If you’re looking for security guard jobs in New Zealand, you are probably wondering exactly what you need to get hired. While some careers may have very clear paths to them, requiring years of study, like doctors and accountants, security is an easier industry to get started in, and it’s not so cut and dry.
That’s great news if you’re new to the world of security and you’re eager to get your foot in the door because you don’t need to study for years, or rack up massive student loan debts to get a job working as a security guard. However, there are some requirements that most companies will be looking for – you can give yourself a head start by ensuring you’ve done some research and got yourself ready.
What Are The Requirements To Get A Security Guard Job In New Zealand?
At Frontline Security, we employ more than 100 security guards within Auckland, Hamilton, and Wellington. So it’s safe to say that we know a thing or two about what it takes to land a security guard job in New Zealand.
We think that working as a security guard in New Zealand is a rewarding career! We’d like to make it easier for people who haven’t worked in the industry before to understand what it’s like, and what is required to land a job. While every company may have slightly different requirements, as a general rule, there are a few things you’ll need:
Training or previous experience
When you land a security guard job, you will be given training specific to the company you work for, and the sites you work on. So, while it isn’t essential for you to have had prior experience, it does still help, even if that experience wasn’t in New Zealand.
If you haven’t worked in security before, you can likely draw on your prior experience for transferable skills that would be relevant to working as a security guard. You will also likely be asked for references from previous positions, or character references who can attest to your professionalism and trustworthiness.
Be able to pass a police background check
In New Zealand, like in most countries, it is important that you pass a police background check before you can work as a security guard.
It goes without saying that clients need to be able to trust the security guards that protect their assets, so having a clean criminal record and being able to pass a background check is a must. If you can show that you’ve never been involved in a crime such as theft or vandalism, that will go a long way to ensuring that the clients you work for feel that their assets are in good hands.
Hold a Certificate of Approval (COA)
A Certificate of Approval, or COA as it’s commonly referred to, is the security licence required to work any security guard jobs in New Zealand. Overseen by the Ministry of Justice and the PSPLA (Private Security Personnel Licensing Authority), COAs set the standard for all crowd controllers, personal guards, and property guards, and require applicants to undertake mandatory training in security and conflict management.
If you’ve already completed the National Certificate in Security (Level 2, 3 or 4), then some of the standards you’ve already completed will count towards your COA.
COAs can be completed online and it is also possible to apply for a temporary, three-month, COA while you train. There is a fee to apply for a COA, but some companies looking to hire security guards may help you pay for it.
Other qualifications
Security guards aren’t just there to deter thieves and vandals, and protect physical assets, part of the job is to protect the safety of people onsite. Often security guards are the first responders in the event of an emergency so, it’s great if you already have a current first-aid certificate. Likewise, if you have fire safety training, that could come in handy too!
The majority of security guard jobs in New Zealand will require that you hold a full class 1 licence too. Even if your job doesn’t require you to drive between sites, most security guards work shift work and may finish at times of the day when taking public transport isn’t an option. Also, some sites may be out of town and be impractical to gain access to without your own vehicle.
What makes a great security guard?
Getting a security guard job in New Zealand is about more the qualifications you have, it’s also about who you are as a person.
At Frontline Security, we look for motivated and reliable people to help us to provide our security services. Specifically, we look for people who have these characteristics:
- We look for people who are physically fit, because working shifts and being on your feet all day can be rough on your body.
- We expect people to be excellent communicators, because a large part of the job is customer service and conflict resolution.
- We require all of our team members to be professional at all times, because they are the face of our company, and they are also often the face of our client’s companies too.
- It’s essential that our security guards are resourceful, because they are often faced with difficult situations that must be quickly resolved, and most importantly, it’s crucial that our guards act with integrity at all times.
Have you got what it takes?
If you have the characteristics of a great security guard, you have previous experience or training, hold a COA, or are working towards getting one, and you’re passionate about protecting people’s most valuable assets, then you might have what it takes to land a security guard job with us.
Think you’ve got what it takes to be a Frontline Security guard? We would love to hear from you! We are always on the lookout for reliable security guards around Auckland, Hamilton, and Wellington. If that sounds like you, apply today and we’ll be in touch soon.