Security Interview Tips

Security employees safeguard the company from external threats.

Security jobs are in high demand in a variety of fields; officers and guards play a vital role in providing public safety, transportation protection, border patrol, and ensuring that property is safe from intruders. Obtaining a job in security usually requires a clean background check and nailing the interview. But candidates need to give more than just a firm handshake and maintaining good eye contact, as security employees must adopt other techniques to leave a good first impression during their job interview.

Conduct Research

Conduct research on the company you seek to join. Ideally, get in touch with someone who works in the security division of the business and ask for a brief overview of their job. Acquaint yourself with the recent developments of the company and inject this information in your answers. For example, if interviewing for an airline, ask how the rise of airline ticket fraud affects the company's security division, if at all.

Poise and Conduct

Hiring managers want employees who respond well under stress and can identify potential security threats. Convey this ability by stressing how well you react under pressure. Give your responses under a "problem reaction solution" framework: Express the problem, how you reacted and the solution as a result of your efforts. Using your past experiences, write down three such instances and recite them in front of the mirror before the interview. Commit these stories to memory so you can convey these stories to the hiring manager without stuttering or stammering.

In advance, think of a situation where you handled a high-stress situation and how the company was better off as a result of your efforts. Furthermore, explain a circumstance under which you noticed something out of the ordinary and how you investigated the problem. Mention your communication skills during this time and how you relayed the information in a clear-headed, concise manner to your superiors.

Confidentiality

Commoninterviewquestions.org explains that security employees are often privy to confidential information. Express your reliability by mentioning any instances of getting security clearance from your previous company. Or, mention any circumstances under which you were entrusted with confidential information. State that you only share confidential information with people privy to such knowledge as outlined by the guidelines. Explain that you go to your manager if the person's clearance is ever in doubt.

Scheduling and Flexibility

State your willingness to work long hours, holidays and overtime for increasing your chances of getting hired. Most firms have security officers working in the middle of the night, Sunday evenings, Christmas Eve and other off-hours. Some shifts are allocated based on a bid system and by seniority, so expect working off-hours during the first few years.

References

• CSO: 10 Tough Security Interview Questions and How to Answer Them
• Commoninterviewquestios.org: Security Officer Interview Questions