Being a security operative is great, you got your SIA licence and you are enjoying your job meeting new and interesting people, even if it means that sometimes you have to tell these new and interesting people that you won’t be able to let them in this evening or you might need to search them.
Despite all of that, being a security operative is a career if you are ambitious enough to pursue it.
This may be your first good job after school or university or a career change, just how do you go about progressing your career in the Security Industry.
1. Get more qualified the different levels of security qualifications can help you do more. Door Supervisors can do things that Security Guards can’t, the same way CCTV Operators can do work that neither can do. If you get qualified in as many areas as possible you can work across the whole organisation. Building up a useful body of knowledge your employer will want to take advantage. You may initially have to pay for these courses, but as you make yourself invaluable your company may be happy to pick up the tab.
2. Get other useful qualifications such as conflict resolution to identifying drugs or providing counselling and support to clients suffering from the effects of illegal or legal substances they shouldn’t have taken. As well as first aid courses, fire marshal courses and all sorts of other classes any business is required to have. The more qualified the more useful you are, the more responsibility you will get, and the faster your career will progress. And be imaginative, taking a basic course in sign language may make you a lifesaver when there is a great of hard of hearing revellers. Talking about life swimming, a surprising number of clubs have swimming pools installed now. So a swimming certificate may be surprisingly useful.\\
3. Read up on leadership. From the 7 habits of highly successful people to Who Moved My Cheese? There is a broad range of entertaining and easy-to-read leadership guides. Read a couple and pick up some handy hints.
4. Show what you’ve got. Take as many opportunities to show what you can do, and volunteer for new jobs to show you are flexible and able. Does the company you work for have a patrol that visits multiple locations? Ask if you can tag along one night. Show initiative, remember you get promoted for showing you can do more than you are doing at the moment.
5. There is a definite career ladder, within Security Industry. From Team Leader to Site Supervisor, Account Manager and Security Manager. With each role has distinctive responsibilities as well as more money. Learn what is expected, read the job description and ask to shadow someone doing that role. You will find you have a far greater chance of achieving that role. It will also be a great experience if you decide to set up your own security company. Just make sure you are the kind of boss you would want to work for.
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