6 Signs that Say Your Security Guard Isn’t Right For You

All over the world business are afraid that a break in could cost them time, money, and destroy valuable resources. The solution:  Hire a private security company to provide full time security guard services.  Investing in a security guard can be a great idea whether it’s for personal or business use.  However,  it is important to hire a security company that makes sure that the security guard is going to mesh well with the environment within your organization.  Security guards have an impact on your business  every day. The wrong guard can be a big problem.  The question is…how do you know if you have the right secuirty guard.  

Here are 5 danger signs that could mean that you have the wrong security guard.

  They Seem Preoccupied

Many people know the struggle of trying to keep personal issues out of their workspace. However,  a security guard cannot afford to be distracted.  They must throw their all into protecting what you are hiring them for, especially when you hire an armed security guard.  If you meet them and they seem preoccupied or spaced out there is a good chance they have a hard time fully immersing themselves only in their work, and a distracted security guard is never good to have around.

  They Haven’t Worked Your Schedule Before

This is important, especially if you are hiring a guard for night shift work. They could be the most qualified person, but if they are used to working another shift, they may not always be 100% there.   When it comes to night shift particularly some people have a harder time adjusting then others to the demanding lifestyle.  Ask the guard what shift they usually work.  If they usually work early mornings, then  then it is best that they not be working for you overnight.   You want a security guard that is always going to be on their A game when they are on duty.  If they have not worked the shift you are requesting them for in the past, it might be better to look for someone who has a little bit more experience in that area. 

  They Seem To Have Biases

Security guards just like anyone else are human and have their own personal biases. They may not be Urgenting of a certain race or think that all women are bossy and rude.  Make sure that these biases do not apply to the your staff or customers.  For example, if you operate a business that serves a particular ethnic group it is important to have a security guard who seems to be comfortable working with that demographic.  If you are a woman and the guard seems to be disrespectful of women, they may not be your perfect match.   You want to be able to Urgent your security guards and give them orders that they follow immediately.  Observe as your guard works.  Try to get a feel for what biases they may have.   Everyone has biases.  Just make sure that those biases do not apply to your staff or customers. 

  They Don’t Have Previous Experience

Every security guard has to start somewhere, but it does not have to be with you. If you are hiring a guard from a security service the security company should be open with sharing the guards qualifications and previous work experience.    Just because a security guard has limited experience does not mean he or she will be bad. However, you want to feel comfortable.  You also want to be sure that the guards experience fits your environment.  For example, if you are operating a high end retail store a guard who has been working patrol security in a public housing project for ten years may not be as good a fit as guard who has been working retail security for 1 year.  Does this mean that the housing project cant do the job.  No!  However, the guard with public housing experience may have difficulty adjusting to the less aggressive nature of high end retail security.  If their previous experience makes you feel uncomfortable or seems insufficient for the job you have the complete right to request a different guard.  If the company refuses, then you may want to consider switching to a private security firm that takes its clients views  more seriously.   

They are not familiar with your geographic area

Every geographic area has its own tendencies.  These tendencies result in different types of challenges.  It is best to have a security guard who is familiar with the area that they operate.  This is an important critera that many organizations overlook.  For example the nature of the environment and duties involved with residential security for a condominium downtown Washington, DC is significantly different from residential security in Alexandria, VA.  Parking lot patrol are a significant part of residential security in the suburbs.  Many building downtown do not have a parking lot.   The security guard downtown may also have to handle threats of homeless persons breaching the security to sleep in the stairwells or storage areas.  This type of problem is less common in suburbs like Alexandria, VA or Rockville, MD.  Each area has its own challenges and risks.  It is important to have a security guard who is familiar with the risks in your area. 

They Have the wrong  personality or temperament for your location

The last thing that a business needs is to have a guard with a personality and temperament that is wrong for the location.  Different locations require different personality traits and temperaments.  A guard providing hotel security  for a luxury hotel must be friendly and willing to perform duties that do not fit under a strict definition of security duties.   It is common for hotels to require their guards to perform customer service duties such as placing checkout receipts under doors and giving directions.  On the contrary, a security guard working at a hotel with high drug activity and prostitution is expected to be extra firm and avoid unnecessary conversations.  At those locations the guard needs a since of toughness and intimidation would not be a good fit for the luxury hotel.  Be observant when speaking with the guard.  Do they seem comfortable with the job.  Are they tough or friendly enough?

 Conclusion

Security guards can be a great resource if you need to protect sensitive information or simply have a large area to keep under surveillance. It is important that the security guard protecting your business and customers/clients is the right fit for your location.  We recommend this one.  Regardless of who you choose be sure to only choose security companies that take the time to make sure that the guard is right for your location.  Regardless of whether they are located in Virginia, Maryland or Washington DC, any licensed security company can provide you with a licensed security guard.  The key is selecting a security service agency that assigns the security guard that is right for your location.  When a security company provides you with a security guard, always look for these five danger signs and replace any guards that don’t seem to match the duties you expect for them to perform. It’s okay to say no.  Remember, you have hired a professional security company to provide your with a security guard.  There is nothing wrong with requesting a guard is the right for you. 

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