How to Hire a Security Guard

Why hire a security guard?

Hiring a security guard is critical in this day and age. A security guard will keep the people on the premises safe and ensure a comfortable work environment for your employees.

• Provide safety for employees and visitors
• Develop a crisis management plan
• Protect against theft or damage to the property

What are the ranks of security guards?

There is no official ranking for security guards. The biggest distinction in security guard hierarchy is whether the guard is armed. Specific firearms training is required to hold an armed guard position. There are also hierarchies within these two distinct categories.

• Unarmed Security Guard: In this entry-level position, the guard carries no weapons. Training requirements are minimal.
• Unarmed Security Officer: This rank requires a college degree or a minimum of 80 hours of security training. These security officers may carry self-defense weapons, like tasers or night sticks.
• Armed Security Officer: These security professionals have training that allows them to carry firearms.
• Public Safety Officer: A college degree, law enforcement training and firearms training are among the prerequisites for this ranking. Some PSOs also have advanced firearms training.
• Senior Security Officer: The training and experience of this senior staff are more extensive than that of the lower ranks. Emergency services training may be in their resume, as well. These officers may perform training duties but aren’t likely to hold a supervisory position.

Where to find security guards

To find the right security guard for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

• Security training institutions: Aspiring security guards often turn to programs and classes that provide training in this field. Reach out to local security training schools for likely job candidates.
• Other businesses: Speak with the HR departments of other businesses in your area. If they use security services, ask for recommendations.
• Website careers page: Advertise your security job openings on a dedicated career section or job openings page on your company website.
• Social media: Highlight your security guard job search on your company’s LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and other social media accounts. Link to your website jobs page.
• Post your job online: Try posting your security guard job on Indeed to find and attract quality security guard candidates.

Skills to look for in a great security guard

A great security guard candidate will have skills, attributes and work experience that reflect the following:

• Security guard certification
• Familiarity with developing emergency plans
• Self-defense and civilian protection skills
• Quick thinking
• Attention to detail
• Reliability 

Writing a security guard job description

A thoughtful description is important to finding qualified security guard candidates. A security guard job description includes a compelling summary of the role, a detailed list of duties and responsibilities and the required and preferred skills for the position.

When writing your security guard job description, consider including some or all of the following keywords to improve the visibility of your job posting. These are the most popular search terms leading to clicks on security guard jobs, according to Indeed data:

• Security
• Security officer
• Security guard
• Hiring immediately
• Allied Universal
• Unarmed security guard
• Overnight
• Unarmed security
• Immediately hiring
• Guard

Interviewing security guard candidates

Strong candidates for security guard positions will be confident answering questions regarding:

• Crisis management plans
• Responses to typical security scenarios
• Appropriate demeanor

Need help coming up with interview questions? See our list of security guard interview questions for examples (with sample answers).