RECRUITMENT GUIDE
Security Officer
A security officer is responsible for monitoring, supervising and patrolling the area/venue that they have been assigned. A security officer may also be asked to protect a specific person, in which case they must ensure the person is safe at all times and can get from point A to B with no interference from others.
A security officer must prevent crime from occurring in their designated location, and make sure that the buildings that they are needing to protect are free from theft, crime, vandalism, and any other illegal activities. Overall, they must ensure everybody in the building is safe, and the property itself is safe.
As a role that ensures the safety of people and property, it’s important that security officers are physically fit, observant, and able to adapt and respond to changing needs and emergencies.
Day-to-day tasks of this role:
- Monitor alarms and security camera footage.
- Control and monitor people entering and leaving the venue.
- Complete a comprehensive report on any incidents or near misses.
- Detain any intruder or someone engaging in illegal activities whilst waiting for police.
- Protect and monitor property.
Recruitment Process
UNDERSTAND THE ROLE
Skills profile for a Security Officer
Most companies do not require security officers to have any qualifications besides a high school graduation certificate, however some may require a tertiary qualification such as a degree in police science or criminal justice. Overall, relevant industry experience is most favourable, and there are some common skills required for this role.
A security officer must understand the different security procedures required for the different situations, events and buildings that they may come across. They must have worked with multiple security systems and access control, and have excellent interpersonal skills that enable them to confidently diffuse tense situations.
A security officer must be well skilled in safety management. They must be familiar with basic First Aid training and CPR, and be willing to help anyone that may need it. They must have experience with access control, CCTV, and safety response procedures to be able to identify and resolve any issues. Overall, the main role of a security officer is to prioritise safety in any and all situations and encounters.
It is essential that security officers have excellent communication skills. They must also have strong interpersonal skills, and be able to communicate with anybody that they are in contact with. They must remain calm whilst communicating tough messages or notifying people of wrong-doing. They need to be able to communicate clearly in high pressure situations, with people from all different backgrounds and walks of life.
Once you’ve determined the skills required for the role, you can write the job description to advertise for your position.
SOURCE APPLICANTS
Security Officer Job Description
Summary:
- Why is this role being filled?
- How does this role fit into the organization and the team?
- What makes your company unique?
- What would it be like to work for you?
Requirements:
- What technical skills are needed for this role?
- Which soft skills are applicable?
- What are the nice-to-have experiences of your ideal candidate?
- Include availability preferences in this section
Responsibilities:
- What are the key deliverables for this role?
- What does the day-to-day of this role look like?
Benefits:
- Compensation & bonuses
- Employee benefits & perks
- Ongoing training benefits
PRO TIP #1
As this role can be very physically demanding and will require the successful candidate to be on their feet all day, it is important to include this aspect of the role in the application. This will ensure applicants are aware of the physical requirements of the role, and so that employers can ensure they are hiring someone who is capable of performing the physically demanding elements of the role.
PRO TIP #2
Ensure that the entire recruitment process from job description to assessment to interview reiterates your company vision and values. This will help you identify the right people for the role, and applicants will know whether your company is the right fit for them.
Sample skills assessment
Question 1
Security Officer
Question Type: Document
Describe a time where you have had to manage a dishonest person or agitated personnel in this role. How did you handle the situation? Please outline this in the document below.
Question 2
Communication
Question Type: Text
Describe a time where you have had to communicate an unpopular decision or tough message to someone?
Question 3
Trustworthy
Question Type: Video
Have you ever worked with a supervisor or co-worker who was not trustworthy? Why weren’t they? How did you manage this relationship?
INTERVIEW
Interview guide for a Security Officer
Once your Vervoe skills assessment has surfaced the most qualified people for your open role, you can focus on interviewing these candidates. The PDF interview guide contains structured questions against each of the competencies for this role.
This interview guide is intended to be used in conjunction with the Vervoe skills assessment. Where a candidate has scored Low – Medium on a skill, focus on asking more questions from that skill to gain deeper insight into their level of competency.
PDF INTERVIEW GUIDE
Get your copy of the interview guide to complete the hiring process. Includes questions against each of the skill competencies for the role.