Thinking about being a security guard? As the demand for security personnel increases, becoming a security guard can be a promising career path.
However, it takes more than just a uniform and a badge to excel in this profession. With over 30 years of security experience, Flex Point Academy knows the qualities of a seasoned security guard. From our research and experience, here is a list of 5 skills all security guards need to succeed.
1. Alertness and Observation Skills
As a security guard, your primary responsibility is maintaining a secure environment. To do so, you must remain alert and aware of your surroundings. Security guards need to quickly detect potential security threats, such as suspicious individuals, unattended bags or packages, and security breaches.
Security guards must then take quick action whenever a threat arises. They should be able to make decisions under pressure, prioritize tasks, and think critically about incoming steps.
2. Communication Skills
Communication is essential in security work, whether verbal or written. Security guards will have to communicate effectively with clients, colleagues, and the general public–not to mention anyone deemed a threat to the property they protect. At Flex Point Academy, we teach our security guards to speak confidently, listen actively, and respond appropriately.
Additionally, security guards must have strong writing skills to document incidents accurately, write reports, and maintain records. Without decent writing abilities, logistical planning takes longer, and valuable information might be communicated improperly.
3. Physical Fitness
Security guards must be physically fit to perform their duties. Depending on the nature of their work, security guards may need to stand or walk for long periods, patrol large areas, and respond to emergencies.
Being physically fit is essential to ensure they can respond quickly and effectively in any situation. Additionally, security guards must have good hand-eye coordination and reflexes to perform tasks such as operating security equipment or restraining individuals.
4. Interpersonal Skills
Security guards interact with people from different backgrounds and personalities, so they need to possess strong interpersonal skills. They must be able to communicate with individuals from different cultures and backgrounds and build rapport quickly.
Our security guards are expected to handle difficult individuals calmly and professionally, de-escalate tense situations, and resolve conflicts peacefully. Flex Point Academy takes pride in employing security guards that can work collaboratively with colleagues to achieve common goals.
5. Technical Skills
Today’s security guards must have technical skills to operate security equipment and systems. For example, security guards should know about security cameras, access control, and alarm systems. They must be able to handle these systems effectively, maintain them, and troubleshoot any issues that arise.
Security guards should also be familiar with computer software and hardware, as they may need to use databases, spreadsheets, and other tools to manage security-related information. Being technically proficient is essential to ensure that security systems are operating correctly and that any incidents can be identified and resolved quickly.
Improve Your Security Guard Skills with Flex Point Academy
In conclusion, becoming a security guard requires more than the basic knowledge of security procedures. To excel in this profession, security guards need to have alertness and observation skills, strong communication and interpersonal skills, physical fitness, and technical skills.
Sign up for Flex Point Academy’s keystone courses in First Aid & CPR, Security Guard Training, Traffic Control, and Fire Alarm Training. All of our courses can be taken online or in person. With Flex Point Academy, you can develop your skills to advance your security guard career path.
