After analyzing hundreds of Security Guard Resumes, we've put together an example that you can use to help improve your chances of getting an interview.
It takes a great resume to set you apart from all of the other qualified applicants. It is also what determines whether you land a low-paying and demotivating gig, or a high-paying job with excellent working conditions.
While some people ignore various attributes and persuasive language in their resume, including detailed work experience and qualifications will give you an edge over others.
Being a security guard is a unique job not meant for just anyone. This individual plays a wide range of law enforcement roles in various entities such as businesses, communities, and industrial properties.
So, as you develop your resume for a security guard position, it should resonate with all security-related activities.
For example, cite how alert you have been for intruders in your past assignments. Touch on property area patrolling to unearth and report any suspicious activity in the vicinity.
As a security guard, one of your primary responsibilities is to survey those access points and restrain trespass, which is what the hiring manager will be looking for. They are also keen on seeing relevant experiences and skills that show that you can handle those alarms and emergencies.
Your resume should also indicate an ability to monitor surveillance cameras and screen everyone at private property entrances. Do you have experience in providing the necessary assistance to authorized guests, and handling unauthorized intruders?
A winning security guard resume should include these examples, including an in-depth understanding and familiarity with safety compliance standards. It should also indicate how knowledgeable and skilled you are in confronting all manner of unwanted and ugly incidents.
It is why before you submit those application documents, you want to do a thorough research on what the security guard job description entails. The following guide enables you to:
Your personal summary is the first thing the hiring manager sees. It is essentially a branding statement that sums up who you are and why you are qualified for the position you are applying for.
Since this statement will draw attention, the summary needs to be brief and catchy. With the fewest words possible, describe your vital attributes in a couple of words and why you are the right person for the position.
Most importantly, compose it in a few sentences that indicate your strongest skills and expertise.
Here is an incorrect example:
Incorrect: Armed security professional with over five years of experience providing security for client property and personnel.
And here is the correct version:
Correct: Armed security guard with over five years of property patrol experience, both certified and WV-registered. My safety compliance experience enabled me to cut safety incidence by 60% at my previous Garden State Community Hospital position. Seeking to leverage my best crime prevention practices based on excellent knowledge of the current security systems.
As you can see, the correct security guard resume example sums up your career history and achievements, which are also supported by actual numbers.
On the contrary, the incorrect version is so basic that it indicates no achievements. It also lacks facts. If you were a recruiter looking at both of these summaries, they would be more interested to read the full resume of the second applicant.
Read our guide on how to write the perfect resume summary to learn how to nail this section.
If you have less experience or have no experience, make sure to still explain why you are right for this role, rather than put the focus on the lack of experience. The correct and incorrect resume summary would read like this:
Here is an incorrect example:
Incorrect: A hardworking and highly committed individual seeking to provide security services to your premises. An active learner ready to undertake training and get to work. I have solved various security-related emergencies.
And here is the correct version:
Correct: Unarmed security guard seeking to provide patrolling services at your company. Gained security training via a temp position at Moresby High School. Later, provided security service at two highly charged public meetings in Jacksonville, helping to defuse tense interactions.
Although both of these two summaries are for less experienced applicants, they are also worlds apart in their respective wordings. The second one indicates that the applicant had previous jobs with relevant responsibilities, meaning some level of knowledge and experience in the security sector.
As for the first applicant, there is no indication at all that they have engaged in any security-based activities. For the majority of instances, if you want to land a highly sensitive job such as security, you need to show some credentials or experiences.
Since the summary will be the first thing the recruiter reads, make sure you use strong action verbs and adjectives to describe your working style & achievements.
You need not use complete sentences. Hence wordings like I have, or I am are never necessary. The hirer already knows it is you talking.
Double-check your statement and read it out loud so it reads well and you don't have any grammar or spelling mistakes.
You will detail your duties and responsibilities in previous employment in this section. If this is your first job and you have no track record of measuring your capabilities, you may be hesitant to apply.
But here is the thing, everyone in this field was once in the same position you are now. They got their first job as a security guard without previous security guard experience.
All you need is to correctly position and sell yourself to the hiring team using the skillsets and experiences you do have under your belt. Let's say you have had a few summer gigs during high school, or you dabbled in volunteer activities - show the recruiter how these experiences will help you excel at this position and how determined you are to land the job.
Detail your work experiences in a reverse chronological order - your last job comes first, and your very first job will come later.
Next, list the name of your employer, location, and the dates of your previous work experiences. Then make a bulleted list of the various responsibilities and achievements. Mention the most critical and relevant information in the first 3-4 bullets.
Remember to include all specific action verbs relevant to security guard positions, such as patrolled, monitored, and guarded.
While reviewing our sample for security guards, you may notice that we haven't gone beyond eight or nine bullet points. In some situations, you may need even fewer bullet points, and there is a tangible reason for that.
Using the same technique for your work history pins you down to only elaborating on the most critical duties you performed at your previous job. Since you have to keep it shorter, you are forced to maximize the amount of space you have, and will help you hone your words down to the most critical ones.
This way, you will be able to highlight the most significant accomplishments, including awards, and leave out the unnecessary details. Generally, this leaves you with a much stronger and convincing resume.
Let's review examples of incorrect and correct ways to list your work experience as 1. senior-level security guard & 2. junior-level security guard.
1. Work experience for a senior-level security guard:
Here's an incorrect example:
And here's the correct version:
There are glaring differences between the two work histories. While the correct one clearly shows the candidate's responsibilities and accomplishments, the incorrect version merely provides a list of functions.
The right one has specific numbers illustrating achievement, whereas the wrong version has support their claims.
2. Work experience for a junior-level security guard:
While a junior-level security guard applicant has limited to no experience, there is a correct and incorrect way to show your employability to the hiring manager.
Here's an incorrect example:
And here's the correct version:
Even though a junior security guard may have limited experience, the correct version expounds on every task the candidate does while at their previous employment. They candidly promote themselves, highlighting their job description.
The incorrect version, on the contrary, is vague and does not offer clarity on the day-to-day tasks. The hirer can't tell the exact experience level of this candidate, meaning they have no chance.
Tip: Create a Strong Work Experience Section - It's important to include action verbs and quantify results. Use this list of over 350 resume action verbs as a guide to craft the most effective bullet points.
Generally, there is a need to touch on particular aspects of your work history description. For example, you can specify if you prevented break-ins and mention how many times.
Then, do not just talk about being responsible for security. Instead, go deeper and note how you identified various security risks and hazards.
Let your hiring manager know if you spent long hours at the job, and if you exercised professionalism in interaction with members of the public.
Let's touch on the sensitive part where you have little to no experience. Do not view this as an automatic hinderance to getting that interview slot.
Instead, tailor your resume to highlight your education, skills and relevant work responsibilities. For example, you can cite those summer jobs, any projects, or volunteer work that show responsibilities related to the job position.
The great thing about most security guard positions is that they are flexible education-wise, and a high school diploma or equivalent can do. In some circumstances, experience is what matters the most.
Still, a college degree or professional certification definitely can give you an advantage. Assuming you are gunning for a more competitive position, these certifications and awards can propel you ahead of your fierce competitors.
Some of the in-demand qualifications by private companies and businesses include degrees in criminal justice, communications, and behavioral/ social science.
Again, to qualify, you must be above 18 years and a registered security guard. You will need to pass a criminal background check and also most likely need to complete required training before starting the position.
Regardless of your current experience, most employers provide additional on-the-job training specific to the expected job responsibilities and tasks, health and safety, emergencies, and communication channels.
As already mentioned, some of the positions can be pretty competitive, so your resume can stand out with this extra section that might include:
Tip: List Licenses & Certifications Correctly - Make sure to list any licenses or certifications on your resume in the right section for the best chance to win the interview.
Not all requirements are the same for all security guards. You will often find that standards and criteria for interviews for armed security guards are more demanding and rigorous.
For one, they undergo a thorough and extensive background check. It includes fingerprinting to rule out any criminal record. Then, of course, assuming you pass your interview, you have to undergo refresher weapons training.
The majority of employment boards and jurisdictions recommend that a security guard be acclimatized to their new job via 8 hours of training before starting. They also endorse a further 8 to 16 hours on the job and 8 hours yearly weapons refresher training.
Frankly, most hiring managers are looking for your skills and experiences. This is what you need to highlight the most in your resume - your ability to perform specific security-related tasks.
Since it is so easy for this field to attract undesirable actors, most companies are on the lookout for an individual's ethical standards or respect for the rule of law as one of the critical specifics.
Meanwhile, essential qualities that make the list of your fundamental skills include:
The majority of the leading security providers recommend various crucial soft skills for any security guard position. Here are some of them:
You may wonder if hobbies play any role in securing that coveted security guard's job, and the truth is that yes, they can.
But you must be smart about which to indicate. We suggest you only use hobbies that are professional and/or relevant to the job. For example, the following hobbies could suffice.
A common myth is that no one ever has the time to read a cover letter. Yet this is an assumption - research shows that more than 50% of hiring managers expect and duly go through cover letters.
If you're going after a highly competitive position, it is even more vital that you spend some quality time developing the best cover letter you can.
Address the cover letter by the hiring manager's name. It adds a more personal tone and flavor to an otherwise formal document.
In the cover letter, you can explain what you like most about their organization and why you are applying. It enables the recruiter to know the deep motivation behind your application and why you want to join the company.
Since there is more space in the cover letter to expound on your work experiences, take the time to highlight how these experiences make you a great candidate.
Lastly, end your cover letter with a meeting or call proposal.
The outlook for security guard jobs is bright, and the demand is ever-growing. But there are also many applicants looking to fill these positions, and only a great resume can do you justice. To land that coveted job, you must be able to communicate your experiences and skills with specific and relevant examples.
Most importantly, take the time to research the company you are applying for, as well as the larger industry and best practices. If needed, build your skillsets, especially the technical skills or training that is necessary for the position.
Finally, ensure your resume is clean and typo-free. Keep it as professional, short, and straightforward as possible. A one-page, well-written, grammar error-free document with the right fonts would add several marks.
Choosing the best resume format will be the first step you'll need to get right in order to lay the groundwork for your entire resume.
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