Security Guards

Also Called:

Safety and Security Officer,

Security Agent,

Security Guard,

Security Officer

What they do: Guard, patrol, or monitor premises to prevent theft, violence, or infractions of rules. May operate x-ray and metal detector equipment. Excludes Transportation Security Screeners (33-9093).

Law, Public Safety, Corrections and Security icon

Law, Public Safety, Corrections and Security

Career Cluster

What do they typically do on the job?

  • Lock doors and gates of entrances and exits to secure buildings.
  • Patrol industrial or commercial premises to prevent and detect signs of intrusion and ensure security of doors, windows, and gates.
  • Respond to medical emergencies by administering basic first aid or by obtaining assistance from paramedics.

Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions.

Stress Tolerance

Self-Control

Cautiousness

Integrity

Dependability

Perseverance

Interests

Career interests describe the perspectives and interests of people who enjoy the type of work involved in this career.

Discover what your interests are by taking the Interest Profiler Quiz

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Realistic

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Conventional

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Enterprising

Abilities

Whether you have received formal training or not, these types of abilities are helpful in this career.

Verbal

  • Listen and understand what people say

  • Communicate by speaking

Attention

  • Pay attention to something without being distracted

Skills

People who want to pursue this career have skills in these areas.

Basic Skills

  • Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions

  • Keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements

Social

  • Changing what is done based on other people's actions

  • Understanding people's reactions

Does this sound like something you'd like to do?

1. Do some research

  • Identify how your interests, values, and strengths match this occupation
  • Talk to someone who works in this field or spend a day job shadowing
  • Use the colleges and training directory to explore programs related to this career

2. Plan your next move

  • Talk to your college and career counselor or school admissions staff
  • Visit Idaho Launch
  • Search for available Security Guards jobs on Idaho Works

Data for NSI career cards comes from the following: Idaho Department of Labor, US Bureau of Labor Statistics, O*NET, MyNextMove, and Career OneStop