Security Guard Resume Templates and Examples (Downloadable)

  • Security Guard
  • Armed Security Guard
  • Security Guard Supervisor

To build an eye-catching security guard resume, you need an accomplishment-driven document that demonstrates your commitment to preserving the safety of others during emergency situations. Craft engaging bullet points to paint a picture of your experience collaborating with law enforcement and identifying peaceful resolutions to conflicts. In this guide, we’ll walk you through each step of the resume writing process to help you secure your next big job interview.

Key takeaways:

  • Emphasize conflict resolution skills: Feature communication and conflict resolution skills prominently throughout your resume to show potential employers that you have the emotional intelligence needed to peacefully de-escalate dangerous situations.
  • Detail quantifiable achievements: Highlight numbers and metrics to establish a sense of scope for your contributions. For instance, you could demonstrate how you successfully improved incident response times and security operations.
  • Use keywords for applicant tracking systems (ATS): Include specific skills and key terms to match the job description. For instance, if a company is seeking a security guard with a strong knowledge of access control, include this term directly in your summary.

How To Write a Security Guard Resume Example

To write a great security resume, you need to organize your content effectively. This allows the hiring manager to easily scan your document for important information. Your resume template should include each of the following sections:

  • Contact information
  • Profile
  • Key skills
  • Professional experience
  • Education and certifications

1. Share your contact information

Provide your full name, phone number, email address, location, and a URL for your LinkedIn profile or digital portfolio. Be sure to review the accuracy of your contact information to ensure potential employers can easily reach out to schedule an interview.

Example

YOUR NAME

[email protected] | (123) 456-7890 | City, ST | LinkedIn | Portfolio

2. Write a compelling profile summarizing your security guard qualifications

Draw the reader in with an engaging professional profile that captures the broad strokes of your experience as a security guard. Lead with a sentence that includes your title, years of experience, and key skills that employers are looking for. Feature unique details that illustrate your advanced expertise as a security professional.

For example, you might emphasize your ability to peacefully resolve dangerous situations using de-escalation techniques. You could highlight your background in analyzing and improving security protocols to reduce safety risks. By making a strong first impression on the hiring manager, you’ll greatly increase your chances of landing the interview.

Security Guard Profile Example

A security guard with five years of professional experience specializing in incident response, access control, and conflict resolution. A proven track record of de-escalating tense situations with calmness, poise, and professionalism.

Armed Security Guard Profile Example

A dedicated security guard with seven years of experience specializing in firearm safety, incident response, access control, and de-escalation techniques. A strong history of delivering armed security services and ensuring the safety of client properties and employees.

3. Add an accomplishment-driven professional experience section

To stand out from the competition during your job search, you need a professional experience section that encapsulates your most compelling career achievements as a security guard. Your bullet points should be concise yet engaging, displaying the genuine impact of your contributions. Avoid detailing generic job responsibilities and focus on how creating a narrative that tells your unique story within the security field.

Armed Security Guard Professional Experience Example

Armed Security Guard, Boeing, Philadelphia, PA | May 2020 – present

  • Monitored security and performed daily patrols for a large facility with over 250 employees, conducted verification to ensure authorized access, and identified potential security breaches and suspicious activity
  • Created comprehensive incident reports, evaluated trends, and provided recommendations to enhance security protocols
  • Responded to over 100 security situations and utilized de-escalation techniques to reduce potential harm and achieve peaceful resolutions

Security Guard Supervisor Professional Experience Example

Security Guard Supervisor, Penn Station, New York, NY | March 2018 – present

  • Manage a team of 40 security guards and coordinate all aspects of daily security operations for a major train station with over 3,000 daily visitors
  • Deliver training to over 100 security personnel and identify opportunities to mitigate risks and improve average incident response time by 18%
  • Coordinate with police officers and EMTs during response to life-threatening situations, criminal activities, and medical emergencies

Resume writer’s tip: Quantify your experience

Quantify your career achievements to amplify the strength of your content. Highlight the number of visitors for the site you patrolled to establish a sense of scope for the reader. Emphasize how you’ve successfully improved response times or reduced incidents by improving security protocols. Incorporating these numbers will naturally draw the reader’s eye and help make your bullet points more distinct.

Do
  • “Deliver training to over 100 security personnel and identify opportunities to mitigate risks and improve average incident response time by 18%”
Don’t
  • “Properly train security guards on daily responsibilities, assign tasks, and successfully find ways to help improve response times”

Resume writer’s tip: Tailor your resume for each application

Review the job description before crafting your professional experience section. Identify key qualifications that the company is looking for and tactically incorporate them into your resume. For instance, if the organization is targeting a security guard who can coordinate effectively with law enforcement, detail this aspect of your experience in a bullet point.

What if you don’t have experience?

Even if you lack hands-on experience, it’s still possible to create an impactful resume that grabs the attention of potential employers. One approach is to focus on emphasizing relevant skills that could help you succeed in a security guard position, such as communication and conflict resolution skills. Pursuing a security guard license or BLS certification can also help bolster your chances of landing an entry-level position.

4. Include relevant education and certifications

Depending on the state, you may be required to obtain a security guard license through an accredited organization or agency. A BLS certification is also commonly listed as a requirement for these types of roles. While a college degree is not typically needed for a security guard opening, obtaining an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in criminal justice can give you an edge over the competition.

Education

Template:

[Degree Name and Major] | [Graduation Date]
[School Name] | [City, ST]

Example:

Associate of Science (A.S.) Criminal Justice | June 2019
University of Washington, Seattle, WA

Certifications

Template:

[Certification Name] | [Awarding Organization] | [Completion Date]

Example:

  • Security Guard License | State of Pennsylvania | June 2019
  • Basic Life Support | American Red Cross | June 2019

5. List pertinent key skills

To achieve compliance with ATS, pack your resume with relevant security guard skills that match the job description. Look for specific keywords, especially terms repeated more than once throughout the posting. As you review potential opportunities, you should start to identify certain trends. For instance, you’ll notice that skills such as conflict resolution and de-escalation techniques are likely to appear in almost any security guard job listing.

Key Skills and Proficiencies
Access control Behavioral analysis
Communication Conflict resolution
CPR certified Customer service
De-escalation Diversity and inclusion
Emergency response Firearm safety
Law enforcement Patrols
Physical security Risk assessment
Safety protocols Security
Security management Security operations
Security training Surveillance
Team leadership  

Resume writer’s tip: Use common action verbs

Action verbs are a great way to enhance your bullet points with proactive language. However, if you use the same verbs repeatedly, they quickly lose their effectiveness. When building your professional experience section, be intentional in your word choice and diversify your verbiage. We’ve put together a list of verbs you can use during the resume-writing process:

Action Verbs
Analyzed Assessed
Communicated Conducted
Coordinated De-escalated
Delivered Identified
Implemented Improved
Led Managed
Monitored Oversaw
Patrolled Performed
Provided Resolved
Responded Trained

How To Pick the Best Security Guard Resume Template

Resume templates come in a variety of formats and styles, and finding the right fit for your personal brand can be challenging. When selecting a template, the first step to evaluate is how it’s organized. Are the sections simple to navigate? Is the font elegant and readable? Do the colors and visual elements draw attention away from your career experience? If your layout meets these criteria, it’s a viable option for your security guard resume.

Security Guard Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples

left
  • Security Guard
  • Armed Security Guard
  • Security Guard Supervisor
right

Robert Ortiz

[email protected] | (123) 456-7890 | Seattle, WA | LinkedIn | Portfolio

Profile 

A security guard with five years of professional experience specializing in incident response, access control, and conflict resolution. A proven track record of de-escalating tense situations with calmness, poise, and professionalism.

Professional Experience

Security Guard, Seattle Airport, Seattle, WA | October 2021 – present

  • Patrol key areas to mitigate security threats and maintain a safe environment for patrons in a high-volume airport with thousands of daily visitors
  • Deliver training to over 20 security guards and identify opportunities to enhance operating procedures, contributing to a 10% reduction in average response times
  • Utilize conflict resolution techniques to de-escalate tense situations peacefully

Security Guard, Westfield South Center, Seattle, WA | June 2019 – October 2021

  • Performed daily patrols to monitor suspicious activity, prevent theft, and ensure the safety of customers in a high-traffic mall with over 500 patrons per day
  • Coordinated effectively with law enforcement in response to emergency situations and successfully detained suspects during investigations

Key Skills

  • Incident response
  • Access control
  • Conflict resolution
  • De-escalation techniques
  • Communication

Education

Associate of Science (A.S.) Criminal Justice | June 2019
University of Washington, Seattle, WA

Certifications

Security Guard License | State of Pennsylvania | June 2019

Basic Life Support | American Red Cross | June 2019

Why this security guard resume example is strong:

This security guard resume excels in presenting the candidate’s interpersonal skills in both the summary and professional experience sections. It also leverages eye-catching numbers to show how the applicant can help improve the efficiency of security operations for future employers.

Frequently Asked Questions: Security Guard Resume Examples and Advice

How do you align your resume with a security guard job description?

Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that over 151,700 new security guard jobs are expected each year from 2022 to 2032. Although there’s no shortage of opportunities, still tailor your resume to each job description.

For example, if a company is looking for an experienced security guard who can train new personnel, heavily emphasize your previous leadership experience in your summary and bullet points. If an organization is seeking a candidate who can coordinate security operations in high-traffic areas, be sure to highlight this aspect of your background using clear examples.

What is the best security guard resume format?

Reverse chronological is the recommended option for security guard resumes. While your certifications, education, and skills are important, always prioritize your work history first. A combination format is an alternative choice that is only warranted if you don’t have hands-on experience in a security-related role.

Expert advice:

Include a cover letter with your resume

Most security guard job applications won’t require a cover letter, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t write one. Potential employers take note of candidates who take the extra steps. The cover letter allows you to provide unique insights into your personal values that wouldn’t normally fit on a resume.

Andrew Stoner

Executive Resume Writer and Career Coach

Andrew Stoner is an executive career coach and resume writer with 17 years of experience as a hiring manager and operations leader at two Fortune 500 Financial Services companies, and as the career services director at two major university business schools.

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