security guard

Who are they and what do they do? The job of a security guard is to protect property and persons.

What are the activities of the job? His/her activities are as follows - he/she monitors the entrance or the exit of a building, so as to prevent unauthorised persons from entering the building and stop anyone carrying away the property of the organisation without authority. He/she can also be charged with guarding other buildings, motor vehicles or other equipment, going on regular inspection of buildings and facilities and protecting them from theft, damage, natural disasters, etc. - s/he guards staff and the gatehouses and vehicle entrances of protected organisations and other buildings - records and identifies persons entering the building and goods and articles brought in - checks documents of incoming cars and other means of transport- checks and inspects luggage of persons passing through - operates electronic security, fire alarm and fire-fighting systems - checks whether mechanical barriers are damaged - if a fire or another disaster occurs, he/she takes the first steps to prevent accidents and damage until the fire brigade, police or others arrive - records the course of his/her duty and any unusual events - escorts people, as an armed bodyguard, to protect them from possible assault - provides an armed escort for goods in transit, to protect them from possible robberies.

Where is it done and under what conditions? In gatehouses by entrances into buildings, in the outer and inner spaces of guarded buildings or other buildings, in motor vehicles (as a bodyguard) and also in other places where the security guard may be charged with the permanent protection of a certain person. This job involves shift work, changeable weather conditions and sometimes even danger.

What tools/equipment do they use? For example, a screen showing the guarded building, a torch, a radio transmitter, or a patrol dog and a firearm.

What do you need to succeed? Security agencies make requirements of their own (these may involve secondary education with a school-leaving certificate) and applicants for this job are usually given tests or undergo psychological examinations. The applicant must be reliable, disciplined, react quickly and have an agile mind, be able to improvise, have a good memory, be physically and mentally fit and skilful.