Important Things to Know if You're Thinking of Pursuing a Career in Security

The security industry is a great one to get into. Whether you’re interested in digital or physical security, there is a lot of work going on. Crime rates are through the roof. People have never been more in need of protection from criminals than ever before. However, as is the same with any industry, starting out in security can be difficult. This post will explore this topic in more detail and tell you everything you need to know so that you can get started and find your footing.

Pursuing Qualifications

The first thing that you need to do if you want to get a job in security is to go to college and study. Qualifications are a prerequisite to stable employment. While it’s technically possible to find work without any qualifications or formal study time, it’s not wise to apply for jobs if you are in such a position. The reason for this is that you are not going to get precedence over people who have got qualifications. You will be pleased to know that you do not have to go to a brick-and-mortar college, though. It’s possible to obtain qualifications online. If you plan on studying digitally, find a good education provider to study with. A provider’s reviews will tell you everything you need to know about them and help you to make a decision relative to whether you want to study there or not.

Obtaining a License

If you want to work in security, you are going to need to obtain a license. Individuals interested in working for organizations like the QLD need a specific type of license. You can get your security licence QLD with relative ease. You may want to get qualifications before applying for a license. Getting qualified first will mean that after you have applied for a license, you can start making job applications. Make sure that you conduct extensive online research and find the right license for you. The one you need depends on where you live, what type of job you are applying for, and how much experience you have. Some licenses require you to take courses first. If the license you are applying for requires you to take a course first, the additional study time will make you a pro, making you much more desirable to employers.

Type of Security

You also need to take some time to figure out which area of security you want to work in. As mentioned above, you can work in digital or physical security. The former can be a lot more profitable, though the latter’s much more stable. If you want stable, consistent employment for the rest of your life, physical security is worth looking into. An added benefit of physical security is that you can typically work overtime which is not something that you are usually allowed to do when you are working digitally. Make sure that you spend a long time thinking about which area you want to get into as digital and physical security are very, very different. You need to define your area of interest so that when you start applying for courses and licenses you are able to apply for the right ones. If you're unsure which direction you're heading in, consider talking to a career counselor.

Understanding Risk

If you are interested in working in physical security, you need to take some time to understand the inherent risk that comes along with it. If you are protecting neighborhoods or properties, there is a chance that you're going to encounter criminals. You will of course be trained in how to handle such situations. However, training does not eliminate the unavoidable stress and anxiety that comes with conflict. Make sure that you take time to educate yourself about what to do in intensely stressful situations so that you are able to respond accordingly. As the saying goes, if you have to think in physical combat, you have already lost. You need to learn to defend yourself and how to respond properly so that you can commit it to muscle memory and act without thinking. If you are comfortable working in risky, dangerous situations, then security is probably for you.

Work Placements

Once you have obtained qualifications and a license, you can go ahead and start looking for work placements. If you are young and new to security, you may want to apply for an apprenticeship. An apprenticeship will help you to develop your skills as a security professional. Additionally, having work experience on your resume will make you look a lot more attractive to employers. In the security industry, everything. The more experience you have, the more desirable you are going to be to hiring managers. Finding work placements can be difficult, though. This is especially true if you are an adult. Apprenticeships are typically reserved for young people. Make sure that if you do apply for one and you aren’t exactly an ideal candidate (i.e. because you are old or lack qualifications), do other things to make yourself desirable, such as becoming physically fit and educating yourself about how the security industry works so that you can ask all of the hiring manager’s questions.

Making Connections

Making connections in the industry is a good way to find work. One of the internet's largest networking platforms is LinkedIn. Creating an account on LinkedIn will allow you to talk to people who work in the security industry and hone your skills. Make sure that when you are creating a LinkedIn platform, you emphasize all of your experience and anything else that makes you a good hire. Ensure that when you are messaging people on LinkedIn you do not pester them. This is especially important if you are applying for jobs. Pestering people is a surefire way to make hiring managers skip your application. Be sure to ask lots of questions on LinkedIn and share insights of your own.

Are you thinking of pursuing a career in security? If so, you’ve got your work cut out for you. However, in spite of how difficult it can be to establish oneself, the industry is a great place to find a lifelong career. You can also meet a lot of interesting people and make friends. Implement the guidance given here if you want to get a job in security.