basic requirements for the job

8/8/2019 Basic Requirements for the Job

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/basic-requirements-for-the-job 1/4

BASIC REQUIREMENTS FOR THE JOB:

Be advised just because you are a current or former; 1.) SEAL, 2.) DELTA, 3.) LEO, 4.) BlackBelt/Ninja, 5.) Trained Shooter/Sniper, or what ever you are does not mean you are qualified to doTHIS job.

Keep the following in mind:

- Just because you can storm a beach does not make you an expert in protective services

- Just because you can kill a terrorist does not mean can prevent your client from being killed

- Just because you can Protect & Serve a community does not me you know how protect a singleclient

- Just because you can protect yourself does not mean you can protect someone else

- Just because you can shoot someone does not mean you can prevent someone from shooting yourclient

The only thing that makes you qualified to do this job is Protective Services “SPECIFIC” training andpractical work experience in this field. Don’t get me wrong some of the best operators in this field

are from the above mentioned groups (1-5), but not because they are SEALS, DELTA, LEO's, MA'setc but because they are SEALS, DELTA, LEO's, MA's, etc with Protective Services "Specific" trainingand experience.

With that said, the number one requirement in the executive protection field is training. You have toknow how to do the job to be successful at it. Continual training is the key, for your personaleducation and building your network. Any training is a plus and the more you have the better off you will be. There are so many LEO’s, military and government agents who get into executiveprotection, that it is necessary for their private-sector counter parts to have at least similar if notsuperior training to compete. It is important to mention here that the more training you have, themore likely you will be able to work into better positions. It is up to you to show initiative and startthe process. While some will, most companies are not going to train you to do this job. Why shouldthey, there are so many people with relevant training who are willing to do the job. You must “level” the playing field. You must seek out quality training and often.

While we are on the subject of training. There are three types of "private sector" training in theProtective Services field. Big-name, Lesser-name and Bad. Plain and simple. You have the “BigSchools”, who’s names are well known and respected in the industry. If you have no practical workexperience or training then you should probably go through on of these to get the needed credibilityon your resume and to begin your network. Then you have the lesser names who don’t have thesame name brand recognition as the “Big Names”, but they offer a comparable, some times better,training experience for the money. If you are looking to keep your skills fresh, need to network ordon’t have the wherewithal or desire to spend money on the “Big schools”, then this may be theway to go. Then, sadly, we have the “Bad”. The reality is that we have far more “Bad” training thenanything else in this business and for some one who doesn’t know any better it’s very difficult to tellwho the players are with out a playbook. My recommendation is get references from prospectiveschools and training institutes, who have they trained and what are their numbers. Get refrencesfrom those in the industry, get their feedback. Do your homework or you will get burned. If you areserious you will want to get at least one of the big EP schools under your belt, one of the big Drivingschools under your belt and supplement them with as many of smaller” quality” schools as you canmuster. Keep in mind that training should never stop and you should dedicate yourself to thisconcept early on. This will build your resume, keep your skills fresh and develop your network.

Keep in mind that there are thousands of prospective protection agents that go through varioustraining programs around the world every year. Yet only a handful of these people will be successfulin making the transition into this field. Why is that? Because they’re simply aren’t enough jobs outthere to meet the demand. Also, because most training programs don’t want ruin the illusion of “The Bodyguard”. To tell you that you may not make it in this business is counter productive to the “bottom line”.



If you are currently an LEO and you are serious about transitioning into the private sector, whileyou are with the department get as much EP training or practical work experience as you can getwhile your still in. The USSS runs sponsored training for certain LEO's and Departments. Does yourstates Governors detail run sponsored training? Many do. The DOJ runs Dignitary Protection coursesin many states and even if they don’t offer one in your state, sign up for one in another and gothere to get the “Official” training on your resume. With that said, I would also still recommendseeking out as many “Private Sector” schools as your availability and budget will allow.

I always recommend to people who are interested in the business, but have no training orexperience, to read a quality book on the subject. At least this way you didn’t just spend $3,000.00+ dollars finding out that it's more then "Kicking A** and taking names". By no means can a bookreplace training, but it can provide a degree of education before you make the leap on to anexpensive career path.

The second requirement is experience. But if you don’t have it how are you supposed to get it? Ahhthat’s the age-old question isn’t it? The bottom line is, if you haven’t done this work in an “official” capacity i.e., LEO, Military, Government, etc. Then you are going to have to get someone to giveyou a shot and the only way to do that is with the proper training and networking. If I have aposition on a protection detail and I have two candidates in front of me one is a civilian with norelevant training or experience and the other is an LEO who spent time on the local Mayor’s Detailand has attended the Secret Service’s protection training module, who am I going to pick? Easy, theLEO. Now wait, what if I have a civilian who has invested in him self, received quality training and

has worked in the field vs. a Leo who spent his career on patrol and has no relevant experience ortraining? Again easy, I go with the civilian. I want and need protection experience and if you don’thave it you need to at least show me you’re training. If your former Military or LEO and you have norelevant training or experience, you need to realize that your competing with guys that do and untilyou get some of each you are less marketable then your competitors. If you’re a civilian thetoughest part will be getting your shot, but don’t expect one if you haven’t invested in yourself.

The next requirement is appearance. Many qualified agents will not get the calls or the jobs becausethey look the part. You must spend money on your presentation. Your watch, your shoes, the cut of your suit, it all means something in this business. I once interviewed with a former Secret ServiceAgent who ran a very successful protection agency. He would not hire anyone that wore a cheapwatch or didn’t shine their shoes before the interview. His thought process was one of looking atagents as his clients would (1st impressions) and if you didn’t care enough to shine your shoes or if you weren’t successful enough to buy a nice watch you weren’t worth his time. Say what you want,but this is more the norm then the reverse. He was just honest enough to come out and say it.

Fortunately for me these were lessons that I learned long ago and we made each other a great dealof money. Much of what we do is based on first impressions and presentation. You may be "KevinCostner" incarnate from “The Bodyguard", but if you don’t look the part you wont get the respect orthe shot to prove yourself. If you look professional, you’ll be viewed as professional and that’s half the battle. Perception is key and your ability to do the job will be determined within the first twominutes of companies and clients looking at you.

Here’s another pointer, criminals need not apply! If you have a criminal history you will not go far inthis business. Regrettably, there are companies in this business that do not do their "due diligence"or backgrounds and undesirables can slip through the cracks. Legitimate companies wont hire you if you have a record, so don’t bother.

Other skills or requirements that MAY help you get a position, depending on the company and/orclient, are;

· Military training· LEO training· Emergency medical training· Defensive Tactics training· Computer literacy· Concealed weapon permits· Weapons training and familiarization· Licensing· Insurance· Investigative training



· Languages· Other specialized skills; skiing, scuba, pilot, etc.

We have covered what you need to "DO" the job, but how do you "GET" the job. Sadly, sometimesit's more about "WHO" you know, then "WHAT" you know. EP jobs are not handed out in the localclassifieds (most of the time). Protection Details are usually referred from one person to the next,detail-to-detail, etc. If you do not know how or who to network with your skills as a protector will

not mean much, because no one will ever get to see them. You must be aggressive, just handingout business cards is not enough. If you network in a small pond you will work in a small pond.The larger your circle of associates the larger your circle of influence i.e, the bigger your job pool.You have to network with people that do the work. You need to cultivate relationships and trust.The attitude in the industry is very secretive and protective, not just in relation to clients but inrelation to "territory". It's the "less work for me principal”, i.e., "if I help this guy then there’s lesswork for me." They only way around this is developing relationships and providing quality servicesthat make your contacts look good. But you have to give not just take, if you hear of a job that youcant do, refer it to someone you know. You'd be amazed at how willing people are to help you, onceyou've helped them. The most successful networking will happen during training and working, themore you do of both the bigger your network will be. If you have worked with someone, and theylike you, they will refer business to you before they refer business to someone they have met at atrade show.

While we are on the subject of networking lets talk about associations. The benefit of these

associations is the exchange of information and networking opportunities. The idea being the morepeople you know the more knowledge you have at your fingertips, the more resources you haveavailable to you and yes the more referrals you can give and get.

The Director of Security for XYZ Corporation is not going to look at your resume and say, "YES, he'sa member of the ABC, hire him right away" sight unseen. But maybe this same Director is also amember of ABC and you met him at the national conference, you did a little quasi bonding with himthere, stayed in contact with him and now they have an opening on the team. See where I'm goinghere. The key is to choose your associations and affiliations well. You don’t want your nameassociated with an un-reputable group. Also these groups can be expensive so pick the ones that fityour expertise and AO.

Be advised though, until there is a true governing body for protective services (which I doubt thereever will be) the letters mean very little. Other than certain state requirements; PPS, PSS, PSA,CPS, CPO, etc are just letters that follow your name.

Something that is not touched on often, but unfortunately is very important is Location…... Location,Location, Location. Straight up, you are not going to have as many opportunities in Indiana orNebraska as you will in California, Florida, New York, etc. Now don’t get me wrong there are plentyof successful operators in all ports of call, but if your in a none metropolitan area you are in for atough up hill battle. Per capita you will have less EP clients to pull from. So you have a few choices:

1.) Try to get on with the biggest detail in your area, if there is one.2.) You can expand your service offerings. If you offer Investigative services as well as protectiveservices, or open up a “Uniformed” division you will be giving yourself additional incomeopportunities in your area when EP is slow.3.) Find a company that is willing to fly you around the world for different jobs, possible, but lesslikely.4.) MOVE.

Again your choice.

There are three reasons that this business is "referral" based. Ego, the Wanna be's and the risk.

1.) This business is overrun with ego. You can’t walk into an industry trade show or into a trainingsession and not feel it. Every body is "sizing" up the competition and everybody is an expert ineverything. People will hire people they know vs. hiring people they don’t know because theunknown threatens many in this business. Sometimes it's for good reason, which leads to numbertwo.



2.)There are far to many "wanna-be's" in this business. You cannot trust what you see on paper orwhat you are told about people’s backgrounds at face value. Many of the individuals who claim to beexperts in everything, have no practical training or experience in any of it. So who do you trust?You really have to "Vett" your resourses and that takes time and effort, sometimes it's just cheaperand easier to utilize the people you know. Because at least you know what your getting. Whichleads to number three.

3.) The risk. When I say "The Risk" I'm not talking about traditional "Condition White-Black" orwhich ever scale you use. I'm talking about the risk of using an unproven commodity. Because of our perceived role in the economic food chain security is not always given the respect, credit orappreciation that it should. Generally we are viewed as a "cost center" and not a "profit center".Meaning most decision makers don’t see the money we save or the loss we prevent, only the moneythey spend. Security can be viewed as a profit center, but that’s a whole different subject, in mostcases we are not. This is one of the only businesses where the better you do your job, the lessvaluable you seem. Oh don’t get me wrong when "IT" hits the fan your every bodies "Daddy", butwhen things are going well your expendable. In most cases security is always the first placesomeone will skimp or cut or the last thing people will budget for. Why? Because in a perfect world,people wouldn’t need us, would they? So when someone is paying for security usually they aredoing so begrudgingly. With this in mind, every thing you do is analyzed; security is always under amicroscope. What this means is our positions are tenuous, anyone can lose their job for any reason,at any time, and when one bad agent can cost a whole detail their jobs, it's a big risk to take whenhiring a "New Guy".

Keep this in mind when networking, much goes into the dynamics of this business it is not black andwhite. The good guys should get the work and the bad guys should fade away, but that’s not alwaysthe case and all of the above is at least part of the cause.

Now, once you are working in the field as a protection specialist, you have two equally importantareas requiring constant attention. The first is of course your skills as a protector. Your mostimportant job is to keep your client safe and secure. To do so you need to keep your skills sharp.Protective services skills are perishable and if you don’t keep them fresh they will spoil.

The second area of importance is your image and the value-added contribution you can make toyour employer. This area is often overlooked. Remember your clients and bosses perceptions arethe only ones that matter. You may think you are doing a great job, but if you are the only one whothinks so, the work calls will stop.

Keep in mind that the people you work with on assignments will be the “Sounding Board” for thesupervisors of any given company. When they want to know how you work, they will ask your co-workers. Remember that egos are fragile in this industry and people are territorial over work andthe lack there of. The general attitude is the better he looks the less work for me. So if you givesomeone an excuse to talk bad about you they will. Try not to ruffle feathers, this industry can berun by the “Good Ol’ Boys Network” and you very well may end up working with people who mayhave no idea what they are doing. They are strictly working that job because they ”Know” somebody. These types are usually the ones who know it all and because you are the newbie, anydisagreement will be taken personally. Go slow in the beginning, don’t make waves, speak whenspoken to, etc, etc, etc.

So, there you have it. What have we learned? If you are serious about getting into the business,spend less time/money on CQB, shooting and "Ninja" tactics and spend more time/money onlearning how to do the job first.

basic requirements for the job

Documents