Night security guards monitor public or private areas during nighttime hours. They may require minimal qualifications or extensive training, including firearm safety and law enforcement training. Night guards must be prepared for emergencies and familiar with night security techniques and police protocol.
A night security guard is responsible for monitoring the premises of a business, institution or other area during night hours. The area the night security guard will monitor may be open to the public or a private area closed to the general public. Guards may be required to obtain minimum qualifications for some security positions, while in other cases, guards will be trained professionals, carry firearms and be prepared for emergency situations. These professionals can be considered a type of law enforcement and are usually employed by private companies that hire guards for other entities that need security services.
Often, a night security guard can be hired with little or no formal training or education. The skills needed to be successful on the job can be learned through on-the-job training; this is generally only valid for lower level security positions where the night guard does not carry a weapon. The guard may undergo training to qualify to use pepper spray or other types of weapons, but generally this guard does not receive firearms training.
More advanced positions may require a night security guard to have at least a high school education, as well as training in firearm safety and use, law enforcement training, and more. In fact, the guard may be a former police officer or another police officer who has spent significant time on professional training and experience. These job seekers will have obtained training at a police academy or similar institution. Former military officers can also become night security guards, as their military training and experience will give them the necessary skills to be successful in the job.
A night security guard will work exclusively at night, which presents its own set of challenges. Working nights means the guard will need to develop a new sleep schedule and be prepared to stay up all night. He or she will need to be familiar with night security techniques, as darkness can make it difficult to recognize potential threats or criminal activity. The night watchman will need to be familiar with police protocol, as he or she may need to contact local law enforcement agencies in an emergency. A commercial driver’s license may or may not be required, depending on the scope of the guard’s responsibilities.
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