Finding a career that is both challenging but also rewarding can be difficult in today’s job market, especially for workers with little-to-no experience.
For those willing to study for their security license a career in the security industry can be an amazing opportunity to expand your personal and professional skillset while helping the public in a meaningful way.
The Canadian Academy of Guard Training’s industry leading online training courses are designed to help you begin your security career as soon as possible.
What You Need to Succeed
The beginning of your journey into a long and rewarding career in security is closer than you may think. Although the prerequisites vary slightly by province, a security career is easily accessible with the proper training.
The first step in becoming a security professional is taking security guard training through the Canadian Academy of Guard Training in preparation of the provincial security license exam, and ultimately obtaining your provincial security license.
The 40-hour mandatory course is designed to prepare learners for the security license exam in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan or Alberta.
Those interested in a career in security should be confident in social speaking, and problem solving. Training in first aid and WHMIS is considered a valuable asset.
In Canada, you must have a security license to work as a security professional. To become licensed, you must be 18 or older, legally able to work in Canada, and pass your security exam.
As a security guard you may find work at:
- Job locations such as offices, banks, factories or construction sites
- Residences, including condominiums and private estates
- Medical or care centres such as hospitals, clinics or retirement residences
- Educational institutions, including colleges, private schools or universities
- Public institutions like museums or galleries
- Event sites, such as stadiums, concert halls and racetracks
- Commercial businesses, including shopping malls and hotels
- Transportation hubs, like airports, ferries, bus and train stations
The work environment of security guards varies from role to role. As a security guard you may:
- Work with many different types of people
- Often work alone, or work with a partner or in a team
- Have shifts during the day, evening, nights or weekends
- Work at the same location every day or travel from site to site
- Usually sit, stand, walk or drive
What You Can Expect
Although challenging and often demanding, a career in security can lead to exciting opportunities and rewarding experiences.
Security professionals often advance to more senior positions, including:
- Supervisor
- Team leader
- Trainer
- Manager
- Security specialist
- Director
- Head of security
Many of these jobs are very well paid. A typical supervisor job role pays $35 per hour, according to Indeed.ca. Many management/team lead positions pay about $50,000 per year.
After obtaining a security license, you will be in the business of keeping people safe and helping the public. One of the most rewarding parts of becoming a security professional is the ability to help people feel safe. Often the presence of a security professional is enough to deter would-be criminals and prevent incidents from taking place. The general public are often thankful to have security professionals available to keep them safe.
Another added benefit of receiving a security license and pursuing a career as a security professional is the transferrable skills that are common in these roles. Becoming a security professional will increase your employability in other roles exponentially.
While you’re developing your work-related skillset, you will also be gaining confidence and expanding your people skills thank to your daily duties in a security role. Customer service and hospitality are required skills to be a successful security professional.
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