It is very common to have ideas about people before we meet them. Such stereotypes can be based on the way someone dresses, the way they talk, what sport they like to watch and what level of education they have. Every one of us is guilty of using these things to judge someone before we truly get to know them. However, as a security guard you are expected to make judgements about people in a split second and it is all too easy to let your views cloud your judgement. While it may seem relatively harmless to treat someone in a certain way because of the way they are dressed, your security training will show you that judging or treating people worse because of a fundamental difference is actually illegal.

Any security guard who decides to treat another person differently because they are gay (or appear to be), disabled, from a certain religion, older or younger, male or female can and often will lead to a call for compensation and a black mark against the security guard, their employer and the security company as a whole. Venues need to take special care to ensure that their door supervisors are vetting their customers on valid criteria such as their behaviour, if they are drunk or if they are under-age. Telling someone to go away because they are in a wheelchair is simply not acceptable.

The security guard in Ireland obviously allowed his personal views to get in the way of his job. Either his security training failed to cover the points we have raised here, or he just didn’t care. If you are thinking of becoming a security guard and enrolling in a security training course, you need to know that any viewpoints you might have which discriminate against certain groups will not be tolerated. You could land in very hot water and lose your security licence in a flash if you let those views spill out into your work – so leave your prejudices at home.

• Your CV should always list your academic or job related qualifications with the most recent first. Of course this will mean that your security training will be near the top.
• List the things you have learned during your security training on your CV. This will include customer service skills, counter terrorism, data handling, fire and first aid training, general crowd handling, searching techniques and more.
• It would also be worthwhile to add the skills you have from your previous jobs which are relevant for your security career. These may include administrative skills, people skills, communication skills and computer skills. All of these are very relevant as a security guard.
• Always add the details of your SIA licence including when it was received and when it will need renewing. Your new employer may need to take the expense of renewal into account before employing you.
• List your full security qualifications including any additional courses you have attended such as door supervising training or CCTV training. You should also detailing any fire marshal training or first aid training you have completed.
• If you have been police checked, this will be a relevant point to add to your security CV. You may be working with children or vulnerable people in your job capacity.
• Think about adding a photo to your CV. It will help you to be remembered and will show that you are smart and the right person for a role with such responsibility. Make sure the photo shows you dressed in a professional way.
• Do whatever you can to hand deliver your CV to the right person in the company where you hope to work. You can do this even when there are no jobs advertised. The personnel manager will remember you and will be impressed by your initiative. Remember to dress smartly.

Writing and presenting a good security CV is an art and something you should take your time over. Use online templates to help you with the setting out and always get someone else to proof read it for you. Using these tips should result in a security job of your dreams – making all that security training more than worthwhile.

So how do you choose the right security training company and what types of questions should you be asking before you sign on the dotted line?

• Always ensure that the training company you choose is one of those recommended by the Security Industry Authority. They have a tool on their website which allows you to search for the training company closest to you. Being accredited with the SIA means that the course is run to their specifications and the eventual qualification meets their standards.
• Do some online research to find out if there are any reviews of your security training company. Find out if people thought the course was worthwhile and if it met their needs.
• Question the training company to find out what their pass rate is, if they offer a range of courses such as door supervisor training or CCTV training and how long the course will take. You may also want to know if they offer help for disabilities or learning difficulties.
• Always make sure you have been given a comprehensive quote for the course before you start. Some websites may just list the course price, but they fail to mention the cost of text books and the exam fees. You need to know what the total cost will be before you start.
• Ask if the security training company can help you with applying for your SIA licence and if they have contacts with regards to finding employment.

You may see security training as a huge investment, but in terms of your future career, it could be the best investment you ever make. But do not simply allow your enthusiasm to stop you from doing your homework. You need to get the best possible training at a price which offers good value for money. You won’t regret the extra time it takes in the long run.

A Freedom of Information request discovered that since 2008 huge numbers of people were found to be carrying five truncheons, two knuckle-dusters and two quantities of cannabis. There were also three imitation firearms found, a catapult and a meat cleaver. Even worse, a sword and a medieval sabre were among the weapons carried in by members of the public. The most common item to be found by the security team were knives with 148 found in 2011 alone and 114 found so far this year.

Members of the public are asked to go through metal detectors and x-rays machines by security staff before they may enter the Houses of Parliament and around one million enter the building each year.Visitors include school children on organised trips and special guests attending receptions and dinners.

While it may seem incredible that any member of the public would even attempt to carry such items into a public building like this, it appears that there are still people out there who wish harm to others and are willing to take the risk of being discovered. Clearly the place of the security guard is secure – at least in public buildings. During your security training you will learn the best ways to identify those people who seem suspicious and how to search people in an effective manner. Whether you are completing security guard training, door supervisor training or CCTV training, the skills remain the same. Security guards should always follow these few rules when searching visitors.

• Look for suspicious behaviour such as people attempting to evade security checkpoints,not making eye contact and further concealment of bags
• People wearing bulky clothing may be doing so to hide larger items
• You should never stop and search someone based on their ethnicity, their religion, the way they dress or their sex. The fact is that all types of people try to smuggle illegal items into public buildings
• Use the x-ray machine and metal detectors as a tool to help you do your job, but also use your intuition, good sense and your eyes as your main tool

Security training is one of the hottest tickets when it comes to getting a great job especially in London where many of the largest public buildings exist. So if you want to be one of the guards who find a knife at the entrance to the houses of Parliament, you should complete London security training courses  in 2013.

• Communication is one of the most effective tools you have when it comes to diffusing a tense situation.
• Your body language says more than words ever could. Always adopt a stance and body position which is non-threatening and open. This might mean keeping hand gestures to a minimum, standing away from the person you are confronting and keeping your hands in a relaxed position.
• Always come to the other person’s level when talking to them. If they are on the ground you should bend down and if they are standing you should take care not to tower over them.
• Even if you are delivering bad news, you should always tell the truth as best as you are aware. If you don’t know the answer to a question say so immediately and attempt to find out if you can.
• If you are dealing with people who have been waiting for a long time it is better to keep them informed of what is happening – even if that is nothing at all. Frustration in large crowds can lead to chaos and it is your responsibility to avoid that.
• Your language must remain professional at all times and you can never be personally abusive towards the people you are in charge of. Never act in an inflammatory way or get involved in an argument with anyone.
• It is your job to be in control of the situation and you will be looked to by the public to know what to do. Speak clearly, loudly and with authority, but never in an accusing, condescending or argumentative way.

Your sia licence training for door supervisors or security guards will help you to improve your communication skills as this is fundamental to managing people/crowds. If you can talk to people effectively you may find that you have very few situations where things get past the point of talking.