First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers
Overview
SaveJob Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed
Experience
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.
Education
These occupations usually require a high school diploma.
Job Training
Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
Examples
These occupations often involve using your knowledge and skills to help others. Examples include orderlies, counter and rental clerks, customer service representatives, security guards, upholsterers, tellers, and dental laboratory technicians.
Directly supervise and coordinate activities of security workers and security guards.
Demand
Core Tasks
- Investigate disturbances on the premises, such as security alarms, altercations, and suspicious activity.
- Patrol the premises to prevent or detect intrusion, protect property, or preserve order.
- Monitor and authorize entry of employees, visitors, or other persons.
- Secure entrances and exits by locking doors and gates.
- Monitor the behavior of security employees to ensure adherence to quality standards, deadlines, or procedures.
- Write reports documenting observations made while on patrol.
- Advise employees in handling problems or resolving complaints from customers, tenants, detainees, or other persons.
- Assign security personnel to posts or patrols.
- Recruit, interview, and hire security personnel.
- Apprehend or evict trespassers, rule violators, or other security threats from the premises.
- Call police or fire departments in cases of emergency, such as fire, bomb threats, and presence of unauthorized persons.
- Inspect and adjust security equipment to ensure it is operational or to detect evidence of tampering.
- Monitor closed-circuit television cameras.
- Screen individuals and belongings to prevent passage of prohibited materials using walkthrough detectors, wands, or bag searches.
- Train security personnel on protective procedures, first aid, fire safety, and other duties.
- Write and present department budgets to upper management or other stakeholders.
- Explain company policies and procedures to staff using oral or written communication.
- Develop and document security procedures, policies, or standards.
- Order materials or supplies, such as keys, uniforms, and badges.
- Schedule training or drills for emergencies, such as fires, bombs, and other threats.
- Log items distributed to persons, such as keys and key cards.
Technology Skills
Technology
Example
Hot Technology
Top 10 Knowledge Required
Public Safety and Security
98%
Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
Administration and Management
93%
Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
Customer and Personal Service
89%
Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Personnel and Human Resources
89%
Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
English Language
88%
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, and rules of composition and grammar.
Law and Government
88%
Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
Administrative
83%
Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.
Education and Training
79%
Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
Computers and Electronics
78%
Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Psychology
76%
Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
Top 10 Skills
Active Listening
80%
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Critical Thinking
78%
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Judgment and Decision Making
78%
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Reading Comprehension
78%
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Speaking
78%
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Management of Personnel Resources
75%
Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.
Monitoring
75%
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Complex Problem Solving
73%
Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Coordination
73%
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Social Perceptiveness
73%
Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Top 10 Abilities
Inductive Reasoning
80%
The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
Oral Comprehension
80%
The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Oral Expression
80%
The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Problem Sensitivity
80%
The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
Deductive Reasoning
78%
The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Far Vision
78%
The ability to see details at a distance.
Near Vision
78%
The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Speech Recognition
78%
The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
Written Comprehension
75%
The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Flexibility of Closure
73%
The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.
Top 10 Work Activities
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
93%
Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
Making Decisions and Solving Problems
93%
Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
92%
Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others
87%
Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates
83%
Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.
Developing and Building Teams
80%
Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
Getting Information
80%
Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Coaching and Developing Others
79%
Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.
Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others
78%
Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
Working with Computers
78%
Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
Detailed Work Activities
- Investigate illegal or suspicious activities.
- Monitor alarm systems.
- Patrol properties to maintain safety.
- Inspect facilities to ensure compliance with security or safety regulations.
- Monitor access or flow of people to prevent problems.
- Prevent unauthorized individuals from entering restricted areas.
- Block physical access to restricted areas.
- Prepare investigation or incident reports.
- Monitor operations to ensure compliance with safety or security policies or regulations.
- Supervise employees.
- Communicate with management or other staff to resolve problems.
- Conduct eligibility or selection interviews.
- Hire personnel.
- Recruit personnel.
- Manage human resources activities.
- Assign duties or work schedules to employees.
- Request emergency personnel.
- Maintain security.
- Apprehend criminal suspects.
- Search individuals for illegal or dangerous items.
- Operate surveillance equipment to detect suspicious or illegal activities.
- Maintain surveillance of individuals or establishments.
- Inspect equipment to ensure safety or proper functioning.
- Provide safety training.
- Train personnel to enhance job skills.
- Conduct health or safety training programs.
- Explain regulations, policies, or procedures.
- Develop organizational methods or procedures.
- Document operational procedures.
- Document operational activities.
- Schedule instructional activities.
- Record operational or production data.
- Maintain operational records.
- Prepare financial documents, reports, or budgets.
- Report information to managers or other personnel.
- Prepare operational budgets.
- Order materials, supplies, or equipment.
Education
Interests
Enterprising
85%
Work involves managing, negotiating, marketing, or selling, typically in a business setting, or leading or advising people in political and legal situations. Enterprising occupations are often associated with business initiatives, sales, marketing/advertising, finance, management/administration, professional advising, public speaking, politics, or law.
Conventional
74%
Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or human resources.
Realistic
60%
Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, transportation, machine operation, agriculture, animal services, physical or manual labor, athletics, or protective services.
Social
51%
Work involves helping, teaching, advising, assisting, or providing service to others. Social occupations are often associated with social, health care, personal service, teaching/education, or religious activities.
Investigative
26%
Work involves studying and researching non-living objects, living organisms, disease or other forms of impairment, or human behavior. Investigative occupations are often associated with physical, life, medical, or social sciences, and can be found in the fields of humanities, mathematics/statistics, information technology, or health care service.
Artistic
15%
Work involves creating original visual artwork, performances, written works, food, or music for a variety of media, or applying artistic principles to the design of various objects and materials. Artistic occupations are often associated with visual arts, applied arts and design, performing arts, music, creative writing, media, or culinary art.
Colleges
SAGE Scholars Member Schools that offer majors leading to this career.
Check out the College Search to see the full list of schools with majors for this career.