Hiring a Security Firm or Seeking Employment: Things to Keep in Mind

One of the biggest questions I am asked is “Who should I work for? What are some of the good companies out there? Who should I hire?” I usually find myself in a diplomatic catch 22. On one hand if I recommend a provider I am bias to my other clients, on the other hand if I recommend a company and they do no foot the bill my credibility is affected negatively... and I display bias towards my other clients

Here are somethings you should look for when you are either out on the job market or looking to hire a security company to protect your assets.

1.   Learn about the market

You want to look at how many companies are in your area and what their specialty is. Generally private guard companies specialize in retail security while others lean more towards the corporate office market. There are other firms which specialize in various forms of investigation and some who’s primary focus is overseas security, either close protection, or Private Military Contracting (PMCs). Others are often seen at large events and venues and some cater to a specific niche such as government buildings, hospitals, residential or industrial areas.

2      2. Meet the people

I’m not referring to simply the management. A company owner or business development manager will always feed you the goodies and why they are the best or why you should select them. Speak to the people who work there, strike up a conversation, ask them about their company and their job. Do they like it or not? Why they like it or don’t like it? Do they receive training? What type of training and how frequently? How often do they work?  Get a feel for their personality and observe their work. Are they personable, approachable, do they project professionalism?  Is this someone you would want protecting your assets? Or is this someone you could work with? Most important, is this person trustworthy? Your best market research into an organization will always come from those who are doing the job.

3.      3. Pick Three

It’s great to have options however having too many can be bad. The Marine Corps Officer Candidate School teaches it’s officer candidates to come up with three options to a problem, too many and the candidate can become confused or disoriented too little could lead to indecision. Pick three companies in your area that you think that could foot the bill and judge them based on the information you received in your research.

4.      4. You Get What You Pay/Settle For.

Good service is not cheap and cheap service is never good. In the Halifax area, the average security worker makes between minimum wage (10.65/hr) and $12.50/hr with a select few companies here and there who offer more. The wage of the security worker is often determined by the billable hourly rate set by the company for the service. This can be anywhere from $13.00 to $18.00/hr depending on the contract and the level of service required, not including holidays. Some company’s pay their employees a salary wage where they are guaranteed a certain level of income and are required to perform work up to a predetermined number, usually 40 hours per week.  Some companies pay bottom dollar, overwork their employees, pay no overtime through legal loopholes and tax their employees for things like uniforms, training, or “miscellaneous” deductions.

One company here in the Halifax area withholds more than $33,000 per year from their employees for training many of whom never receive it, and those that do? Are paid for their training using the same funds to which they were deducted for.

5     5. Do Not Hire a Security Company in Place of a Temp Agency/ Know What the Job Entails

For the most part many security workers possess a variety of skills, some may be high school educated or have no high school education at all. Some have university or policing experience while others are using the work to supplement their income from another job unrelated to the security field. Hire a security company for one purpose, securing your assets or property. Security workers are not temporary labourers and in fact, a security worker will most likely do the absolute minimum they are required to do because “this isn’t what I signed up for” and could adversely affect your productivity. Many in the security field take on that role with a sense of pride and commitment, often times with a goal of advancing into another related field such as the military, law enforcement, corrections, or other form of civil service. If they are not doing security related work or feel their abilities and potential are being wasted, they will most likely quit. It costs more money and productivity to train 10 people for one job were 8 or 9 will quit in the first year, than to train one or two for the same job who will stay on for 2-3 years and up.

6.     

6. Be Wary of Dubious Claims and Potential False Marketing.

The biggest thing I see when it comes to the marketing done by some private security firms is either inaccurate information, omission, or flat out lying. During your market research you will often see that large security firms do not gloat or boast. They may highlight where their experience is drawn from, in either case, question it. Military experience and police experience are often showcased by many security providers. Question it. Many former military or police members usually have no issue speaking to their experiences face to face. An honest man usually tells a short simple story, a salesman can never shut up. Experiences can also vary. A person who spends 30 years in law enforcement working within a variety of areas such patrol, K9, general investigation, emergency response team, forensics, narcotics, etc. will have a variety of experience in a wide range of areas. You wouldn’t hire a 20 year SWAT veteran to forensically audit your books (unless S/he has higher education to perform that task, obviously). Military experience is the same way, a person who spends 30 years in the regular force infantry is far more credible and experienced than a 30 year infantry reservist who has never left the continent or fought in a theatre of war. (not to say that reservists cannot attain a high level of proficiency or experience. However, part-time soldiers, generally, do not experience the same operational tempo as their regular force or active service counter-parts). The same standard and scrutiny should also be applied when the terms “military or police trained”, “State/Provincially certified”, “highest quality training” are used. Find out what the province or state mandates. Is there standardized training? If not, what training does this company offer? Who provides the training? Do they have the education or background to be teaching the subject matter? Can they provide documentation showing their expertise? If you’re looking at potential employers, ask to see their instructor(s) teach. Sit in on a class if you can. The unfortunate reality is that the private security market is overloaded with "self-proclaimed" experts who do not pack the gear to be teaching the material they are passing on, or profit from old, outdated, and irrelevant material no longer being taught to the professional community but is being sold the unaware, and uninformed civilian market. 

7     7. Vet ALL of the Information.

I recently held meetings with a new potential client, I had met one of the individuals many years prior, it was simple chance that we happened to run into one another at a local store. Information I had been lead to believe many years earlier did not paint a very good picture for this person so I kept my interactions with them to a minimum. It was only after running into this person and later sitting down to dinner with a group of friends that I realized I had made a huge mistake many years earlier. It turns out the information was so far from the truth it was offensive to call it a lie. I was ashamed of myself for following the herd like so many others whom I had worked with.

It taught me a valuable lesson. Believe nothing you see and only half of what you hear.

Even after you have had your meetings with potential security providers or employers. Take the time to fact check.

8      8. READ THE FINE PRINT, use a lawyer.

One of the biggest mistakes I made when I was first hired by a private security firm was to sign an “Employment Agreement” without taking the time to fully read and comprehend what was actually in the agreement and what it meant. A mistake made by a much younger and eager Cameron. (18 years old) Not only was I in a rush and too preoccupied with all the wonderful things this company claimed to be able to give me. I signed a document that was not only illegal, but borderline criminal on a moral scale. No Overtime pay or any compensation for it. Illegal. I had to pay for my own uniforms and equipment, even cold weather gear, I was deducted $10 per pay check to cover training which I could never participate in for many months because I was always scheduled to work the evenings when training was conducted. I was paying for a service and was not receiving it, illegal. I was often scheduled to work with little to no time for rest, Occupation Health and Safety, Transportation Safety, and Commercial Trucking Regulation violations. On one occasion, I was injured on the job during a range shoot, after a firearm owned by the company exploded in my hand leaving a permanent shard of shrapnel lodged in my upper left lip. No OH&S report, No Workers Compensation, No Investigation by any regulatory body that I was made aware of or asked to speak to.

If you are asked to sign a document, ask for time to read the document in full 24 hours is perfectly acceptable. Longer, if you are signed a contract for a security service. If you have a lawyer use them or ask a lawyer to review the documentation. If you are told “These documents cannot leave our office” There is a reason, walk away.