Job Responsibilities
My daily duties consisted of scheduling replacement officers for
call-offs or any open positions in order to fulfill contract
obligations, resolved issues with officers and clients in the
field, payroll for those officers under my charge, create
reports such as daily orders for the Patrol Unit, schedule the
Patrol and Schedulers, hiring/firing of any officers under my
charge or any that the Client Service Managers asked me to,
supply officer coverage for any "Specials", which are clients
that only need security coverage for a temporary time-span,
cover the phone traffic coming into the corporate office,
generate activity reports for the upper management, and help
Client Service Managers in any number of duties by their request.
These duties usually consisted of hiring officers for their
posts and post-specific qualifications, interview any number of
people and make suggestions, call and issue any bad news to
their officers, and run physical errands for them like driving
places to pick them up or going to get the company trucks washed
or gassed up.
I also did typical management duties such as nominate certain
officers for company performance awards, arrange training for
any new schedulers or patrol officers, conduct meetings for the
field supervision division, create division specific memos
regarding any company rules or news, and resolving any officer
disputes through person-to-person meetings and/or write-ups.
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Job Requirements
The scheduled weekly training provided for all new field
security officers is very systematic. They follow a process for
screening which includes completing a 10-year history
application, interviewing with first human resources and then
possibly the Client Service Manager or myself for placement,
submitting to an on-sight urinalysis, and then spending a 7 hour
day in the training room watching the training video and taking
a test based on those videos. These videos cover all necessary
procedures of a security officer compliant with the current laws
and is very educational but boring since most of the information
is common-sense. The new applicants do get breaks and a one
hour lunch break. They are then fitted and given uniforms and
their schedule for the post they are assigned to and directions
to that post if necessary.
Many times the uniform pants will need to be hemmed and the
officer's expense. At least a GED is required for employment as
a security officer at this company. Need to be able to speak
English (it doesn't have to be good English, just be able to
carry a conversation), and must be clean and neat in
appearance. Only a select few posts require the officer to be
armed. In those cases, that officer will be professionally
training and cleared to carry a specific fire-arm in accordance
with Missouri law. Every applicant is asked on the application
if they mind being armed and there is no special requirement to
for those who can be armed vs. those who cannot, beyond the
Missouri laws. Field officers are paid per hours worked based
on client contract so in other words, some post assignments pay
more than others. Insurance is available after 90 days.
Training for the Patrol Officers is different. A patrol officer
will go through the same training as above but will also be
brought in to ride along with a current patrol officer in order
to learn where all the posts are and how to conduct field
inspecitons and resolved issues in the field and they also learn
how to answer calls that are redirected from the corporate
office to the mobile patrol officer once the corporate office
has closed. This type of ride-along training will last 3-5 days
depending on the need of that officer. This position is meant
to serve as a roving supervisory position and needs to be one of
example to field officers so a patrol officer needs to be a cut
above the rest, look very sharp, and be very customer oriented.
They of course need to know how to drive with respect for
company equipment as well as themselves and they need to have
skills that will allow them to carry out supervisory decisions
spontaneously without alienating anyone. They do not carry
firearms and they are not allowed to fire an individual from a
post but they may sometimes be required to send an officer home
who is not in compliance with rules or who is being disruptive
and mis-representing the company. Patrol officers also go
through a crash course on how to handle scheduling issues for
call-offs. They are supplied with two-way radios and can
contact the scheduler or any Client Service Manager for
assistance at any time. Once trained they work in the field
alone though there may be a scheduler on duty in the corporate
office. Any patrol officer working third shift is working
alone. They handle call-offs, field inspections, and the phones
until 7am every day. These positions are 40 hr work weeks and
are paid per hour. Patrol officers are operating within a
military ranking system and as such, follows the chain of
command. At least a GED is requires and some relevant
experience is usually preferred.
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Uppers
The best part of working in security is not having a supervisor standing over
you. There is a sense of freedom about that and helps you to stay at ease as a
person. As long as you are dependable and have a good work ethic, having a
position without constant supervision is a nice place to be.
I liked the uniforms being supplied as well and they aren't bad looking uniforms
either. You feel a bit of authority in them and that also gives a feeling of
pride.
The hours were great. During the hiring process, a position matching your
desired hours is found if at all possible (which usually is) and this allows you
to live your current lifestyle and still make a living.
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Downers
The down side to being a security officer is usually the pay.
These are not well paying jobs but rather usually fall in the
lower averages. $8-$9 is typical.
The insurance is a terrible HMO and hardly worthwhile though is
not very expensive either.
The way you get paid is a mess. Officers get paid by check
through the mail so it is dependant on the post office so there
are problems some times.
Of course there is an element of danger as a security officer
though incidences are very few and far between.
Working alone over-night in some fairly shady areas of town.
The biggest downer is being on a post that has little or no
equipment such as phone or radio. Equipment supplied is client
dictated and more times than not a client simply will not pay
for our officers to have the proper equipment which greatly
hinders the job and increases the dangers for that officer.
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Lifestyle
All officers wear company issued uniforms consisting of company-logo shirts and
black pants. Black shoes are required but are the responsibility of the officer.
Hats are issued to those that want them and must be company supplied. Coats
and/or jackets with company logo are supplied at given times of the year.
Travel is involved for ever position. Travel time and means depends on the
location of your assigned post and is usually reasonable. Most all posts are
within the metropolitan area and depending on time, route, and means of travel,
average travel time is 15-30 minutes.
There are no social events that I am aware of except once a year Whelan offers
the officers tickets to the air show for free and they supply food and drink at
the show for those ticket holders.
Most all security officer positions are 8 hour days, 40 hour weeks.
The company and positions are very diverse. Both men and women of all races,
religions, and nationalities are hired and work around one another in the field.
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Compensation
Security officers are paid hourly wages that are client
dictated. These rates are based solely on the contract agreed
to between Whelan Security and the client so rates can be
different from one post to another. The typical range is
between 8-9 an hour but can be lower or higher. Credit Union
enrollment is offered at any time to any officer. The medical
insurance is an HMO which is very limited in it's coverage and
offered by Whelan Security, however, depending on the client for
that post, some post positions have better benefits because this
too is client dictated. Because it could be client dictated,
there's no way for me to tell you anything about it because I
simply do not know, though it is common place that any benefits
offered by the client to our officers is going to be better than
those offered by Whelan Security.
Bonuses are not generally offered, however awards are given for
performance, one of which is the officer of the year witch does
come with a $100 bond. Rewards may be offered by the client for
theft prevention or for life saving actions.
There are no stock options or investment opportunities outside
one's 401K retirement fund.
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Advice to Jobseekers
These jobs at Whelan security are perfect for those who are
retired, in school, or who don't have to necessarily depend on
this one job for all living expenses and survival. It's not a
terrible wage and the job certainly is compatible with those
demographics. I suggest being respectful to everyone who speaks
to you when you enter the corporate office at Whelan Security to
apply. Those that act like upstanding individuals tend to leave
with the best offers for employment. Don't be afraid to tell
them what you can and cannot do. There is a position for anyone
who wants one so long as they are clean cut, respectful and show
a little sense. Do not wear cut off or holey jeans into this
place. You don't have to wear your Sunday best but it is much
better for you (trust me) if you at least look like you have
some self respect. And NO nasty slogan T-shirts or jackets.
It's okay to be in jeans but make sure they are clean. These
things may sound like common sense to you and me but you'd be
surprised and just as I mentioned before, these actions indicate
to those that are hiring that you don't have any common sense
and definitely lack self respect. Bottom line is this: If you
don't respect yourself, the potential employer is asking
him/herself, how is this person going to respect the client's
property?
Above all else!!!! Be honest!! It will be a quick turn around
for you if you tell them you can work certain hours and they
hire you for that and then you suddenly decide you can't.
Remember, in Missouri, they have 28 days after hiring you to
decide whether or not to keep you.
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