Security officer jobs can usually be found wherever there is property or people to protect. Security officers, also known as security guards, work in government buildings, private businesses, stores, and banks. They can also protect people and their homes, drive and ride in armored vehicles, and work at airports and other transportation hubs. Security officers may conduct patrols in automobiles, on foot, on bicycles, or on motorized scooters. Some security officer jobs require guards to remain stationary.
At museums, art galleries, and other public buildings, security officers keep an eye on the property. They may walk from room to room, be stationed in a specific room, or guard a specific exhibit in these locations. Security officers are employed private companies, such as aerospace and defense contractors, to screen people entering buildings and protect company and government assets. Private-sector officers may be stationed at entrances, patrol parking lots in cars, or sit in rooms surveying buildings and property via banks of television screens or monitors receiving live feeds from security cameras.
Security officers guard department stores, shopping malls, banks, and credit unions against potential thefts and robberies. They may be required to call police officers in the event of thefts or robberies, and they may be required to detain suspects until officers arrive. Private security officers, also known as personal security officers, protect private individuals and their assets. They may escort VIPs and other well-known people from one location to the next to ensure their safety. Money and valuables are transported in armored cars, and people making large bank deposits are protected.
Private security firms, the companies and agencies they protect, property management firms, and other organizations all employ security officers. Some security officers are armed, while others are not. Depending on the level of risk associated with their jobs, some may wear bulletproof vests. Some security officers dress in uniforms similar to those worn police officers, while others wear civilian clothes.
Security officers must meet a variety of training and background requirements. A high school diploma is typically required, especially for security guards who carry firearms. Many security guards receive on-the-job training. Armed security officers typically have to go through more rigorous training than unarmed security officers. Armed guards will receive firearms training, as well as use-of-force training.
Security officers with police or other law-enforcement training or degrees in criminal justice fields are preferred some employers. Security officers are frequently required to be licensed, and some guards are certified as professionals in the field. One organization that certifies security officers is ASIS International.
People who apply for security officer jobs are frequently subjected to background checks and fingerprinting. They may also be subjected to drug tests upon hire and at regular intervals throughout their employment. If you want to work as a security officer, you’ll probably need a driver’s license.