How to hire a surveillance observer

How to hire a surveillance observer, step by step

Here's a step-by-step surveillance observer hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a surveillance observer job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new surveillance observer
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the surveillance observer you need to hire. Certain surveillance observer roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A surveillance observer's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, surveillance observers from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   Here's a comparison of surveillance observer salaries for various roles:

   Type of Surveillance Observer	Description	Hourly rate
   Surveillance Observer	Security guards and gaming surveillance officers patrol and protect property against theft, vandalism, terrorism, and illegal activity.	$10-25
   Observer	An observer is responsible for supporting patients' conditions under the health personnel's supervision, ensuring that the medical operations comply with the institution's policies and procedures. Observers must have excellent communication and organization skills, responding to the patients' inquiries and concerns, and performing administrative tasks as required by the management... Show more	$12-28
   Surveillance Investigator	A surveillance investigator specializes in gathering credible information related to the subject of an investigation. Typically working for private companies or independently, a surveillance investigator's responsibilities revolve around arranging surveillance systems such as cameras and microphones, conducting background checks, interviewing potential witnesses, and looking into illegal activities... Show more	$14-32

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Casino Floor
   • Surveillance Equipment
   • CCTV
   • Control Board
   • Local Law Enforcement
   • Video Evidence
   • Casino Table Games
   • Incident Reports
   • Internal Controls
   • Video Surveillance
   • Procedure Violations
   • Casino Assets
   • Soft Count
   • Mics

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Assist in taking patient medical history and managing clinical patients and participate in medical team discussions regarding patient treatment plans.
   • Assist in taking patient medical history and managing clinical patients and participate in medical team discussions regarding patient treatment plans.
   • Provide safety training for GSK clinical scientists and monitors.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your surveillance observer job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A surveillance observer can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, surveillance observers' average salary in mississippi is 43% less than in alaska.
   • Seniority. Entry-level surveillance observers 60% less than senior-level surveillance observers.
   • Certifications. A surveillance observer with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a surveillance observer's salary.

   Average surveillance observer salary

   $16.23hourly

   $33,761 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level surveillance observer salary

   $21,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 15, 2025

4. Writing a surveillance observer job description

   A surveillance observer job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a surveillance observer job description:

   Surveillance observer job description example

   1. Ability to lift or carry upwards of 50 pounds.
   2. Manual dexterity and coordination to operate office equipment, including a 10 key adding machine, personal computers, fax machine, photocopier, VCR’s, keyboard, monitors, switchers, sequencers, and quads.
   3. Respond to visual and aural cues.
   4. Operate in mentally stressful situations with composure.
   5. Must be able to bend, kneel, reach, twist and grip from assigned work areas.
   6. Must be able work in confined areas, containing multiple CCTV monitors.
   7. Must be able to spend extended periods of time walking, standing, or sitting.

   Knowledge, Skills and abilities:

   1. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
   2. Ability to prioritize and set goals.
   3. Ability to handle difficult work situations with management and staff with diplomacy, and in a professional manner at all times.
   4. Ability to document accurately.
   5. Demonstrated computer skills including spreadsheets, database systems, and Microsoft Office applications.

   QUALIFICATIONS:

   1. Demonstrated 2 years casino experience, with an emphasis on casino surveillance, security, table games, slots, or equivalent work experience.
   2. Ability to obtain and maintain a Nooksack Tribal Gaming Agency License and Class III Washington State Gaming License.
   3. Must be willing to work non-traditional schedules including nights, weekends, and holidays.
   4. Must be at least 18 years of age.

   PLEASE NOTE:

   This list of duties and responsibilities, requirements and licenses is not meant to be exhaustive. Management reserves the right to revise the position description and to require that other tasks be performed when the circumstances of the position change.

   Should an applicant or employee request special consideration for any particular reason, such as reasonable accommodation for a disability; the Supervisor or Manager should contact the Human Resources Department. At this time, the Supervisor or Manager should be able to describe, in detail, the essential functions of the job involved in the request.

   Supervisors and Managers are legally considered agents of the company and as such are responsible to act in a manner that best represents the interests of the Nooksack River Casino and its employees. They are personally accountable for their words and actions to outside agencies.

   Supervisors and Managers are required to work within the established philosophies and guidelines of the Nooksack River Casino and have the responsibility to meet the expectations of senior management.

   Company DescriptionNorthwood Casino is located just east of Lynden, WA and features 350+ slot machines, three dining venues, a fabulous player reward program, and great customer service. Many of our team members have worked at Nooksack Northwood Casino since we opened nearly 14 years ago. We think that speaks to their job satisfaction. Moreover, we love to hire from within; so you can expect opportunities to advance in your career at Northwood!
   
   All employees enjoy these benefits:
   * discounted meal during your shift
   * holiday pay on seven holidays PLUS a paid day off within 30 days of your birthday!
   * eligible to enroll in 401k on first of month following hire date
   * use of Employee Assistance Program
   * 50% discount on month to month membership at local gym
   * ample opportunities for growth!
   
   Fulltime employees enjoy the above PLUS:
   * low cost employee only medical/dental/vision (dependents may also enroll)
   * Casino paid life and AD&D insurance
   * eligible for additional life, AD&D, short term disability, critical care, and accident insurance
   * paid vacation, sick, extra floating holidays, etc.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find surveillance observers for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your surveillance observer job on Zippia to find and recruit surveillance observer candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with surveillance observer candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new surveillance observer

   Once you've selected the best surveillance observer candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new surveillance observer first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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