| Private security work makes for a good, stable | | | | just you and your wits to keep you safe. Other |
| job with low overhead requirements. You can do | | | | positions which allow light arms might include |
| this fresh out of high school, and many college | | | | carrying mace, pepper spray, a baton, handcuffs, |
| students work their way through their higher | | | | or possibly a battery-powered stun gun. The fully |
| education. But it's not for everyone. | | | | armed positions will be where you carry a real |
| You should have some concept of or interest in | | | | gun or real shotgun. Whatever the device, you will |
| law enforcement, some degree of a conservative | | | | need to take classes in the safe handling of your |
| personality, and not be so far gone that you're | | | | armaments and stay certified. The various laws |
| going to think wearing a security guard uniform | | | | from state to state and the needs of that |
| makes you a super-hero. If you like to work night | | | | particular post will determine what you carry. |
| shift (or have to because of school) and like an | | | | If you work an unarmed position at night, |
| active job where you're on your feet a lot, and | | | | especially by yourself, it is frequently |
| especially if you have good people skills, you are | | | | recommended that you carry a "Mag"-style |
| cut out for security. | | | | flashlight. These are the durable heavy metal lights |
| The range of private security jobs cover a | | | | you see in the hands of law enforcement |
| variety of tastes. Some of the most common | | | | professionals everywhere, and while they aren't |
| posts: | | | | officially a "weapon", they are hefty enough to |
| * Industrial security - the most common type. | | | | come in handy in certain situations. |
| This can range from a night watchman position to | | | | "Observe and report" is the mantra of most |
| manning a gate and checking IDs. If you are a | | | | security positions. Under the law, you do not have |
| rover, you drive around on patrol, respond to | | | | the same authority as a police officer and you |
| alarms, check access points, and monitor activity. | | | | should never forget it. Your job will mainly entail |
| Public contact ranges from little to none, except if | | | | being a professional witness, and secondly to |
| you control an access point in the daytime and | | | | confront people engaged in suspicious activity and |
| even then you will only deal with employees of | | | | telling them to leave, or arresting them and |
| the company and vendors coming and going. | | | | turning them over to the police. |
| * Retail security - a much more active position. | | | | The greatest danger in this line of work is to |
| You will almost certainly be in a position of loss | | | | those who are unsure of their reach of authority. |
| prevention. Watching for and detaining shoplifters, | | | | When in doubt, pull back and call the police; you |
| possibly preventing vandalism or car theft, and | | | | are not the police and you do not have the |
| other kinds of patrol will all be in a day's work. | | | | training nor the authority to be the police. In any |
| * Residential security - very low level, you'll be | | | | situation, seek to de-escalate rather than escalate. |
| working apartment complexes and gated | | | | Do not turn a conversation into a dispute; do not |
| communities. Most likely checking passes at a gate | | | | turn a dispute into a fight. Never take on more |
| and making two rounds or so per night, maybe | | | | than you can handle. |
| handing out parking tickets or standing post at the | | | | Do by all means behave as a good citizen. The |
| home owner's meetings. One big part of this | | | | "bad guys" aren't all you have to worry about; |
| work is checking for and preventing residential | | | | you might also be called on to perform assistance |
| burglaries. | | | | to visitors to the business or to employees of |
| * Hospitality security - This is really very different | | | | that business. It is important that you maintain a |
| from retail security, though the two fit in the | | | | conservative appearance and demeanor; take |
| same category. A retail hospitality business will be | | | | your job seriously and have a highly professional |
| a hotel, casino, amusement park, stadium, or | | | | appearance and you will have an easier time of it. |
| other recreational facility. The most stringent | | | | Run around with a pierced nose, a ponytail dyed |
| degree of this kind of work, requiring qualifications | | | | punker green, and pay more attention to your cell |
| very close to that of a municipal police officer. | | | | phone or headphones that to your job and you |
| Also the most busy; you will have to deal with | | | | will have no respect and possibly no job. |
| every scenario you can imagine, and will never | | | | Training can be anything from a short course |
| have a dull day. | | | | supplied by the company to career-school training |
| * Civilian security - This actually qualifies as | | | | to occupational programs for training in weapons |
| "bodyguard" work. You are hired by a private | | | | to police-supplied courses. No matter how small, if |
| individual, usually fairly wealthy, to protect that | | | | you carry any kind of armaments, you will need |
| person and their interests specifically. Generally | | | | training in their safe handling and application. The |
| regarded as "cushy" work. | | | | low requirements for entry and the relatively low |
| Security work comes in a spectrum ranging from | | | | stress of the job make this an excellent |
| unarmed to light arms to heavy arms. Most work | | | | temporary career, and even not that bad of a |
| is of the unarmed variety, and you might have | | | | permanent career. |