sure if that specific degree helped in my advancements, but it did help me make mindful choices during my time in the field and in the office. Knowing the legality around different aspects of security helps in making the right decisions.”
What does your current role look like? What are some of the positives and challenges?
“Working as a Security Programs Manager in a larger geographical location brings more work and the need to have extensive knowledge of 
remote areas. Some of the challenges with that include understanding the area around remote coverages, what sorts of security measures should be in place to protect it and how to action those. Another challenge is proactively being able to create a pool of guards that can assist with coverage outside the Lower Mainland. These are just some of the day-to-day challenges.”
What is your favourite thing about working for Paladin?
“I very much enjoy the positive atmosphere and how helpful everyone always is. I know it sounds cliché but the people within the company really make it feel like a family. I’ve built many relationships with individuals I would never have been able to interact with had I not gotten into the security industry. Paladin really cares about their employees from field staff up to the high levels of management.”
It’s great to hear that you’re really enjoying your work at Paladin. What piece of advice would you give to someone looking to move up within the company?
“What has helped me in my growth would be to continue learning, be proactive, demonstrate leadership, deliver results and most importantly, seek feedback. Being able to be receptive to feedback, whether it be positive or negative, has helped me grow within the company. Sometimes it is hard for us to observe what we are doing regularly as we become accustomed to a certain style of working. Getting feedback from a trusted source helped me adjust my way of dealing with things as needed and align with the companies’ standards.”
Thank you for sharing your inspirational security journey, Nick! We can’t wait to see where you go next.
If you were inspired by Nick's story and are interested in starting a meaningful and rewarding career in security, check out our careers page.
If you want to jumpstart your security career, learn How to Become A Security Officer. Unsure about how to submit a strong resume for a security position? Here is a free downloadable template to write the ideal Security Guard resume.
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