Jobs In The Close Protection Industry - The Hard Truths

95% of people in the close protection industry put no effort whatsoever into applying for jobs. Notably, they send the same un-tailored CV and cover email off to any job that they see posted. Whether they are suitable for the role or not. Then they complain that the market is saturated. and that is the reason that they can’t find well-paid full time employment in the close protection industry.

For 95% of close protection industry operators, you are the reason that you can’t find well-paid full time employment. Importantly, there are no excuses. You can’t blame your training provider for not supporting you. You can’t blame someone that is new to the industry and is trying to get a foot in the door. You can’t blame someone for taking a low paying job. Or you can’t blame the industry in general because it’s not like what it was back in the day. The only person that you can blame is you. because you don’t deserve a full time well-paid job in the close protection industry because you haven’t put any effort into getting one.

Ask yourself this:.

• How much effort have you actually put in to figuring out what your close protection dream job is, and how you will achieve it?
• How much time have you spent developing your CV?
• How much time do you put into finding the right job for you and applying for it effectively?
• How many people who have the ability to offer you employment have you made an effort to meet? 
• What are doing differently than every other close protection operator that is looking for work?

Getting a well-paid full time job in the close protection industry is tough. Furthermore, but why wouldn’t it be. You can command a salary of £65k to £100k and have the opportunity to travel the world. Flying in private jets, staying in luxurious hotels, and eating in the finest restaurants. So when these jobs are advertised, competition is fierce. In a sea of 200+ email applications in a recruiter’s inbox, what is it that makes your application stand out? Why should that recruiter open your email and shortlist your CV to be read in detail. What are you bringing to the role that the other 200+ applicants are not? In this scenario of the recruiter having 200+ applicants, they are likely to shortlist five applicants. So that gives you a 2.5% chance of being short listed for the job. Or a 0.5% chance of actually getting the job! So when you think about your chance of gaining a well-paid full time job in the close protection industry from a statistical perspective. you can see that your chance of landing your dream role is highly unlikely!

So if you want to land your dream role in the close protection industry, you need to start improving the statistics in your favour.

The number one way to do this, is stop trying to gain employment from job advertisements that you see on WhatsApp, facebook, or LinkedIn. Importantly, if you see a job advertised in this way, that has been reposted over and over again. you can expect the 200+ applicants scenario and therefore a terrible statistical likelihood of you getting the job.

The easiest way to put the odds in your favour is to get out there, Additionally, meet the people who have the potential to offer you employment. Put yourself in the recruiter’s shoes. Advertising and recruiting a role is a nightmare. 200+ applicants and all of the stupid questions that come with it take a huge amount of the recruiter’s time. Time that they just don’t have. So if you have taken the time to meet with a recruiter, they have your CV on file already. and they like your demeanour as a close protection operator. you give the recruiter an opportunity not to have to advertise the job to the masses. Then be subjected to all of the associated admin that comes with that.

So for example, if the recruiter has a well-paid full time close protection job in Surrey. Importantly, and ten people have taken the time to meet with the recruiter so that the recruiter already has their CVs on file. The recruiter now has ten CVs to put forward for the role and doesn’t have to advertise the job to the masses. Of those ten CVs, three operators could already be employed, one person might not be available. and another person might not deem the role is suitable for them at that time. Leaving five potential candidates. So your chance of getting the job has gone from 0.5% when you are using a mass recruitment scenario. to 20% when you are using a focussed recruitment approach.

The other crazy statistic associated with this scenario is that less than 1% of close protection operators actually get out there, Specifically, meet the people face to face who have the ability to offer them full-time employment. So if you want to turn the statistics in your favour of landing your dream close protection role. all you need to do is pick up the phone and take the recruiter out for a coffee. It’s that simple! People say the market is saturated. Saturated with what, people who have an inability to pick up a phone and make a call that could change the rest of their life.

You are the only person that can make your close protection industry dream job happen. Notably, stop making excuses. Stop blaming everyone else around you. Stop using the same approach as 99% of the other close protection operators out there. Stop putting yourself in a mass recruitment scenario.

Start putting the effort in. Moreover, start setting aside time to really focus on your job applications. Start taking responsibility for your own dreams and ambitions. Start using a focussed recruitment approach. Start standing out to the recruiters. Start turning the statistics in your favour. And for god’s sake, pick up the phone!

This article was written by Tom Richmond, Managing Director of The Security Advisor, and security industry recruitment subject matter expert. Notably, use The Security Advisor’s FREE Ultimate Guide to CVs and Gaining Employment to achieve your potential:.

https://securityandsafetysolutions.co.uk/news/cv-and-gaining-employment-the-ultimate-guide/.

Technical qualifications will only get you so far - read our guide on the soft skills that separate a good bodyguard from a great one. Notably, and why clients value them as much as any licence or credential.

Further reading: the duties and qualities of a professional bodyguard and what a close protection officer is.

If this article has raised questions about your own security, find out more about our close protection and bodyguard services or our security consultancy - or get in touch to discuss your requirements directly.