Ways To Earn Favorable Results On Your Next Security Guard Performance Review

If you're employed as a security guard, you may have performance reviews scheduled at regular intervals — perhaps once or twice per year. The presence of these reviews means that your employer is keeping a watchful eye on your work. There's no reason to fear a performance review. Since you already know your employer will be monitoring you, you can take a series of steps to ensure that your next performance review goes over well. Here are some specific methods that you can use to reach this desired outcome.

Don't Be Reckless

It may be tempting to throw caution to the wind in the name of catching a suspect when you work as a security guard. However, if you're behaving in this manner, you're likely not following the protocol that you were taught — and you can count on your employer bringing this concern up during your performance review. Making sure to avoid reckless behavior should always be in the forefront of your mind. For example, don't just blindly chase after a suspect; you should always call for backup on your radio during the pursuit. Similarly, follow protocol when you're detaining someone. For example, if you're detaining a shoplifting suspect, make sure that you aren't too aggressive.

Offer Above-And-Beyond Service

Your duties as a security guard will be clearly defined in your job description, but it's often ideal to go above and beyond the call of duty to help people. In addition to providing this assistance, you'll often find that those you help will email or call your employer to express their thanks — and this will work in your favor during your next performance review. For example, if you're patrolling a shopping area and encounter a stranded motorist, you may wish to use your vehicle to give his or her vehicle a battery jump. As long as you have a colleague continue your patrol so that you're not neglecting your official duties, this extra care is important.

Trust Your Gut

Often, security officers can make a big difference by trusting their gut. This doesn't mean that you should go against your defined duties, but it does mean that you should keep a watchful eye out for suspicious instances or persons. Trusting your gut can help you detect thieves if you're patrolling a retail area or acts of vandalism if you're patrolling an office complex after hours; for example, if you're on patrol and see a vehicle parked where it shouldn't be, your gut may say to investigate.