Keeping your company protected from theft and damage is one of the most important things you can do.
That’s where a security guard comes into play. The need for guards isn’t decreasing anytime soon. The market saw an increase of 3.5 percent between 2013 and 2019.
If you’ve decided to hire a security guard to help, then there is a process you should go through to hire the right person. This post will help with that. Follow the steps below to find the right security guards for your company.
1. Figure Out Your Needs
There are many types of guards out there, so knowing what you need beforehand will help speed up your search.
Will your security guard need to protect people or your property? Each of these has their own unique skillset. If you throw someone into the job without the proper training, then you’re setting yourself up for problems.
The other question you need to answer is how much staff is required to hire to fulfill your needs. If you have a small organization, you might be able to get away with one guard. But if you have a larger organization, or traveling merchandise, then you will need to hire multiple people.
2. Learn Your Local Regulations
Before hiring a security guard, learn what laws and regulations your business needs to comply with. For instance, if you work with money, then you are going to have a higher standard to comply with.
This step is important because you need to hire personnel that is qualified for these positions. If you have armored trucks transporting money, then your guards need to be aware of the procedures to follow to keep your money safe.
3. Decide to Hire Internally or Outsource Security
After you get your needs sorted out, you need to decide if you want to hire internally or hire a security guard company. Each of these has its own pros and cons.
Hiring someone yourself works well if you want complete control over the staff that you hire for your company. You can vet potential employees in whatever way you wish and hire the person that fits best with your company.
Unfortunately, this process can take a long time. If security isn’t your background, then you might not know what to look for in job candidates. This means you have to put in a lot of effort to find the right person.
On the other hand, a security guard company already has expertise in this field. Instead of wasting time yourself vetting candidates, a security company will provide you with people that have already proven that they can do the job.
You also get the benefit of having an expert available that can consult with you on your security needs. Instead of doing things yourself, you can have an expert design your security protocols for you.
4. Determine Your Budget
Before you start looking at your job candidates, you need to come up with your budget. This will depend mainly on what you need in a security guard.
Since you’ve already determined the qualifications of your security guards and the number that you need, it shouldn’t be hard to come up with a budget. If your budget is higher, then hiring direct may be a great choice for you.
While direct highers may be more expensive, they will also be more loyal to your company. On the other hand, you can save money in the long-term by outsourcing your security needs. Greater availability of work at security companies means that some people are willing to take lower salaries.
5. Begin the Hiring Process
With the research phase complete, it’s time to start looking for someone that can handle the job. What you look for will depend on if you’re doing things in-house or outsourcing.
Hiring a Security Guard Yourself
If you’re hiring personnel yourself, the biggest thing you need to look for is qualifications. Has the job candidate worked security before? If so, did they do their job well at their last place of employment?
If someone is new to the security industry, it doesn’t mean they aren’t a good fit for the position. Check to see if your candidates are coming out of an accredited security training program, or have worked in a related field, like as a police officer or in the military.
Hiring a Security Company
While hiring a security company will save you time, it has a set of challenges on its own. Before hiring a company, there are a few things that you need to watch for.
The first is specialization. You want your security company to be immersed in the field. When a company splits its focus, how can you be sure that they are up to date on the latest trends in their industry?
The next thing to check for is licensing and insurance. To work in the security industry, the company needs to hold the proper licenses for your state.
It’s the same case for insurance. If a company isn’t insured, then you will be the one on the line if any injury happens when their security guards are on-site. Insurance is required law, but there are rare cases where shady companies will skimp on insurance.
Once all the checks are out of the way, you need to verify the reputation of a company. To start, check online reviews to see what other customers say. You can use this as an initial filter to weed out bad companies.
Once you start talking to a few companies, ask if they can provide you with referrals. Company referrals will give you a chance to speak with real customers to learn what it’s like to work with an agency.
Hire a Security Guard Today
There is a lot that goes into developing a security plan for your business. If you hire a security guard as part of that process, make sure you don’t go through the motions without thinking. Use the steps above to find the right person for the job.
Once you secure your business, you can start focusing on growing it. Keep browsing our blog to learn about our latest business growth strategies.
