understanding psychology of security guard before hiring

We all do understand the roles and responsibilities of a security guard. They are physically first line of defense for premises & assets.

They are also the first contact with any one visiting the premises thus his behavioral and communication skills are very important apart from other required skills for securing the premises (Men, Material & information’s)

 Selection of a security guard needs an expertise to assess his suitability for the job.

Many of the agencies hire guards if they are high school passed with an average height and having basic knowledge of security duties. Generally no psychometric / psychological test is carried out before appointment. A person might be very good in communicating and also having good knowledge about security duties but his behavior and reaction to a situation may not be appropriate and he might become himself a threat.

It has been experienced many a times at different places.

The question is as how to overcome this?

The screening should be done at recruitment stage only. Mixer of open-ended and situational reaction questions will help in evaluating the experience of candidates as well as their situational judgement. The questions must be designed in different ways to assess his behavior & reaction correctly. Any contradiction in his answers must be verified again and again to understand his psychology.

The person should demonstrate good problem-solving skills with alertness and must have the quality to respond to emergency situations quickly.

The individual must have good ethics.

A person having following basic things, can be made reasonably Good security guard after training. 

1. Basic Qualification: High school & above

         2. Reasonably Smart bearing

         3. Ability to learn and having open positive mind set

         4. Adaptable to different situations

         5. Quick in response

         7. Good ethics. 

Here are some situation questions, which will help in understanding individual’s psychology up to some extent. 

1. What would you do if a visitor resisted HHMD screening upon  entering?

         2. You are deployed at main gate with one of your co-worker and a mob of approx 50 people is approaching towards the gate with anti-management  slogans. How will you react to the situation?

         3. What will you do if your senior co-worker is sleeping while duty?

         5. A senior manager has come to office on holiday when office is closed but he has some official work inside. How will you react?

         6. Recall a time an unauthorized person tried to enter your building. How did you respond?

         7. Have you ever felt like that you are in physical danger on the job? How did you handle it?

         8. A lady co-worker is requesting to look after her post of duty for 15 mins as she has some personal work.

         Such type of questions will help you understanding an individual. 

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