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Security Guard skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

5 min read

Quoted Experts

Jennifer Gibbs Ph.D.,

T.Christopher Bell

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical security guard skills. We ranked the top skills for security guards based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 25.3% of security guard resumes contained customer service as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a security guard needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 security guard skills for your resume and career

1. Customer Service

Customer service is the process of offering assistance to all the current and potential customers -- answering questions, fixing problems, and providing excellent service. The main goal of customer service is to build a strong relationship with the customers so that they keep coming back for more business.

Here's how security guards use customer service:

Managed detailed records, recognized public safety hazards, operated computerized surveillance system, and provided excellent customer services.
Monitored all facility activity and provided customer service, crowd control, and age verification in certain circumstances.

2. Patrol

Here's how security guards use patrol:

Prevented unauthorized persons or weapons of mass destruction from entering facilities/Front Desk Clerk-Security Officer/Vehicle Patrol Officer.
Performed dispatcher duties involving passing of information and directions to other officers on patrol assignments.

3. Ladders

Here's how security guards use ladders:

Job required driving, walking, and climbing stairs and ladders.
Communicate by radio or phone; climb ladders to make sure trucks were secure in all types of weather.

4. Security Services

Security services provide security to a customer who can pay for the service. They offer different services and packages that start with the basic security to more thorough security. This could include a security guard, with a weapon and a guard dog.

Here's how security guards use security services:

Provided internal security services at designated US diplomatic facilities in order to prevent the compromise of classified material and equipment.
Provided security services outside entertainment facilities; used metal scanning equipment to patrol inside and outside area.

5. Emergency Situations

Here's how security guards use emergency situations:

Patrol designated areas of hospital hourly, respond and assist in emergency situations occurring on University grounds.
Respond quickly to emergency and non-emergency situations as described in the Security Management Plan within the facility.

6. CPR

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation or CPR is a medical procedure that involves chest compression to help a patient breathe. This artificial ventilation helps in keeping the brain function in place and regulates blood throughout the body. CPR is a lifesaving procedure that is used in emergencies.

Here's how security guards use cpr:

Perform first aid or CPR when necessary Skills Used Communication Surveillance Integrity & professionalism Written Patrolling Medical Knowledge
Administered CPR and transported injured personnel to local medical facilities.

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7. Law Enforcement

Law enforcement is the task of certain members of the community who work together to uphold the law by identifying, preventing, rehabilitating, or prosecuting others who break society's laws and norms. The phrase refers to the police, the judiciary, and the correctional system.

Here's how security guards use law enforcement:

Request information from law enforcement officials, previous employers, and other references to determine applicants' employment acceptability.
Utilized force when necessary in the apprehension or detention of suspects involved in criminal activity until law enforcement arrived.

8. Property Damage

Property damage is the destruction or damage of tangible personal property. Property damage can be caused by negligence, irresponsible handling of the property, willful destruction, or any other destructure act of nature.

Here's how security guards use property damage:

Recorded data and corresponded with various departments to assess property damage, unusual occurrences and the malfunctioning of machinery and equipment.
Applied dynamic communication skills toward writing and producing detailed reports addressing issues such as property damage and medical emergency incidents.

9. Surveillance Equipment

Surveillance Equipment is a way to monitor and record events to keep a person or a property safe and secured. Using Equipment commonly known as Closed Circuit Television or CCTV can give you a clear view of what is happening in a specific area with the help of a technician or a security guard. This Equipment will secure the property and prevent further damage or loss of property.

Here's how security guards use surveillance equipment:

Secured premises and personnel by patrolling property- Monitored surveillance equipment- Inspected building and access points- Identified visitors and asked for appropriate identification
Secure premises and personnel by patrolling property; monitoring surveillance equipment; inspect buildings and monitor entry/exit of visitors and staff

10. Incident Reports

An Incident Report, in a medical facility such as hospitals and nursing homes, is a type of paperwork filled out immediately after and in the case of an incident of some sort, with the goal of describing the incident and its consequences, as well as the measurements taken after or during the incident, as well as any other information relevant to said incident. Such an incident might be a patient acting out or a patient being injured.

Here's how security guards use incident reports:

Conduct preliminary investigations, practice conflict intervention, maintain order and gather and provide detailed information for incident reports.
Prepared and completed incident reports as necessary, as well as the assigned property administrative and security contacts.

11. Loss Prevention

The steps taken by a business to prevent theft is called loss prevention. There are multiple methods for loss prevention for example usage of automated cash handling, secure physical location, product security staff buy-in, and attentive customer service.

Here's how security guards use loss prevention:

Verify employee identification upon entrance, and performing loss prevention measures upon employee and visitor departure.
Prepare Loss Prevention reports concerning security related incidents and advise superior of any unusual occurrences.

12. Metal Detectors

Here's how security guards use metal detectors:

Monitored entrances and conducted searches; utilized hand-held metal detectors and body searches to confiscate unauthorized items.
Operated metal detectors to screen individuals and prevent passage of prohibited articles into restricted areas.

13. CCTV

Here's how security guards use cctv:

Patrolled and secured building and surrounding property; monitored CCTV's and utilized radio communications.
Watched CCTV camera to ensure that any fraudulent activity is immediately reported.

14. Security Cameras

Here's how security guards use security cameras:

Controlled the safety of the facility by checking locked doors periodically, monitored security cameras and analyze employees actions.
Patrolled buildings, conducted security checks, monitored security cameras, and drove security vehicle while patrolling assigned areas.

15. Front Desk

Here's how security guards use front desk:

Monitored park property and handled administration front desk duties including answering phone calls, monitoring surveillance cameras and two-way radio traffic.
Job responsibilities included provide security, switchboard operator, front desk support, and administrative task in medical facility.

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What skills help Security Guards find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What skills stand out on Security Guard resumes?

Jennifer Gibbs Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Pennsylvania State University - Harrisburg

Police officers need many skills to be successful on the job. The most important are written and oral communication skills and the ability to make ethical decisions with limited information quickly. Written communications skills are crucial. If a police report is poorly worded or incomplete, it can derail a criminal case. Police officers also need to talk to people of all ages from all walks of life in any circumstance. Often, police meet people on what may be the worst day of their lives when emotions are running high. Police need to be able to help calm a person while gathering information. Police need to be able to use their words and body language to empathize with someone who has been victimized, and they need to project authority, so people making poor decisions obey their commands.
This may be common sense, but research has demonstrated that communication and ethical decision-making skills are important for police officers. (See the research article published in 2017 in the Journal of Criminal Justice Education, entitled "An assessment of the relative importance of criminal justice learning objectives," by Baker and colleagues.) Baker and colleagues asked students, professionals, and college professors to rate the skills of hypothetical job applicants. These participants rated the following as the most important characteristics for criminal justice applicants (including law enforcement officers):

Ethics
Oral communication
Critical thinking
Sensitivity to diversity
Written communication skills

What type of skills will young Security Guards need?

T.Christopher Bell

Professor, La Sierra University

The skills graduates will need are much improved in VERBAL COMMUNICATIONS skills-the ability to de-escalate and resolve conflict through verbal communication. Students who are majoring in Criminal Justice must be able to understand multiculturalism. The ability to understand different and not perceive it as harmful.

Do you want to know more?

List of security guard skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for a security guard resume and required skills for a security guard to have include:

Customer Service
Patrol
Ladders
Security Services
Emergency Situations
CPR
Law Enforcement
Property Damage
Surveillance Equipment
Incident Reports
Loss Prevention
Metal Detectors
CCTV
Security Cameras
Front Desk
Safety Hazards
Security Systems

Fire Hazards
Traffic Control
Medical Emergencies
Telephone Calls
Crowd Control
Security Checks
Emergency Services
IDS
Safety Procedures
Parking Enforcement
First Aid Training
Log Book
Construction Sites
Foot Patrol
Physical Security
Security Violations
Alarm Systems

Client Property
Fire Alarms
Proactive Monitoring
Surveillance Cameras
Transport Individuals
Drive Motor Vehicle
Security Breaches
Alertness
Safety Inspections
Local Authorities
Security Industry
Water Pipes
Criminal Acts
Evict Violators
Bomb Threats
Escort Services

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

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