How to hire security guards: The complete guide

Whether you’re hiring security guards for a firm or an in-house security team, finding quality candidates has never been more important. 

According to the National Retail Federation, organized crime is increasing, and up to 81% of business leaders believe criminals are becoming more aggressive.

Screening candidates using skill assessments ensures that the security guards you hire are well-suited to protect people and assets from harm. 

In this article, we explain how to hire security guards to keep your or your client’s business safe.

What is a security guard?

A security guard is a law enforcement professional who protects property, equipment, people, and money. Security guards identify threats, mitigate risk, and prevent crimes. Some companies retain firms that provide security guard services, while others hire in-house security teams. 

Security guards defend a business and its assets against vandalism, theft, sabotage, trespass, and countless other security hazards. They patrol buildings and track video feeds to identify suspicious activity and analyze risks to augment security strategies.

Security guards install and manage access control systems, record data to share with law enforcement authorities, and monitor visitors who enter and exit the premises. They also ensure the safety of assets, staff, and customers during fires, earthquakes, and other emergencies. 

What type of security guard do I need?

Figuring out how to hire a security guard for your company begins with identifying the type of guards you need. There are various types of security guards, each possessing specific skills and attributes that prepare them for different security needs. 

If you’re recruiting guards for your security agency, assess your clients' current and future demands and the level of security they need.

However, if you need to build or reinforce an in-house security team to protect your business, assess the potential threats and pick the most suitable security guard types accordingly. 

Here are five of the most common security guard types and the protective services they offer:

• Unarmed security guard: Unarmed security guards are common in low-risk environments. These guards don’t carry weapons, but they help mitigate threats and still use non-lethal force if needed.

• Unarmed security officer: Security officers take on managerial duties, which makes leadership skills essential for this role. They are often responsible for training lower-ranking guards. 

• Armed security officers: Hiring armed security officers is a priority in high-risk environments, like driving and protecting armored cars. They carry weapons to protect themselves and the public.

• Personal security guards: Otherwise known as bodyguards, these security guards defend specific individuals and groups against pre-defined threats. 

• Senior security officer: These senior officers specialize in devising security procedures, training guards, and preserving building safety. 

Security guards generally need a license from local authorities before they’re allowed to work in a specific role. The type of work they do often dictates what training requirements they need to get the license. 

Why hire a professional security guard?

The presence of a professional, qualified, and skilled security guard reduces crime risks and ensures peace of mind regardless of the setting. A study published by PLOS ONE found that having vigilant security guards on site increased crime detection by 49% and reduced victim-generated crimes by 16%. 

However, even trained and licensed guards may fail to carry out their duties properly if they lack the right skills. The consequences of such failures span from damage to property and loss of assets to physical harm and criminal or civil liability.

Conversely, exceptional security guards have soft and technical skills that enable them to excel in their roles. Soft skills, such as problem-solving and critical thinking, ensure security guards respond effectively to threats and guide other team members.

Technical skills, like threat analysis, help security guards rapidly identify emerging risks and devise security protocols. 

Relying on standard hiring processes makes it hard to flag candidates with suitable skills. Like a security guard’s license, a resume only tells you so much about a candidate. Skill assessments, on the other hand, help you identify and validate critical skills effectively. 

13 fundamental skills a professional security guard must have

The skills you prioritize for your security guard vary depending on the guard's responsibilities. All security guards need integrity, a strong sense of ethics, decent physical fitness, highly tuned emotional intelligence, and exceptional spatial awareness.

TestGorilla’s custom security guard assessments ensure you evaluate candidates based on everything from leadership skills to technical proficiencies.

Improve your security guard screening process today

Skills tests focusing on problem-solving, critical thinking, and communication skills help you screen and hire the ideal security guards for your business.

Security guard hard skills

Here are the hard skills your security guards need to do their job.

Security guard soft skills

Apart from technical skills, security guards also need soft skills in their day-to-day work.

5 steps on how to hire security guards

Learning how to hire a security guard effectively requires a five-step hiring approach that covers everything from internal risk audits to skill assessments. 

1. Assess your requirements for security services

As the hiring manager of a firm providing security services, you probably know what type of security guards you need and how many you must hire to meet your clients’ demands. 

Hiring an in-house security team gets trickier. Before you hire, you must assess risks to determine if you need a personal security guard, an armed security guard, or a security officer to lead a team.

Consider the responsibilities of the new security guard role. The guards may need technical skills to monitor CCTV cameras and track incidents or firearm skills and licensing if they’re armed. 

Think about the environment the new guard has to protect. If you’re hiring a security guard for an elementary school or clinic, they should have a friendly personality.

The candidate should be comfortable using force if you’re hiring someone to guard expensive products in a high-crime neighborhood. 

Personality tests, like our Enneagram test, help screen candidates by looking for specific personality types. For example, “The Master” type has a strong sense of justice and a fair, authoritative nature, which are desirable qualities for a security guard.

Today, more than 80 million Americans complete personality tests each year, and you can easily add one of these tests to your custom security guard assessment created with TestGorilla. 

2. Write a job description

An effective job description is crucial for attracting talented security professionals to your team and guiding the interview process. 

Using a skills-based approach ensures you know which competencies to evaluate when meeting potential hires. 

Here’s an example of a skills-based job description template to customize when hiring a security guard: 

Security guard job description template

[COMPANY NAME] is looking for a reliable and vigilant security guard to [DESCRIBE DUTIES]. 

As [COMPANY NAME]’s security guard, you are responsible for the safety of [DESCRIBE OBJECT IN DETAIL]. You must monitor the premises closely and be alert and attentive to your surroundings to react appropriately if a threatening situation occurs. 

Security guard job responsibilities

• Ensure guests sign in to a visitor log when they arrive and exit the facility 

• Check credentials

• Patrol and monitor the activities happening on the company’s premises

• Ensure that the environment is secure

• Manage and/or detain trespassers and violators while following legal protocols

• Contact the relevant authorities if there is an incident or crime that requires it

• Monitor security cameras and other surveillance systems to track down any unlawful activities

• Record and report any irregularities and suspicious activities

• Test security systems

• Develop emergency plans 

Security guard job requirements

• Valid security guard license 

• Good interpersonal skills

• Attentive and observant 

• Physical fitness

• Basic first-aid skills are an advantage

• High school qualification (or equivalent)

• Excellent knowledge of security procedures and protocols

• Ability to operate security systems and equipment

3. Use skills assessments

A security guard’s resume can’t tell you much about their ability to thrive in your company. That’s why 73% of companies have turned to skills-based hiring. 

Skill assessments let you gauge candidates' essential competencies when hiring security guards.

For example, TestGorilla’s Spatial Reasoning test ensures your candidate effectively analyzes 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional spaces and identifies risks or unusual situations.

Click here to see more preview questions from this test.

You should also evaluate a candidate’s reading comprehension skills to gauge how well they analyze risk reports and understand security documents. 

Other effective tests to use include:

• Critical Thinking test: This test evaluates the candidates’ use of logic and analytical reasoning. These skills enable guards to make sound judgments when dealing with risks and examining effective ways to eliminate threats. 

• US Criminal Law test: Use this test to find candidates who understand criminal law and apply criminal procedures effectively. Knowledge of criminal laws helps security guards navigate arrests and other scenarios requiring the use of force. 

• Culture Add test: Tailor this test to your company values to check that your future security guards share your values while bringing something new to the table.

• Communication test: This test assesses candidates’ written and verbal communication, active listening, and nonverbal cues. It helps you identify security guards who interact effectively with visitors, personnel, and authorities. 

Start screening the best security guards with TestGorilla

Skill tests give you valuable insight into which security guards effectively defend your assets. Get started for free.

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4. Find a security guard 

You can find skilled security guards in:

• Security training institutions: Find aspiring security guards at local security training institutions or attend career fairs. 

• Other businesses: Contact the HR teams of businesses in your area and ask for their referrals for quality security guard companies. 

• Social media and online: Advertise your security guard job description on social media, your website, and job sites like Glassdoor or Indeed. 

No matter where you source your security guard, administering skills assessments and running background checks is crucial. Honesty and ethical interactions are critical for someone who works in security, so ask for references to confirm your candidate’s integrity.

5. Prepare insightful interview questions

Once you’ve selected a few promising candidates based on talent assessments and analyses of each person’s background, prepare for the interview.

An interview is your chance to learn more about the security guard candidates. It should offer a glimpse into their values, such as honesty and diligence, and their attributes, such as emotional intelligence and proactivity.

During an interview, ask deep, behavioral questions to identify your candidate’s responses to various scenarios. 

Effective questions to consider include:

• What security practices do you follow to lower risks? 

• Imagine you’ve caught someone stealing; how would you detain the individual and prevent the situation from escalating? 

• Have you ever worked directly with police officers?

• What do you look for in a potential suspect? 

• Which strategies would you use to control large crowds if assigned to event security?

How much does it cost to hire a security guard?

The cost of hiring a security guard varies. You must estimate the time and expertise needed to craft compelling job descriptions, list them in relevant locations, and conduct interviews. 

Using a skills-based hiring approach reduces costs by enabling you to weed out unsuitable candidates before the interview stage. 

The cost of hiring a security guard also depends on the wage you’re willing to offer because you have to pay them while they’re training. 

On average, a security guard makes $19 per hour. This hourly wage translates to a monthly salary of around $3,300, which is what you’d pay to onboard the guard if the training lasts a month. These figures also vary depending on the region. 

How to hire security guards the best way: Use TestGorilla

The high turnover rates in the security industry are costly for businesses. Companies waste endless resources searching for talent, onboarding, and training. That’s why you need to ensure you’re hiring security guards right the first time.

Whether you need to hire a bodyguard or a security officer, optimizing your skills-based hiring strategies minimizes the risks of making the wrong choice. 

Our skills tests help you rapidly screen and hire the best security guards for your needs based on their soft skills, technical skills, and personality. 

Book a live demo to see how to hire security guards using our talent assessments.

Alternatively, take a product tour to learn more about how they work. 

Finally, sign up for the Free forever plan and try our tests for yourself! 

Hiring security guards FAQs

Do you still have a few questions about hiring security guards? Find the answers to four commonly asked questions here. 

What factors should I consider before hiring a security guard?

• Risk factors in your business and unique security requirements

• What type of security guard you need to mitigate threats

• Soft skills, such as communication and critical thinking skills

• Technical skills like spatial reasoning

• Training and physical fitness

• Specialized knowledge (such as firearm training) 

How do I select a security guard?

1. Define your security requirements (do you need a personal guard, bodyguard, armed security guard, or unarmed security officer?)

2. Assess each candidate's soft skills (communication, interpersonal, etc.)

3. Examine essential technical skills and specialist skills

4. Assess your candidate’s physical fitness and health

5. Consider the need for any additional training

What are the 5 qualities of a security guard?

1. Excellent observation skills, alertness, and vigilance

2. Problem-solving, analysis, and critical thinking skills

3. Good physical fitness and spatial awareness

4. Exceptional communication and collaboration skills for communicating with other guards, company staff, and the public

5. Reliability, strong ethics, trustworthiness, and understanding of criminal law 

How many security guards do you need per 100 people?

Most experts recommend hiring at least one security guard for every 100 people at an event or business environment. However, when you decide on how to hire security guards for settings where risks are higher, such as locations where alcohol is served or where crowds often gather, you may need additional guards.