The work profile of armed security officer includes checking the people entering and leaving the premises they are guarding, walking around the premises to look for any suspicious activities, ensure that the celebrities and important personnel are not bothered and escorting them to a safe place, providing customer care services like showing them the way, periodically checking trains, buses and all for public safety, making sure that the buildings are not damaged and so on. Overall, their job is to prevent the crime and to maintain a general sense of peace and decorum in the city.
To become an armed security officer, you need to have Security Industry License (SIA) license. To obtain this, it is essential that you do not have any criminal records pending and you must be above 18 years of age. There is a dedicated course for security guard training which is of 2 years duration. Apart from that you have to clear 2 examinations. There is an option of completing the course full time or part time during the weekends. The course is divided into 2 modules. The 1st module makes the officers aware of their responsibilities. It basically teaches them what their role as an armed security officer is. The 2nd module teaches them how to handle conflicts and emergency situations and also how to interact with different people. There are a few certified courses in this field, which differs from country to country. If you are in UK, you require at least 1 of the following certified courses:
- ASET Level 2 certificate for security guards
- City & Guilds (C&G) Level 2 certificate for security guards
- BTEC Level 2 award in security guards
Some of the skills required are:
- You should be true to yourself and do your duty honestly.
- You should be polite and helpful.
- You should be observant and be under total control of things happening around you.
- Do not shy away from responsibilities and be willing to help people around you.
- Should have the ability of working under pressure.
- Should be able to handle sensitive issues like controlling a public outrage or riots.
- You need to be physically fit and healthy.
- A good knowledge about computer and modern facilities like CCTV and surveillance cameras is essential.
Prior experience within the armed forces or police service can be really helpful. Good experience can be gained by working as an event steward. With such previous experience, you can make your entry into security jobs much easier.
You can get promoted to a supervisory or manager job. You can either have your own security company or be affiliated with some other company. This is a highly responsible job and a slight slip in concentration can be very fatal.
Armed security officers make anywhere around $22,000 annually. Experienced ones draw around $32,000 annually. This is not as lucrative as some of the other jobs with a limited scope of promotion.
The need for security officers is growing day by day due to increase in anti-social activities. Competent individuals should opt for security jobs and try to excel in their skills and receive the necessary qualification.