Present yourself

Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2004 10:03 pm

We recently held interviews for Wardens via an agencay called CSS (damn excellent). One of the candidates turned up and his breath stank. He was very impressive in every other department and was neck and neck with one other and he didn't make the cut because of his breath. Sad but true.

Yes I am a very intimidating interviewer as I am a qualified interview investigator but it amazed me that such a basic lapse could occur. Just brings the small things to mind.

Frequent Poster Joined: Sep 24, 2004 Posts: 25

I went to an interview with a leading company last week. I was suited and booted etc. The man who came out ahead of me was wearing(I kid you not) A flowery bright yellow shirt with green jeans. Well about ten minutes into the interview and my interviewer looked at me and said "You're the smartest candidate I've seen in months." I was stunned, it just goes to show how little effort most people make in our industry. In a Jobcentreplus office the other week I saw a guard working for a huge company. He was not wearing a tie, shirt open by two buttons, no tabs, no ID of any kind to show what, or who he was. Oh he mumbled and his shirt tails were hanging out as well. It makes you think doesn't it. It doesn't take too much effort to be well turned out.

Cheers Philip

Posted: Sun Sep 26, 2004 1:34 pm

No, you are right, it doesnt take much effort to look good but I would also have to question the supervision of the company concerned. Having an officer dressed (or should that be undressed) in such a horrendous state does their employer no favours at all. Not only that, he is putting his job at risk - it only takes one complaint to reach his headoffice.....
I dread to think what visitors or staff are thinking about the company concerned.

Newbie Joined: Sep 26, 2004 Posts: 6 Location: Lancashire

Sadly many people still see Security as a low-status job and there are cowboy companies out there who encourage that view (my neighbour was on £2 per hour as his "employer" gave him time off to sign-on for unemployment benefit).
I find it annoying that when people are looking for Security Officers they expect people of high calibre - honest,intelligent,assertive,responsible etc but expect those high-calibre people to work for "shelf-stackers" wages. Security has to be one of the most undervalued jobs in the country.
The low wages paid by some firms will only attract people who cannot find any other work and who will do the job until they find something else or get bored and stop turning up.

Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2004 11:38 am

Protectionk9uk wrote:

Sadly many people still see Security as a low-status job and there are cowboy companies out there who encourage that view (my neighbour was on £2 per hour as his "employer" gave him time off to sign-on for unemployment benefit).
I find it annoying that when people are looking for Security Officers they expect people of high calibre - honest,intelligent,assertive,responsible etc but expect those high-calibre people to work for "shelf-stackers" wages. Security has to be one of the most undervalued jobs in the country.
The low wages paid by some firms will only attract people who cannot find any other work and who will do the job until they find something else or get bored and stop turning up.

Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2004 11:54 am

sorry guys
i pressedthe return bar too soon
but what protectionk9uk says is true as there are still a lot of cowboy companies out there and it still gets me angry that you bust your guts doing a great job and get so little respect and pay for what we do
his neighbour gets £2-00 per hour because his employer lets him go and sign on I can see two things happening here
(1) his neighbour going to court /jail for fraud and getting a criminal record
(2) his neighbours company being done by the police for allowing his nieghbour to work and knowingly commit fraud and the employer possibly getting a criminal record

this employer SHOULD BE NAMED AND SHAMED Its bloody disgusting what some employers get away with

any comments
bigyin

Forum Addict Joined: Apr 28, 2004 Posts: 122

this is just another example of our 'more for less' culture.

nothing will change until quality starts to come before profit and companies are not run by accountants anymore.

but your right, ANYONE can get a job in the security industry.

Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2004 5:26 pm

Yes Spooky
I agree with you 100% on what you say it is amazing what some companies get away with and some of them have the investor in people award award by this government I think the government put all the names into a lucky bag and pull the companies name out and give them the award, I am seriously thinking of starting my own training company up and doing the security training but it will be done by the book with an A/T awareness course put in for free and I will also be approachable by any security officer who needs advice as the guild is doing
this is where we can all make a differance in the industry and bring the professionalism in to the officer who is just starting there career in security
bigyin
any comments

Forum Addict Joined: Apr 28, 2004 Posts: 122

sounds good!

i will give you a bell with an idea im knocking about.

re the investors in people thing, as i understand it costs quite a chunk of money... if only that money were invested in the people... ironic isnt it.

Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2004 7:01 pm

It is indeed ironic! - the very title is misleading.
Investors in People was primarily (when it first started out) a poor mans quality management system with focus on communication - god knows, our employers need all the help they can get when it comes to effective communication with its workforce.

A very expensive paper shuffling excercise, much like ISO 9002.
Those pidgeon holes to put paperwork in cost a fortune Laughing

Newbie Joined: Sep 26, 2004 Posts: 6 Location: Lancashire

The neighbour who was getting £2 an hour fell out with his boss (he was guarding a car show room and decided to test-drive a car -unauthorised- and damaged it) as a result he phoned the DSS Fraud line and told them who was working where,names etc and every site, except the one he was working at, got raided. I never heard the final outcome for the boss but hopefully the Licencing & new regulations would stop him ever owning a security Company again.

Forum Addict Joined: Apr 28, 2004 Posts: 122

sadly only the individuals will be licensed, so theres no problem him owning a security company again, he just may not get a security license himself.

companies need licensing too in my opinion. not that that would count for much. all the accreditations inthe world are handed to any company that can BS its way through assessment.

BSIA ticket isnt worth the paper its printed in for example.

Rising Star Joined: Apr 27, 2005 Posts: 56

bigyin wrote:

this is where we can all make a differance in the industry and bring the professionalism in to the officer who is just starting there career in security

OMG, you sound like me! lol, hence the choice of name in my Company. I find it so dissapointing when the basics of a standard of dress suffers due to an officers pride and his/her commitment to his/her role. I'm passionate about raising Standards of the Industry. It's long overdue, but it's going to be an uphill struggle to shake of that old stereotype image.

Rising Star Joined: Apr 27, 2005 Posts: 56

Spooky wrote:

sadly only the individuals will be licensed....
companies need licensing too in my opinion.... .

Directors and Managers of Security Companies will also require licensing. Ok, they won't require to undergo any training courses as they won't be "frontline" but they still have to go through the SIA criminality checks. Maybe this guy won't be running any more security companies after all!

Posted: Wed Dec 14, 2005 3:13 pm

Secssolcouk
yes we could both be in the same mind but we need to train Security officers PROPERLY for the Officer to do his job effectivley Search Procedures IE Body Searches, Vehicle Searches, Building Searches, how to fill in the daily log books , pass issue books, Key issue books, the various types of patrols,what to look for when on patrol , Lone Worker in the building etc etc the list could go on for hours days even .
if you want to pm me feel free
Bigyin Razz