How to Hire the Perfect Security Guard

In 2020, 133,870 people were victims of unlawful entry with intent (UEWI) in Australia. And this has been one of the most common security threats in Australia for many years.

What steps can you take to ensure your security is up to standard? One of them is to hire a security guard. But finding the security guard that is perfect for your needs can be a challenge.

There are many security companies to choose from. And each security officer has different qualifications, experience levels, and hourly rates.

So how can you find the security guard that is right for your business? This security guard hiring guide will show you how. Read on!

Check Their Criminal Background

The security guard’s job is to protect your business and employees, so you should make sure that they are trustworthy.

You can check if the security officer has a clean criminal history by researching online or checking with their former employers.

It may take some time, but it will be worth it in the end. You don’t want a known criminal working for you. Such a move will reflect poorly on your security team and your company.

Search online for instances where the security officer was charged with a crime. Go ahead and contact his previous employers directly to ask about them. Or you can always do a security guard registry check on them to find out if they have any criminal history.

This simple step could save you from hiring an untrustworthy security guard that could cause more damage than good.

Check Their Security Training

The security company you hire should have a team of security officers that are well-trained and experienced. You don’t want to hire security guards who do not know what they’re doing or how to handle dangerous situations.

This is where security guard training comes in handy. Most security companies offer some form of initial training for their new hires. This will help them get familiar with the job, but it will only be the tip of the iceberg.

They need to take additional courses as part of their ongoing development, like first aid, fire safety, active shooter response tactics, etc.

The security company should provide you with proof of their security officers’ training and certification. If they cannot do this, then you may want to keep looking for another security company.

Make Sure They’re the Right Fit for Your Business

The security company you hire should understand your business and security needs. This means their security guards need to adapt quickly in any situation that may arise at your workplace or event.

There are many types of security officers, each with various roles and responsibilities depending on their work. For example, there is a big difference between an armed security professional carrying firearms and a parking security officer who will monitor vehicles entering/exiting the premises.

You want someone whose skills match up well with the job requirements. That way, you don’t have to worry about them not doing their job properly when it matters most.

Interpersonal Skills

The security company should provide security officers that can interact with a variety of people.

Security guards have to deal with different personalities, including upset customers and unruly guests at your business or event. They need to be able to calm down angry people without escalating the situation further. They may even have to diffuse potentially violent situations before things get out of hand in some cases.

This requires excellent communication skills. Security officers are responsible for relaying information between you/your employees and other parties involved in any given security incident.

They also need to have good customer service skills. If security officers are rude or impatient, they could offend the people who come into your business. And this will hurt their own reputation.

You can evaluate this by asking for some references from other businesses where the security guards worked.

Evaluate Writing Skills

If security guards have to write security reports, then they need strong writing and grammar skills.

Security guards are responsible for reporting their security activity in detail at the end of every shift or event. This can include information about suspicious activities, security breaches that occurred during an event. They should also report any unusual behavior so that you know if something is going on with one of your employees, that’s worth looking into further.

Writing security incident reports requires attention to detail and clear communication abilities. Good literacy skills are also important, because some will be written up in legal terms depending on the circumstances of each situation/incident.

Drug Screening

You should make sure security officers will be drug tested regularly.

The security company you hire is responsible for scheduling and administering random drug tests to their security guards. This helps ensure that they are fit for duty at all times.

Drug testing also ensures that security guards are not under the influence of illegal substances while working in your business or event space. It’s better to catch these issues before anyone gets hurt because someone was impaired at work.

It may cost more money, but a safe workplace/event environment with trustworthy security personnel means everything to an organization.

Test Technological Aptitude

Security guards should know how to use security equipment and tools.

New security system technologies are emerging every day, including biometric scanners, surveillance cameras, GPS trackers for staff vehicles/assets, etc. If you want security experts who can properly maintain or troubleshoot these devices, if problems arise, then make sure it’s part of their job duties on paper when you hire them.

A security company needs to provide training programs so that its officers understand the technology in depth.

Are you looking to boost the security of your business? Check out these experts in providing static security guards.

Hire the Right Security Guard

Hiring a security guard is not an easy feat. It takes time, effort, patience, creativity, and money. But in return? You get peace of mind knowing that there’s someone on watch 24/7 to keep your business and employees safe from harm.

We hope this guide helps you find the security guard that’s right for your business. For more informative content, keep reading our articles.