It goes without saying that people in security careers are vital to the safety and order of everyday life.  But because these types of jobs, from airport security to store detectives, are so important, they aren’t necessarily the easiest to get.  Lots of time, training, and work goes into getting those positions.  Even so, there are some qualities and actions that can help you in working toward a career in security.

1. Customer service skills are an important thing to demonstrate to your future employer.  As a security officer, you will be dealing with a variety of people and if necessary, impacting their lives.
2. Be able to show that you have all of your required paperwork and training completed.  In some states, it is required a security guard complete a certain number of hours of training before they can even apply for a position. Sometimes this training is done in a security services school whereas others can just be done at a police academy. Other States require that a certain amount of paperwork be finished too, such as fingerprint scans and other certifications.
3. List references you know will be supportive of you.  Write down former bosses and coworkers who you have worked well with and gotten along with as your references.  Also, make sure you tell these people you wrote them down so if the new company calls, your references aren’t blindsided.
4. Go into the interview knowing what the job entails and what would be expected of you.  The more prepared you are the more you will be able to tell the employer that you know you can do that job.
5. Do your research into what division of security careers you want to enter.  Remember, not all security jobs are the same so some require more schooling or training than others.  Also, more goes into becoming an armed guard due to the special responsibilities that go into carrying a weapon.

As Uncle Ben said in the Spiderman series, “with great power comes great responsibility,” and while getting a job in security services is challenging, it is a rewarding and important position.  Following these tips, as well as your own knowledge and determination will help you to succeed.

About the Author:

Allison Brenner
Copywriter
Professional Career Development Institute (PCDI)
Norcross, GA
Interested in our security services school? Call 1-888-231-6247
Website: http://www.pcdi.edu/career-courses/security-services-school/

Here’s the bottom line:  Law enforcement requires a unique blend of skills and characteristics, from empathy and intelligence to courage and decisiveness.  These are traits anyone can bring to the table regardless of sexual orientation.  Modern law enforcement is a field that respects and encourages individuality. Being a member of a minority group will not limit your ability to become a law enforcement officer or your chances of career success. Law enforcement is a field where diversity is supported and encouraged.

Consider the following as proof:

• Friday the San Francisco Police Department released this video featuring more than a dozen gay and lesbian officers and civilian employees, each offering words of encouragement and support to LGBT youth.  The video is part of the “It Gets Better” campaign to end bullying of LGBT youth. Cheers to SFPD for being the first police agency to contribute a video to the project!

• While many larger departments have special liaison units that work directly in LGBT communities to investigate and prevent hate crimes, an LGBT officer’s career is not limited to service within these units.  Take for example, Brice, who shares his experience as gay detective and SWAT team member in south Florida. This video is from the You Can Be Anything project, a career exploration website for LGBT youth with testimonials from professionals in a variety of fields, including public safety.

For more on diversity and law enforcement, including links to support organizations, visit our website.

The VIPS program was started as a part of USA Freedom Corps, initiated by President George W. Bush, to build on the countless acts of service, sacrifice, and generosity that followed September 11^th. With the support of the Bureau of Justice Assistance, the International Association of Chiefs of Police launched the VIPS program in May of 2002.

One core element of the VIPS website, www.policevolunteers.org, is the program database, both for individuals looking to volunteer and for volunteer managers looking for new ideas. In its first month of existence, the database contained 74 registered programs in 29 states. Today there are more than 2,200 programs with 251,000 volunteers representing all 50 states and 19 international locations.

Volunteering with a VIPS program is a great way to get your feet wet and see if a career in law enforcement is right for you. As a law enforcement volunteer, you can meet people in the field, learn valuable hands-on skills, and experience day to day operations in a law enforcement agency.

These days, law enforcement volunteers do a lot more than just copying and filing: volunteers support investigations, report code violations, direct traffic at accident scenes, respond to crime victims, reach out to the community to share crime prevention information, and do so much more.

To learn more about law enforcement volunteering and to find opportunities in your area, visit www.policevolunteers.org.

Stay tuned to the Discover Policing blog for more ideas on unique volunteer positions that can help you transition into your law enforcement career!

Trust. Having it. Not having it. Low trust situations. High trust situations. You probably already know that trust is important in any situation. When trust is present, things run smoothly. When trust is absent, communication breaks down and conflict occurs.  Trust is especially important in public safety. Building trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve is the cornerstone of successful policing. There are three key elements of trust and trust building.

PERCEPTION

Facts and studies show that public perception of the police is positive overall. People generally trust that law enforcement operates with the highest integrity and for the good of all. In some cases, however, the actions of a few officers are magnified to the extent that that overall trust gets called into question. So how do we reinforce the awareness that law enforcement remains a dedicated body of officers whose mission it is to protect and serve?

CREDIBILITY

Trust must be present in law enforcement in order for the public to perceive it. You can’t see something that’s not there in the first place. It is vital for officers up and down the ranks to be credible people. That means exuding the highest character, level of competence, intentions, skills and intent of reaching the best scenario (win-win) outcomes.

BEHAVIOR

So let’s say you’re a credible officer who has all the character traits outlined above. How do you communicate this credibility to others? Behavior. Because the credibility, built on trust, is already built into your character, your actions will communicate trust in any given situation.

Here are 13 behaviors that high-trust leaders exude in any given situation:

1. Honesty. Telling it like it is. No manipulating or hiding the facts.
2. Respect. Giving it to others and showing you care. It comes from the heart.
3. Make it simple. This goes along with honesty. Keep things open and real.
4. Make things right. When you are wrong, apologize. Don’t cover things up.
5. Loyalty. Don’t talk about others behind their backs. Give due credit to others.
6. Get results. Know what can be done and get it done. Enough said.
7. Grow. We all want to get better. Consider feedback.
8. Reality check. Get in the face of tough issues. Never hide.
9. Lay out expectations. Never assume they are known. Talk about them.
10. Be accountable. Hold yourself and others accountable for actions.
11. Listen. Don’t interrupt. Genuine listening builds understanding and trust.
12. Make/Keep commitments. Say what you’re going to do and do what you’re going to say.
13. Always hold out the olive branch. Give trust freely. Never withhold it.

CIRCLE OF TRUST

To gain trust, you have to understand what it is and what it looks like to other people from the outside. Once you have trust, exude it, show others you have it. Give trust to others. In the end, if the trust shared is truthful and real, people will latch onto it, exude that same trust back and the circle of trust will be complete.

This post is the first in a series outlining essential skills and traits of effective law enforcement officers.

Source: Stephen M. R. Covey, “Policing at the Speed of Trust,” The Police Chief 78 (October 2011): 58–70.