Last year I wrote about the importance of defining career opportunities in security if we wanted to change the perception of the industry. And so, over the last 18 months, with my team I have been researching, analysing and putting together the beginnings of a framework to showcase the multitude of roles and pathways that exist across the industry.  And let me tell you, we truly do have something for everyone.

We started by reviewing and comparing other frameworks that had been developed across the world. The problem we found was they were either too simple to be of any use (Officer, Supervisor, Manager) or too complex/indigestible to be utilised by a lay person. However, we were able to use several of these frameworks as the backbone of our research.

Three main pathways

We have started by defining three main pathways: management, business strategy and specialist.

Of course, this is simplifying the industry, but we had to in order to achieve the vision – which was not only to provide an accurate professional development framework but to create a digestible resource that could be utilised as a marketing tool for the private security industry. We did not want to create a whitepaper or research report.

Some people enjoy the responsibility of management, whether that’s focussed on operations or people; some people are very analytical and enjoy working on vision, growth and strategy; and some people couldn’t think of anything worse than sitting in an office all day – but don’t want to be on minimum wage for the rest of their career. That’s where specialisms come in.

The problem is, externally these pathways aren’t promoted and internally people tend to be familiar with what their own organisation or sector offers and without even realising it, they are stuck in a silo.

Where should people start

There is quite clearly an array of entry level roles but many suggest there are glass ceilings in certain sectors, which makes people favour working in one sector over another due to nothing but the perception of opportunity.

What we realised was, actually, it doesn’t matter where an individual starts their career -– what’s important for retention is that individuals start in an environment that they enjoy and where they will excel.

By suggesting if you work in events you can only work your way up to an Operations Director or, if you work in Retail you should be aiming to become a Loss Prevention manager, you are neglecting to consider the transferable skill sets that are gained in each and every sector and that can be applied quite easily to a new environment. By suggesting there is limited progression in certain sectors we fail to motivate our workforce.

The key is understanding the skills you are developing and having the ability to communicate those skills when required – for example, when applying for a new job. The security industry is fluid and you can easily move across sectors (for example from events to retail or corporate) as well as across specialisms (from frontline, to systems, to intelligence) – the key is understanding the skills and/or qualifications you have and those which you need to develop or attain.

Easier said than done, but the more we can break down roles, levels, qualifications and skills in a space where they can all be easily understood, digested and compared, the easier it becomes to plan what’s next.

Although skills and behaviours utilised at entry level can be more varied across sectors than say from management level and beyond (where they tend to become more generalised), the reality is it is entirely possible to move horizontally. Working in any sector offers a very transferable skillset. Even specialists would be able to move into a strategic enterprise role by moving back into a more generalist management role and working their way up from there.

Knowledge is power and unfortunately, the vast majority of people don’t actually realise the scope of roles that exist or the scope of organisations and sectors that they could be considering.

As we continue discovery into individual roles, organisation types and progression routes, it has become clear that although there is a multitude of different job titles, similar progression structures do actually exist across the board. Of course, larger organisations have the ability to create more specialist roles where smaller organisations will have one individual performing several roles, but in general, believe it or not, there is unity in this industry.

And what that means is glass ceilings don’t exist, because as soon as you hit a point in your current organisation where you can’t go any further, you have a valuable skillset that can be easily transferred elsewhere.

A few tips to help develop your career

1. Understand the skills you have and learn how to communicate them both on your CV and in interview. If you are coming from a military or police background, commercialise the language you use.

2. When looking to progress from an entry level role, consider larger organisations that have more variety of roles.

3. Widen your network – whether this is through attending socials, joining professional membership bodies, joining Special Interest Groups (SIGs) or volunteering

4. Sell yourself for the actual role you are applying for – communicate the skills you have that are relevant to the level or type of role. Consider what the ideal applicant would look like – and emanate that.

Houdah Al-Hakim CSMP® MSyI

Security Management Professional / Director

Quick Click Security

www.quickclicksecurity.com

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The post Career Pathways in Security appeared first on City Security Magazine.

Security – a career of choice?

As one of the world’s fastest growing industries, why is security not yet a career of choice?

Let me start with a question. How many people reading this article chose security as a career, and how many ‘fell into it’?

I am going to hazard a guess that like myself, and the majority of people I speak with, security somehow found you. Therefore, it is quite by luck we all ended up here. Now imagine what our industry could look like if security became a career of choice.

For quite a while there has been a general consensus that we want and need career pathways within our sector: to motivate our existing workforce, attract new and diverse talent, and ideally move towards the creation of a profession. My optimistic self would hope that this could allow us to start dictating our value to clients rather than being in a constant race to the bottom.

So, a career of choice, where to start?

A career is defined as ‘an occupation undertaken for a significant period of a person’s life and with opportunities for progress’. A career pathway, we can therefore surmise, is a series of jobs that you undertake to help you progress towards your ultimate career goal.

So, do we have career pathways in the security industry? That was a rhetorical question; of course we do. So why do we keep talking about careers and lack of career pathways?

Having spent a number of years talking with professionals across the world about their roles, I know for a fact that career pathways exist – both within individual organisations and across the industry as a whole.

I’ve spoken to many high performing professionals who have worked very hard to climb said ladder and now enjoy a view from the top.

But, there has been one running theme across the majority of those I have spoken with: they didn’t set out to build a career in security, they ‘fell into it’, and certainly had no aspirations as a teenager or young adult to work or move into the security industry long term.

What is security?

There are so many specialisms, fields and subject areas within the security sector it is a difficult task to define exactly what it is we do.

Security straddles almost every industry and with constant shifts in the economic, political and social environment, our world is constantly evolving and so, too, are the risks we face.

And as the digital age continues to define the modern way of living, it feels like cyber threats are coming in from every direction.

This constant shift means that as an industry, we are continually evolving with new companies, new roles and new responsibilities to protect our businesses and population from harm.

Furthermore, with so many different sized organisations working across such a vast array of sectors, with identical job titles in one organisation meaning something completely different in another, it isn’t difficult to see where the problem lies. Although, in reality, the diversity this industry has to offer should be the reason we are an attractive career option to consider.

In my experience, those working across corporate security roles tend to understand better than most, where they fit in in the bigger picture. But those on the frontline, entry level and certainly the general public have absolutely no idea about the roles that exist in this industry (apart from maybe Tesco security guard and ‘bouncer’), let alone careers.

Ultimately, it seems that no one outside the industry really has a clue what we have to offer, which does strike me as odd since we are surrounded by security everywhere we look, and it is one of the fastest growing industries in the world.

When I’m older I want to be…

A doctor, lawyer, engineer? When deciding what career path we want to pursue we consider things such as our interests, earning capability (will I be able to afford that yacht in 20 years’ time?), responsibility levels and whether we think we would ‘fit’ into a particular industry.

First and foremost, an individual cannot choose a particular career if they don’t know it exists! We cannot aspire to be something we don’t even know about. We can’t carefully consider whether a particular career path is a good option for us if we don’t know what’s involved in terms of time and cost and how much we have the potential to earn at the end of it.

So the problem, it would seem, is not that we don’t have career pathways, it’s that no one knows about them. But who’s responsibility is it to tell them?

A profession

Another important factor when deciding what to do with oneself, and one that propelled me into the world of law for a period of time, is whether it is a respected profession.  Do I feel proud to tell people what I do when I’m asked?  As we progress through life, we realise that what people think of what we do is actually of little relevance, but we cannot ignore it is a significant factor for young people – especially if parents, teachers, friends have any influence on their decision making.

A profession is defined as a paid occupation that involves prolonged training and a formal qualification.

Although we have a number of certified qualifications within the industry, there is no agreed upon, set requirement that one must achieve a particular minimum level of qualification to acquire a particular job position- apart from at entry level to get an SIA licence.

Certainly, organisations have their own standards and requirements when hiring, but as an industry, there is no agreed upon training/qualification structure. When I started looking at a course to do a few years back, I didn’t know where to start; even when I finished a Level 6 diploma in Security Management, I wasn’t quite sure what to do with it, and even worse, I didn’t know who to ask.

Organisations like the Security Institute, IFPO, ASIS & the BSIA are doing amazing work to push professional development, but do we perhaps have to take it one step further and formally link qualifications to levels?

A maze of opportunities

Many organisations and individuals – both professionals and academics – have attempted, and some succeeded, to map out pathways.  Organisations have also individually created paths up, down and around their own company, but there is little consistency across the sector and certainly no agreed upon framework that we can use to start promoting the industry as a whole.

A First-Class Politics grad may have absolutely no interest in a career pathway from frontline SIA licence holder to Security Manager/Director, but they may well be interested in working as part of an intelligence team protecting business assets on the West Coast of Africa from piracy and terrorist attack. Chances are that during their careers advice session, security wasn’t high up on the ‘jobs you should consider’ list.

Teachers, career advisors, employability agencies and every other type of individual or organisation that influences the career choices people make, do not have a magic ball – they need to be informed of and have access to clearly defined career routes in order to be able to share that knowledge.

What we need is a set of clearly defined pathways, with required skills, knowledge, qualifications and experience attached to each role and level. This information must then be formulated into an easy to use, easy to search, easy to navigate tool. We live in the digital age – we basically need a Wikipedia for careers in the security industry.  We need individuals to not only visualise the type of role they would be interested in pursuing, but easily establish how they can get there.

A tool like this could be utilised in classrooms, universities, job fairs – even internally within organisations to help HR teams hire in the correct skill sets and build development plans for their current teams.

In light of the current economic situation, high levels of unemployment and reports of skills shortages across both the physical and cyber industries, our sector has a unique opportunity to attract a whole new diverse pool of talent.

An opportunity that we should not miss out on

Frontline SIA operatives would no longer have to view their current role as just a job, but rather as the first step in their career, building valuable skills and experience required for their next step up. When people have something to aim for, their energy, motivation and desire to perform or even outperform significantly increase.

So it isn’t that we need to create career pathways, it’s that we need to clearly define them, present them in a user-friendly format and shout from the rooftops that as an industry we are open and have a myriad of career opportunities that require individuals from every profession, walk of life and background to help our industry succeed in becoming a career of choice, not chance.

Houdah Al-Hakim

Founder & CEO

Quick Click Security

www.quickclicksecurity.com

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The post Security – a career of choice? appeared first on City Security Magazine.

In their series  #talkaboutitTuesdays, Quick Click Security have created a range of video interviews with  security professionals to learn more about their careers and to share their advice and experience with others on the same path.

Introducing Interview with Lee Vincent

Houdah Al-Hakim, CEO of Quick Click Security introduces Lee Vincent:

In this edition of  #TalkaboutitTuesdays we speak to Lee Vincent about his transition from the military into private security. Lee explains how he did this utilising great networks through The Security Institute and ASIS UK Young Professionals and talks about what his day to day now entails. We touch on the impact Covid-19 has had and what his thoughts are on the industry moving forward from this.

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The post Interview with Lee Vincent: Security Manager appeared first on City Security Magazine.

In their series  #talkaboutitTuesdays, Quick Click Security have created a range of video interviews with  security professionals to learn more about their careers and to share their advice and experience with others on the same path.

Introducing Interview with Jacey Bloomberg

Houdah Al-Hakim, CEO of Quick Click Security introduces Jacey Bloomberg:

A fantastically open and honest chat with Jacey Bloomberg, Director – who made the transition into the private security industry over 15 years ago and has been an inspirational role model ever since. Having worked in retail Jacey felt there was a huge gap in her expectations as a client and the level of service she received from security providers. Moving into her first role as a Client Liaison Officer this led Jacey on a journey to her present position, where she now, amongst other responsibilities manages a global Front of House programme – that she impressively created from concept to delivery. Jacey talks to us about her role, her responsibility as a leader to change mindsets and how imperative it is we see the transferable skill set those outside the industry have to offer.

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The post Interview with Jacey Bloomberg: Director appeared first on City Security Magazine.

In their series  #talkaboutitTuesdays, Quick Click Security have created a range of video interviews with  security professionals to learn more about their careers and to share their advice and experience with others on the same path.

Introducing Interview with Steve McNulty

Houdah Al-Hakim, CEO of Quick Click Security introduces Steve McNulty:

This week Quick Click Security had the pleasure of speaking with Steve McNulty, a Business Development Consultant at SGC Security Services. Starting in the RAF, Steve joined the industry over 30 years ago and has a wealth of knowledge within both security and business. We talked about everything and anything from business survival in a pandemic to what really is important in life. Steve offered us a very honest and insightful view into his own mechanisms for dealing with mental health and provides us with some very simple but effective tips on how to take time out for reflection. He talks us through how the realisation of what his real strengths were led to him ultimately finding a much happier balance between work and life.

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The post Interview with Steve McNulty: Business Development Manager appeared first on City Security Magazine.

In their series  #talkaboutitTuesdays, Quick Click Security have created a range of video interviews with  security professionals to learn more about their careers and to share their advice and experience with others on the same path.

Introducing Lee Oughton

Houdah Al-Hakim, CEO of Quick Click Security introduces Lee Oughton:

A fantastic chat with security professional Lee Oughton who offers some fantastic tips on how to build a career in the security industry. Having started in the military Lee talks us through his own career progression and how he ended up as a successful multi business owner in Mexico. We talk about failure and why it’s so important to just give things a go and how important it is to ask questions… regardless of whether you feel it makes you look silly or not.

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The post Interview with Lee Oughton: Chief Operating Officer appeared first on City Security Magazine.

In their series  #talkaboutitTuesdays, Quick Click Security have created a range of video interviews with  security professionals to learn more about their careers and to share their advice and experience with others on the same path.

Introducing Patrick Rogers

Houdah Al-Hakim, CEO of Quick Click Security introduces Patrick Rogers:

This week we had an incredibly fascinating conversation with Patrick Rogers who talks us through a very interesting career journey to date, from Somali Pirates to talking on the impact of the Iran Crisis on Maritime Security as an intelligence expert. Unlike some of our previous guests Patrick doesn’t have a police or ex forces background and came into security through an academic route, with an undergrad degree in International business and a Masters from Kings in Intelligence and International Security. He admits at one point, in the initial stages of his career he was made to feel at such a disadvantage that he nearly moved into another profession. Luckily for us he stuck it out – a real testament to his obvious commitment and self-perseverance. Patrick now works as a Senior Associate at S-RM covering Corporate intelligence, Crisis Management and Cyber Security. An incredibly diverse role which reaches across almost every area of client operations. Patrick gave me a real insight into “intelligence” work which just opened my eyes once more to the diversity of roles and positions this industry can offer. And of course our #talkaboutitTuesdays wouldn’t be the same without some industry hints and tips with Patrick offering some very helpful insights on how to network and what he is doing to fill his down time during the lockdown!

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The post Interview with Patrick Rogers: Senior Intelligence Analyst appeared first on City Security Magazine.

In their series  #talkaboutitTuesdays, Quick Click Security have created a range of video interviews with  security professionals to learn more about their careers and to share their advice and experience with others on the same path.

Introducing Carl Kaitel

Houdah Al-Hakim, CEO of Quick Click Security introduces Carl Kaitel:

Today we speak with the lovely Carl Kaitell about life on the frontline. Carl is a frontline SIA licence holder who has worked his way up the ladder over a 23-year span. Starting at ground level as a steward for his dad’s security company he worked his way up to management and then went on to start his own businesses. Carl talks frankly about the very real risks that present themselves whilst working on the front line and after hearing how his colleague was attacked with a machete I had to ask – what is it that keeps us going back to a role where there is a real risk to personal safety AND we are only paid minimum wage?

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The post Interview with Carl Kaitell: Security Business Owner appeared first on City Security Magazine.

In their series  #talkaboutitTuesdays, Quick Click Security have created a range of video interviews with  security professionals to learn more about their careers and to share their advice and experience with others on the same path.

Introducing Janina Lincke

Houdah Al-Hakim, CEO of Quick Click Security introduces Janina Lincke:

With a beginning in academia as a scientist, Janina made a brave transition into a completely new world – moving across to the private security industry and beginning a new journey as a Close Protection Officer in South Africa. From there Janina built up her experience and skill set within a number of different environments, travelling the globe (literally!) and working with a variety of people from Royals to Google Execs. Janina is passionate about her role, passionate about the industry and passionate about helping new entrants into private security and the CP world. She talks openly and honestly about some of the barriers she has come up against and more importantly opens up the discussion on what we can all individually start doing to strengthen teams and create more balanced, happier and effectively more productive workplaces rather than merely coexisting. Thank you so much Janina for taking the time to speak with us – we know you are an extremely busy lady!

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The post Interview with Janina Lincke: Close Protection Officer appeared first on City Security Magazine.

In their series  #talkaboutitTuesdays, Quick Click Security have created a range of video interviews with  security professionals to learn more about their careers and to share their advice and experience with others on the same path.

Introducing Sarah Harvie

Houdah Al-Hakim, CEO of Quick Click Security introduces Sarah Harvie

Following our recent posts and articles on transitioning from a physical security career into cyber we thought who better to give us some guidance on the hows and whys than someone who has already done it! Sarah has had an exceptional career to date working her way up from a receptionist to Head of Information Security at a global organisation. She talks to us about how she did this and the main things you need to know about or consider when looking to explore a move across. Sarah talks us through each move and how she managed to get her foot in the door even when she didn’t always have exactly the right experience. In the words of Sarah herself, “the principles are the same – you go from physical security and your focus is to identify your assets, identify your threats and identify your risks – everything else follows from there. It’s exactly the same in information security but the asset you are protecting is digital instead of something that’s standing in front of you.”

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The post Interview with Sarah Harvie: the transition from physical security to cyber appeared first on City Security Magazine.