Stunning Security Guard Resume Examples for This Year

Updated August 24, 20221.3k

A security guard position often needs many specialized skills. Here’s how you can write a security guard resume that gets you the interview.

Security Guard Resume Examples

Security officers need to impress employers just like any other position. If you’re planning to become a security officer, it’s important to bring up the right skills and qualifications, especially since a security officer job is generally different from many other jobs. Here’s what you need to know about writing your resume, including ResumeNerd security guard resume examples to help you write yours.

What To Highlight in a Security Guard Resume

Although physical ability can be important as a security guard, this isn’t the most important part of the job. Instead, you should emphasize your ability to notice potential suspicious or violent behavior before anything happens. If you can stop an altercation or conflict before it even happens, you’ll want to highlight that skill on your security guard resume.

Structure of a Security Guard Resume

The first step to writing a resume is choosing the correct resume format. You can choose between chronological, functional and combination. Depending on how much experience you have and what you’re trying to emphasize, which one of these resume formats you select. Then, you can move on to writing the rest of the resume.

Header

Your resume header should include your contact information, including your phone number and email address as well as your professional social media links like your LinkedIn profile.

Resume summary or objective

Before you move into the rest of the content, your resume should start with a 2-3 sentence paragraph that highlights the most important elements in your resume. This section is usually written after you have completed the other sections of your resume so you can easily select important points. If you have a lot of experience, you will write a resume summary that discusses your experience and achievements. If you have less experience, you’ll write a resume objective that showcases your skills and career goals.

Skills

Your skills section should specifically mention skills that are in the job description. Here are a few bullet points to consider adding to your security guard resume:

Watching security cameras and CCTV
Looking for suspicious activity
Cleaning up after property damage
Managing full security systems
Paying attention to unusual occurrences
Detaining violators
Decision-making
Staying alert in emergency situations
Working with the fire department
Problem-solving
Managing surveillance equipment, including surveillance cameras
Avoiding vandalism and trespassers
Writing reports after issues
Maintaining access control over multiple access points
Conflict resolution
Making emergency calls
General loss prevention

A perfect resume will include about 8-12 soft skills and hard skills.

Work history

A professional resume will include up to 10 years of experience either as a security guard or in a related field. Structure your work experience section in reverse-chronological order, with the most recent job listed first. You will also want to include the company you worked for, your job title and dates of employment.

Education

Security guards rarely need more than a high school diploma. However, you may want to provide certifications, such as first aid certifications and anything else that might help you in your job search. If you have higher education, you also don’t need to include your high school experience.

Do’s and Don’ts for a Security Guard Resume

Keep these additional tips in mind when writing your security guard resume:

Do:
- Read the job posting carefully before you apply for any security guard position. You’ll find lots of variety under the job title of “security guard,” so it’s important to ensure you have the right training.
- Look at existing security guard resume samples before you write your own. With hundreds of resume examples available, ResumeNerd can help you understand what to feature on a security guard resume.
- Emphasize skills that help you de-escalate a conflict. Security guards aren’t bodyguards so your job will be largely about avoiding conflicts.
Don’t:
- Include your driver’s license on your resume. If the hiring manager needs to see your driver’s license for the job, they’ll ask for it directly.
- Talk negatively about previous security guard jobs. This can make a recruiter wonder whether you’ll do the same thing should you decide to leave this job.
- Remove education from your resume because you think it’s not relevant to a security guard position. All educational backgrounds can show that you have a strong work ethic.

FAQ: Security Guard Resumes

Do I need to include a cover letter for a security guard application?

Yes, a cover letter is a great addition to any job application and that includes applications for a security guard job. A cover letter allows you to give more insight into your experience and your ability to handle many different parts of a security team. Plus, it lets you ask for a job interview. The ResumeNerd cover letter builder makes it even easier to write yours.

How can I write a security guard resume without a lot of experience?

If you don’t have much experience, there are a few ways to bolster your resume, even for an entry-level job. First of all, you can focus on your skills and education, indicating that you’re qualified for the job even if you don’t have much expertise in doing it. Second, you can list other experiences, such as experience in local law enforcement or experience in the criminal justice system.

How do I change my security guard resume to apply to different jobs?

Every time you apply for a new job, it’s important that you write the best resume for that specific job posting. First, read through the job description and note any skills, descriptors or other keywords. Then, include those words in your resume. This is a great way to ensure that your resume hits all the requirements for the specific job you’re applying to.

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About The Author

Cindi Cervone Carlson

Cindi Cervone Carlson is a Senior Vice President for Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc. Cindi is responsible for developing, delivering, and implementing a dynamic, world-class organization dedicated to delivering outplacement consulting, training, support, and executive coaching. Cindi started her career at Challenger as a client who had lost her job. Over the past nine years, she has risen from an entry-level, part-time professional to Senior Vice President.