Security guards’ skills and training are key to the success or failure of any security company. Security guard services are often seen as a service that is only available in the most extreme cases. Security guards are now faced with more difficult situations as a result of the economic downturn. It is more important than ever to train and improve the communication and decision-making skills of security officers.
Many security companies, including the largest companies in the industry, invest their most resources into great sales forces while hiring street security guards and sending them to work the next morning. Although security guards are required to take a class in order to get a guard card they do not learn how to make the best decision in dangerous situations.
My experience as a security consultant has been extensive. I often tell clients that their property is worth a lot. When choosing a contractor to hire, they need to keep two things in their minds. First, they shouldn’t hire the cheapest company. A client will pay $13.00 an hour, but to save a dollar an hour, they will hire a company with untrained security officers and poor communication skills. The client should also meet with the company’s sales consultant to ask about training, hiring, and employee turnover.
You should be able to rest assured that the company you hire will train their guards properly and hold them accountable if you pay a lot for security services. Ask the representative about the accountability of security officers. Good companies will only hire security officers who have at least two years experience. They will also continue to train them. A thorough background check and employment history check should be the norm. Security companies should offer classroom and on-the-job training to their officers.
Each client should be assigned a security consultant by the company. This will allow the client to contact the company directly in the event that there are any issues with the service. Many companies send their top salespeople to meet potential clients. They will then disappear as soon the contract is signed. If they have to make any changes to their service, clients should know where to find them. This will save clients a lot of frustration. In an emergency, many security companies become unresponsive to clients. This defeats the purpose behind hiring them.
A company that is reputable should have a clear plan for hiring new hire security guards employees as well as a comprehensive training program for existing security guards. The client should meet all security consultants and supervisors involved in protecting their property. This will allow the client to quickly and easily call the appropriate person in the event of an emergency. Although it is easy to hire a security company, you should ask the right questions. Otherwise, it could be a disaster.
