Security Guards

Career Description: Guard, patrol, or monitor premises to prevent theft, violence, or infractions of rules.

Industry: Protective Service

Other Job Titles for Security Guards:

• Realistic: Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
• Investigative: Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
• Artistic: Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.
• Social: Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
• Enterprising: Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
• Conventional: Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
• First Interest High-Point: Primary-Rank Descriptiveness
• Second Interest High-Point: Secondary-Cutoff/Rank Descriptiveness
• Third Interest High-Point: Tertiary-Cutoff/Rank Descriptiveness

• Patrol industrial or commercial premises to prevent and detect signs of intrusion and ensure security of doors, windows, and gates.
• Answer alarms and investigate disturbances.
• Monitor and authorize entrance and departure of employees, visitors, and other persons to guard against theft and maintain security of premises.
• Write reports of daily activities and irregularities such as equipment or property damage, theft, presence of unauthorized persons, or unusual occurrences.
• Call police or fire departments in cases of emergency, such as fire or presence of unauthorized persons.
• Circulate among visitors, patrons, or employees to preserve order and protect property.
• Answer telephone calls to take messages, answer questions, and provide information during non-business hours or when switchboard is closed.
• Warn persons of rule infractions or violations, and apprehend or evict violators from premises, using force when necessary.
• Operate detecting devices to screen individuals and prevent passage of prohibited articles into restricted areas.
• Escort or drive motor vehicle to transport individuals to specified locations or to provide personal protection.
• Inspect and adjust security systems, equipment, or machinery to ensure operational use and to detect evidence of tampering.
• Monitor and adjust controls that regulate building systems, such as air conditioning, furnace, or boiler.
• Confer with establishment officials, security departments, police, or postal officials to identify problems, provide information, and receive instructions.
• Apprehend suspects and release them to law enforcement authorities or security personnel.
• Count cash, and review transactions, sales checks, and register tapes in order to verify amounts and to identify shortages.
• Warn troublemakers causing problems on establishment premises, and eject them from premises when necessary.
• Monitor industrial or commercial properties to enforce conformance to establishment rules, and to protect people or property.
• Process prisoners, and prepare and maintain records of prisoner bookings and prisoner status during booking and pre-trial process.
• Inspect public establishments to ensure compliance with rules and regulations.
• Act as official escorts, such as when leading funeral processions or firefighters.
• Question individuals or observe persons and establishments to confirm information given to patrol officers.
• Notify, or request notification of, medical examiner or district attorney representative.
• Note relevant details upon arrival at scene, such as time of day and weather conditions.
• Participate or assist in raids and arrests.
• Videotape scenes where possible, including collection of evidence, examination of victim at scene, and defendants and witnesses.
• Coordinate with outside agencies and serve on interagency task forces to combat specific types of crime.
• Maintain surveillance of establishments to obtain identifying information on suspects.
• Notify command of situation and request assistance.
• Schedule polygraph tests for consenting parties and record results of test interpretations for presentation with findings.
• Check victims for signs of life, such as breathing and pulse.
• Observe and photograph narcotic purchase transactions to compile evidence and protect undercover investigators.

Emerging Tasks

• Lock doors and gates of entrances and exits to secure buildings.
• Respond to medical emergencies by administering basic first aid or by obtaining assistance from paramedics.
• Interview victims, witnesses, suspects, and other law enforcement personnel.
• Maintain records of evidence and write and review reports.
• Serve as technical advisor and coordinate with other law enforcement workers or legal personnel to exchange information on crime scene collection activities.
• Submit evidence to supervisors, crime labs, or court officials for legal proceedings.

• Analyzing Data or Information: Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
• Assisting and Caring for Others: Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
• Coaching and Developing Others: Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.
• Communicating with Persons Outside Organization: Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates: Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Controlling Machines and Processes: Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
• Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others: Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
• Developing and Building Teams: Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
• Developing Objectives and Strategies: Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
• Documenting/Recording Information: Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
• Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment: Providing documentation, detailed instructions, drawings, or specifications to tell others about how devices, parts, equipment, or structures are to be fabricated, constructed, assembled, modified, maintained, or used.
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships: Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information: Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.
• Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards: Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
• Getting Information: Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates: Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.
• Handling and Moving Objects: Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events: Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
• Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material: Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
• Interacting With Computers: Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
• Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others: Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
• Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People: Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems: Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings: Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
• Monitoring and Controlling Resources: Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money.
• Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment: Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.
• Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work: Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
• Performing Administrative Activities: Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.
• Performing for or Working Directly with the Public: Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
• Performing General Physical Activities: Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
• Processing Information: Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
• Provide Consultation and Advice to Others: Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.
• Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment: Servicing, repairing, calibrating, regulating, fine-tuning, or testing machines, devices, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of electrical or electronic (not mechanical) principles.
• Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment: Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic) principles.
• Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others: Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
• Scheduling Work and Activities: Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
• Selling or Influencing Others: Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.
• Staffing Organizational Units: Recruiting, interviewing, selecting, hiring, and promoting employees in an organization.
• Thinking Creatively: Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
• Training and Teaching Others: Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge: Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

Detailed Work Activities

• apply appropriate physical restraint
• authorize entry or exit of individuals
• communicate details in protective services settings
• enforce laws, ordinances, or regulations
• escort prisoners, defendants or individuals needing protection
• explain rules, policies or regulations
• investigate complaints, disturbances, or violations
• maintain production or work records
• make decisions
• manage detailed records or files in security setting
• monitor alarm system to detect fires or other emergencies
• monitor entrance or exit of persons
• operate vehicles in law enforcement or security setting
• oversee work progress to verify safety or conformance to standards
• patrol or guard area or premises
• prepare reports
• recognize public safety hazards
• take messages
• transport passengers or cargo
• use firearms
• use oral or written communication techniques
• manage detailed records or files in law enforcement setting
• obtain information from individuals
• operate cameras
• oversee work progress to verify safety or conformance to standards
• patrol or guard area or premises
• prepare reports
• read maps
• review facts to determine if criminal act or statue violation is involved
• testify in court for accident and criminal cases
• use accounting or bookkeeping software
• use firearms
• use interviewing procedures
• use knowledge of investigation techniques
• use oral or written communication techniques
• use surveillance techniques
• verify investigative information
• operate vehicles in law enforcement or security setting
• oversee work progress to verify safety or conformance to standards
• patrol or guard area or premises
• pilot aircraft
• prepare records of prisoner bookings or status
• prepare reports
• reach conclusions quickly in law enforcement situations
• read maps
• read navigation charts
• recognize physical or emotional abuse
• recognize public safety hazards
• relay information to proper officials
• respond to in-flight data
• review facts to determine if criminal act or statue violation is involved
• ride horses during law enforcement work
• sustain attention in air traffic emergencies
• testify in court for accident and criminal cases
• use aircraft safety regulations
• use arrest, search, or seizure legal statutes
• use conflict resolution techniques
• use emergency medical procedures
• use firearms
• use first aid procedures
• use hazardous materials information
• use intervention techniques
• use interviewing procedures
• use knowledge of geographic coordinates
• use knowledge of investigation techniques
• use local or regional geographical knowledge to transportation
• use oral or written communication techniques
• use rescue procedures
• use surveillance techniques
• use traffic control procedures
• use two-way radio or mobile phone
• use visual flight procedures

Overall Experience
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful in these occupations, but usually is not needed. For example, a teller might benefit from experience working directly with the public, but an inexperienced person could still learn to be a teller with little difficulty.

Job Training
Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees.

Education
These occupations usually require a high school diploma and may require some vocational training or job-related course work. In some cases, an associate's or bachelor's degree could be needed.

Examples
These occupations often involve using your knowledge and skills to help others. Examples include sheet metal workers, forest fire fighters, customer service representatives, pharmacy technicians, salespersons (retail), and tellers.

• Average hourly wage (2007) -$10.85
• Average annual wage (2007) - $22,570.00

• Projected growth (2006-2016): 16.87%
• Projected need (2006-2016): 175,467
• Employment (2006): 1,040,287

• Bailiffs
• Bus Drivers, School
• Correctional Officers and Jailers
• Criminal Investigators and Special Agents
• Fire Inspectors
• Police Detectives
• Private Detectives and Investigators
• Sheriffs and Deputy Sheriffs
• Truck Drivers, Light or Delivery Services
• Truck Drivers, Heavy and Tractor-Trailer