What You Need To Ask Your Security Guards

In hiring a security service, it is best to be hands-on in the selection of your security guards so that you may truly have that peace of mind and assurance that you need, knowing fully well that you have competent and dependable persons patrolling and manning your premises. But how do you start your selection process? What are the things you need to ask your security guards to assess their level of competency? What are the major aspects of security handling you need to know?

Your security guards must possess certain important attributes so that they can fully meet your expectations and perform a good job. Naturally, they will need to possess good verbal communication skills. This is crucial because the security guards are usually tasked to remind and even reprimand persons regarding prohibited areas and unacceptable conduct. The security guards also need to have exceptional observation skills. They need to be able to notice the slightest sign of trouble or pinpoint potential troublemakers, and make a move to discourage criminal behavior. This may be a little bit challenging, but a certain pose or stance could actually frighten or dissuade some petty criminals. This can be easily accomplished by the level of competence they show in the performance of their jobs. If they show a seriousness in their tasks and not just idly stand in one corner, then it only shows that they are really patrolling and keeping a watchful vigil of the area.

You may begin your selection of the security guards you want to be assigned to you by asking some questions in the initial interview. You may test their verbal skills by assuming the role of a complaining customer and see how your guards will handle the conflict. Their aim should be to pacify and persuade the complainant to follow protocol and exercise proper decorum in their language. They should avoid getting engaged into a heated argument with the complainant. If all measures have been exhausted, they should know when to ask for back-up and remove the complainant from the premises, where the other guests will be surely disturbed and upset.

You could also require the security guards to answer a written test to gauge their logical ability. If workable, you could ask the security service company to allow the security guards to a work trial of a few days or weeks, to assess their efficiency. This will also show the level of their experience in handling security matters. You could also ask if they have been previously evaluated by their firm and how much is their score in the performance assessment.
 
In the tricky matter of deterring criminal behavior, you could give samples of instances that are potentially troublesome and ask them how they would handle it. Having a great observation skill is a requirement because in order to deter, the security guards need to first spot the persons who may have ill intent, and keep a close watch on them. You could actually put this observation skill to a test. Give them a photograph of two people and ask them to look at it for five seconds. Afterwards, you can ask them to recall the features and other distinguishing marks of the persons they just saw. They should be able to give you substantial information as a mark of their keen eye for observation.

Obviously, you need to make a thorough interview. Ask them about their experience in the security business. Let them tell you about their encounter with bad elements and how they dealt with it. You could utilize this interview to further test their verbal skills. Long pauses, incorrect phrasing and repeated words or sentences may be signs of their poor comprehension or nervousness, either one is a no-no to being a good security guard.

Although this may be inconsequential, you still need to be aware of security guards who insist on shaving their hair and refuse to wear a tie because in instance where they will be engaged in hand to hand fight, they might be placed at a disadvantage since hair and tie can be pulled. Brawls of any kind should be avoided and controlling unpleasant conduct through restraint and proper handling should be the best option. Your security guards can easily do this since they will be in regular contact with their team members, who are the necessary back-up or support they need. Lastly, the number of years they have worked for the security agency is a true proof of their dependability and competency. The agency will not keep them for so long if their performance is not reliable.

Once you have completed the selection process, then you can be assured of having a great and stress-free living, comforted with the fact that your security is well guarded by exceptional security guards.