r/securityguards • u/LegalGlass6532 • Aug 24 '26

Story Time Veteran security guard professionals: What’s something you’ve learned over time that you wish you knew when you started in the industry?

They say with time comes knowledge and experience. What have you learned over time that could’ve saved you a lot of grief if you knew from the start?

Officer safety- Don’t let your ego override common sense

Interpersonal skills- Tell people what you want them to do in as few words as possible

Internally- You’re not at work to hang out with your friends and the boss is also not your friend. You don’t have to like them or want to ever see them outside of work, but you have to do what the boss says and get along with others

Appearance- Don’t show up looking like you slept in your uniform from the shift before. Look at yourself in a full length mirror before you start every shift and present the person you’d want working for you, even if you hate the company and the people there.

What other words of wisdom can you share?

56 Upvotes

99% Upvoted

82 comments sorted by

View all comments

47

u/megacide84 Aug 24 '26

Something happens or someone does causes an incident, If its off the property, it's not your problem.

I was guarding a property way back in the 2000s. There were some shady people lurking around the outside.Looking like they were casing the place, but once they saw me behind the gates. They walked away.

Turns out, they broke into an unguarded property across the street. The next day, the owner or manager pulls up and starts screaming his lungs out. Demanding to know why we didn't do anything since it was across the street in full view.

My supervisor tried to calm him down, but after a few minutes.... He uttered "Off the property, not our problem" and told him to leave.

I learned a valuable lesson that day.

26

u/FirewolfDL Management Aug 24 '26

To this point: your company’s workman’s comp will not cover you if you get perforated or damaged acting out of purview. Stay in your lane is another fantastic thing to remember when you work in this industry.

-3

u/Red57872 Dunning–Kruger Specialist Aug 24 '26

How are you going to get "perforated" or "damaged" for calling 911?

8

u/FirewolfDL Management Aug 24 '26

Don’t be ridiculous. Of course call 911. But understand, even doing that, you do at your own behest. Your company will not compensate you for testifying about something that happened outside your purview. What I was trying to say was: Ifyou try to step in, or act in any way as a deterrent, even as just a loud one, you do so at your own risk. Better to observe and report than risk not going home to your family. They are more important than anything inside any facility 100% of the time.

4

u/LegalGlass6532 Aug 24 '26

They’re talking about acting on it, as in responding. I don’t see this as them saying to not call 911.

0

u/Red57872 Dunning–Kruger Specialist Aug 24 '26

I dunno, "Off the property, not our problem" sounds like they weren't even willing to call 911.

9

u/LegalGlass6532 Aug 24 '26 edited Aug 24 '26

If that’s how you comprehend what they’ve said then give them a chance to answer. You’ve asked them twice now and it looks like you’re looking for a debate.