Stop Losing Security Guard Jobs to Bad Resumes
Identify and correct the critical mistakes that keep hiring managers from calling you back.
Common Mistakes That Kill Your Chances
Each mistake includes why it hurts, how to fix it, and before/after examples
- Hiring managers canât see your value proposition
- ATS keywords are missed
- Objective statements are outdated and often ignored
- Replace the objective with a 2â3 sentence professional summary
- Highlight years of experience, key security specialties, and certifications
- Incorporate relevant keywords such as âaccess controlâ, âpatrolâ, âincident reportingâ
Objective: Seeking a security guard position where I can utilize my skills.
Professional Summary: Dedicated security guard with 4âŻyears of experience protecting commercial facilities, skilled in CCTV monitoring, accessâcontrol systems, and emergency response. Holds SIA license and CPR certification.
- Resumes look like a job description, not a performance record
- Hiring managers canât gauge impact
- ATS favors numbers and action verbs
- Start each bullet with a strong action verb
- Add measurable results (e.g., % reduction in incidents)
- Showcase specific tools or systems used
- Patrolled assigned area and reported incidents.
- Patrolled 10âŻacre campus 24/7, reducing security incidents by 22% through proactive monitoring and rapid response using CCTV and twoâway radios.
- Many security roles require specific licenses (SIA, CPR)
- ATS filters out resumes lacking required credentials
- Hiring managers may discard candidates without proof of training
- Create a dedicated âCertificationsâ section near the top
- List each certification with issuing authority and expiration date
- Include related training such as First Aid, DeâEscalation, Fire Safety
Work Experience: Security Guard at XYZ Corp (2021âPresent)
Certifications: - SIA (Security Industry Authority) License, valid until 12/2026 - CPR & First Aid, Red Cross, expires 08/2025 - Fire Safety Awareness, completed 03/2023
- ATS may fail to parse sections with irregular headings
- Hiring managers skim; dense text reduces readability
- Unprofessional appearance can signal lack of attention to detail
- Use standard headings (Professional Summary, Work Experience, etc.)
- Keep bullet points to one line when possible
- Maintain uniform font, size (11â12âŻpt), and spacing
Work Experience: Security Guard â ABC Ltd. January 2020 â Present Responsible for monitoring premises, writing reports, and responding to alarms.
Work Experience Security Guard â ABC Ltd. | JanâŻ2020âŻââŻPresent - Monitored premises via CCTV, responding to 15+ alarms monthly. - Authored concise incident reports, improving response time by 10%. - Conducted nightly patrols covering 5âŻbuildings, ensuring zero breaches.
- Include a targeted professional summary with key security keywords
- Quantify achievements in every workâexperience bullet
- List all relevant certifications with dates
- Use standard headings and bullet points only
- Save as PDF with a clear file name
- Convert duties to actionâoriented bullet points
- Add quantifiable results to each achievement
- Insert missing certifications and training
- Standardize date and location formats
