13 Security Guard Resume Examples for 2025

Creating a resume for a security guard position requires specific strategies. This article will show proven resume examples and offer strong tips to help you highlight your skills, experience, and certifications. Understand what hiring managers look for in security guard resumes, from formatting to key terms used in the industry. This guide will support you in building a resume that stands out to employers.

  Compiled and approved by Liz Bowen
  Last updated on See history of changes

  Next update scheduled for

At a Glance

Here's what we see in the best security guard resumes.

  • Show Your Impact With Numbers: Good resumes use metrics to show impact. We often see reduced theft incidents by 20%, managed 100 CCTV cameras, improved response time by 15%, and decreased unauthorized access by 30%.

  • Choose Relevant Skills From The Job Description: Include skills on your resume that you have and are mentioned on the job description. Some popular ones are surveillance monitoring, access control, emergency response, patrol techniques, and incident reporting. But don't include all of them, choose the ones you have and are mentioned in the JD.

  • Adapt Your Resume For Senior Roles: For senior roles, show your experience in leading teams and managing large sites. Use phrases like led security team or managed large facility.

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Education vs experience order

For a security guard resume, place your education section after your experience if you are currently working or have substantial work in the field. This helps emphasize your practical skills over your academic background.

However, if you recently completed any significant training courses or certifications relevant to security, list this first. This shows the employer you have the necessary qualifications and recent knowledge in the field.

Highlight certifications

To stand out in the security field, emphasize any certifications or specialized training you have. This includes security licenses, first aid/CPR certifications, and self-defense training.

Mentioning these early on in your resume can capture an employer's attention and show your readiness for the role. Include the issuing body and expiry dates if applicable.

Ideal length of your resume

Keep your resume length to one page if you have less than 10 years of experience as a security professional. This helps you present your most relevant skills and duties in a clear and concise manner. Focus on the most recent and relevant job positions that show your ability to maintain a safe and secure environment.

For those with over 10 years of experience or in senior roles, extending to two pages is acceptable. In this case, ensure your first page highlights your top accomplishments and skills. Senior security personnel should emphasize leadership experience and advanced security procedures that reflect your expertise.

Show relevant experience

For a security guard role, tailor your experience section to highlight skills like surveillance, incident reporting, and emergency response. List specific duties from past jobs that are relevant, such as monitoring CCTV, conducting patrols, or managing access points.

Specific examples give employers a clear view of your capabilities. Mention any incidents where you successfully handled a situation, emphasizing your proactive and responsible nature.

Applicant tracking system tips

You need to prepare your resume to pass through applicant tracking systems (ATS) when applying for security guard positions. These systems help hiring managers sort through many applications quickly.

Here are a few things you can do:

  • Use keywords from the job description. For example, include words like 'patrol,' 'monitor,' or 'surveillance' if these are mentioned in the job posting.
  • Make sure your contact information is correct and easy to find. This helps us reach you if your resume stands out.

Keeping these points in mind will help make your resume more likely to get noticed.

Make it relevant

When tailoring your resume, it is crucial to show why you are the right fit for the role. Focus on the skills and experiences that match the job description. Your goal is to make it easy for the hiring manager to see you in the role. Remember to keep it sharp and to the point.

  • Highlight your experience with security systems and any technical safety protocols you are familiar with. Example: Proficient in operating advanced surveillance systems.
  • In a senior role, stress your leadership abilities, such as team management or training experience. Example: Led a team of 10 security personnel.
  • If you are moving from a different career, draw attention to transferable skills. For example, if you managed store inventory, focus on your attention to detail and vigilance. Example: Maintained zero inventory loss through vigilant oversight.

Show achievements, not tasks

When you write your resume, focus on what you've accomplished, not just what you've done. It's important that you show how your actions as a security guard made a real difference. Think about times you've gone above and beyond your basic duties.

Here are a couple of ways to turn everyday responsibilities into impactful achievements:

  • Instead of 'Monitored CCTV,' try 'Enhanced property safety by identifying and resolving 15 security risks per month through vigilant CCTV monitoring.'
  • Rather than 'Checked identification at the door,' you could say 'Improved building access security by implementing a thorough ID verification process, resulting in zero unauthorized entries over 6 months.'

Essential skills for security guards

When you're updating your resume, it's important that you highlight the right skills. Here's a list of skills that can make your resume stand out when applying for a security guard position.

  • Surveillance techniques
  • Risk assessment
  • First aid and CPR certified
  • Incident reporting
  • Crowd control
  • Law knowledge
  • Physical fitness
  • Security systems operation
  • Patrolling
  • Emergency response

Include these skills in a dedicated section on your resume. This helps applicant tracking systems (ATS) pick up on your qualifications. Remember, you don't need to have all these skills. Just focus on the ones that match your experience and the job you want.

For a security guard role, being familiar with surveillance techniques and having a strong sense of risk assessment are crucial. Have you completed a first aid course or are you CPR certified? Make sure to list these certifications. If you've worked with security systems, show your expertise here. Lastly, don't forget to mention any experience you have with incident reporting and emergency response, as they are key components of the job.

Show leadership growth

If you have moved up the ranks as a security guard or taken on leadership roles, it's important to show this on your resume. Employers look for candidates who have grown in their roles and taken on more responsibility over time. Here's how you can display evidence of leadership and promotions:

  • Highlight any titles or positions you've held that show you were trusted with more responsibility. This could be a shift from a 'security officer' to a 'senior security officer' or 'team leader.' Mention the number of people you led or the scope of your oversight.
  • If you were chosen to train new guards or lead a team project, include this experience. Use phrases like 'trained new team members' or 'led a security detail for high-profile events.'

Even if you're unsure about your leadership experiences, think about times when you took charge. Did you ever fill in for your supervisor? Or maybe you were the point of contact for a client or managed a security checkpoint? These are all good examples of leadership.

Quantify your impact

When you're applying for a security guard position, showing your impact with numbers can make a big difference. It helps potential employers to see the tangible value you have added in previous roles. Here's how you can do it:

  • Think about how many patrols you've conducted in a shift and the size of the area you were responsible for. This can illustrate your ability to handle a substantial workload and maintain vigilance over a large space.
  • Consider any incidents you responded to and how quickly you were able to resolve them. Timing can be everything in security, and demonstrating your responsiveness is key.
  • If you've implemented any security protocols that led to a decrease in incidents or theft, quantify this improvement. For example, if theft was reduced by 20% due to your efforts, that’s a compelling statistic.
  • Training is also a critical part of security work. If you've trained other guards, mention how many (team members trained) and the outcome of this training, such as improved team performance or incident response time.

Remember, you may not have exact figures for everything. It's okay to estimate based on your experience, but be reasonable and honest with your assessments. Your goal is to provide a clear, numerical picture of your effectiveness on the job.

Tailoring your resume for company size

When you are applying for a security role, the size of the company can shape what you highlight on your resume. If you aim for a position with a small firm or startup, like Pinkerton or a local security service, show your ability to take on varied tasks and adapt to different situations. You could say, 'Managed security for multiple site types, showing strong adaptability.'

For larger corporations such as Securitas or Allied Universal, focus on your experience in standardized environments and working within strict protocols. Here, you might write, 'Followed established security procedures to maintain a safe environment in a 500-employee facility.' Remember, large companies often look for proof that you can fit into a large team and deal with the challenges that come with scale.

Regardless of the company size, always show your commitment to safety and your ability to respond to emergencies with examples such as 'Responded to and resolved security incidents swiftly, ensuring minimal risk to staff and assets.' Tailor these examples to either highlight your versatility or your specialized experience, depending on the company you are targeting.

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