Security Guard Resume Example

There are many types of security personnel, from residential guards that keep a watchful eye on gated communities and apartment buildings to the TSA agents in charge of the airline security of the United States. Some, but not all of the security positions that the above resume sample is suitable for are:

• Residential security: apartment buildings, gated communities, and assisted living facilities
• Corporate security: shopping malls, office buildings, banks, and hospitals
• Government security: State and Federal buildings, government events
• Personal security: celebrities and other V.I.P.’s

Due to the very wide assortment of possible positions, the range of salaries is also fairly wide. However, on average, a moderately skilled security guard can expect to earn around $27,500 a year. That number can increase considerably though with increased skills, experience, and responsibility.

1. Start Strong in the Career Objective

The very first way to show that you are serious about the type of work you’re involved in is to take a professional tone. Replace the title of “guard” with “officer.”

While it may appear to be a minor difference, this subtle change speaks volumes. To a hiring manager a security guard may sound like a person who occasional works at a weekend wedding, while a security officer sounds like an individual that is responsible for the daily well-being of large groups of people.

Anyone interested in taking on more security personnel also generally prefer candidates with experience. A proven track record let’s a potential employer feel a lot safer with taking you on board. Proudly mention the time that you have invested in your security career.

Additionally, if you have a specific area of expertise, make sure to state that. If you are applying to a position in a bank and you have experience with corporate security, you’d definitely want to highlight that.

The last thing that our applicant does is to target his resume to a specific job. It’s something that you can do extremely easily, and all it takes is adding the name of the employer in you career objective.

You only get a few short sentences to make sure your resume gets sorted into the potential hires list and not into the trash. Make sure to show that you are qualified, capable, and serious, and that you want to be part of their team.

2. Action Verbs for a Security Guard

Resume Genius has compiled the biggest list of action verbs on the internet.

3. Quantify the Scope of Your Duties

Quantifying your value in regards to justifying your salary as a security professional isn’t as cut and dry as someone working in the finance industry. That doesn’t mean it’s impossible.

One way to show that you are a valuable asset to your employer is to explain how much responsibility you can take on. Henry Hernandez, the owner of the resume sample above, did this by specifying the scale of the area he is tasked with protecting.

Monitor 400+ room hospital premises to detect and prevent signs of potential threats and ensure security of doors and windows

Instead of simply stating that he patrolled the hospital grounds, he explains how big the hospital is by adding the number of rooms it has.

He also shows the scale of his duties while working at his previous position.

Operated over 60 surveillance cameras to monitor interior and exterior public areas

The applicant could have briefly mentioned that he monitored surveillance equipment, but by placing stating the number of cameras he had to keep an eye on, he again shows the scale of his duties.

Depending on the other responsibilities you have, you might be able to show some financial evidence of your value. This is much easier if you have some type of supervisory role, like our applicant who is responsible for scheduling.

Manage security team scheduling leading to average annual payroll savings of $4,000 from previous Head Officer’s program

This is more of an extra than a requirement though, so don’t go crazy trying to put a monetary value on the work you have done. That isn’t necessarily information most security personnel are privy to.

Last but certainly not least is making sure to mention any type or training you’re in charge of.

Train all new security personnel on hospital security standard operating procedures

Running training programs shows you have a high level of knowledge about your industry as well as leadership skills.

Spending a little extra time and effort quantifying your accomplishments goes a long way to show a potential employer your value. It also puts you ahead of others that have failed to do so. Here are several more ways to possibly quantify your previous experience on your security officer resume:

• Were you in charge of a small security team? If so, mention how many others were in the team.
• If you worked in a commercial setting you may be able to mention how many crimes you were able to prevent. This is great for those who have worked in retail surveillance.
• Security screeners can state the average number of people they screen on the daily basis.

4. Additional Skills, Certifications, and Licenses

Anyone who has worked in security knows that the job is not as simple as sitting on a stool watching a single security camera monitor. The “Additional Skills” section is where you get to explain what other skills you have learned over the years.

You also get a chance to showcase yourself a bit in the “Certifications & Licenses” section. A lot of security guard jobs require a driver’s license, so you definitely want to include that if you have one. You can also include any medical training you have, as security personnel can end up in the role of acting as a first responder.

Lastly, don’t forget to highlight the fact that you have a security guard license, particularly if it’s an armed security guard license. Licensing requirements differ from state to state, but the more verifiable evidence there is that shows you have legitimate training, the better.

The key here is to use job relevant skills and certifications instead of random or generic skills. Here are some skills and certifications that would make sense on a security resume:

• First Aid & CPR
• Language skills
• Martial arts/Physical combat training
• Firearms training
• Psychology coursework or training
• Surveillance equipment knowledge
• Knowledge of relevant federal and state laws
• Ability to operate facility equipment and machinery

Drafting your security officer resume might seem like a daunting task at first, but as long as keep the information you list relevant and targeted, and you quantify your achievements, you’ll have a grade A resume in no time.

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