A Recent News Article looking at the Security Industry and the growth in the industry WORKERS can earn high hourly rates and pick their hours, without having finished high school, in a field increasingly looking for staff who do not match the stereotype. The security industry often is associated with providing work for big burly blokes but it is workers of all sizes, ages and genders that are sought to fill increasing vacancies. National security industry employment has grown by 29 per cent, or 14,000 jobs, in the past five years to peak at 62,500 workers this year, Australian Bureau of Statistics figures show. Part-time jobs have increased the most in the past decade with a 48 per cent rise in jobs. About one in four jobs are part time. Average weekly earnings are $1044, while shift rates start at $18 an hour and more experienced staff can receive up to $35 an hour. But wages can be much greater, depending on when and for what the worker is required, such as $65 an hour on Sundays. The industry operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, meaning the hours and work is available to suit any worker’s needs. Security work spikes when violence or crime occurs in a community but there is much more to the job than asset protection – meaning a plethora of jobs for workers, he says. “For example after September 11, the security industry tripled through Australia and that was overnight,” he says. “It stayed that way for six to 12 months. “In Melbourne, for example, with its entertainment industry, things like the Grand Prix, tennis, football, soccer and so on, international events come here on a regular basis and there’s always work available for these events when required. “We also have airports and shopping centres which are always looking for security officers. “One of the biggest benefits about getting into the industry is there’s always work available.” Sell says work also has been created in the past 20 years through the privatisation of security services by governments, away from the police and military, largely in part because of improved training and the clearances workers receive to be employed. Work is varied. One day they may be working at a sporting event, the next a magistrates court. “They have to be 18 years of age, then they can do the course, get their fingerprints taken, a criminal record check done and then they get their licence once they’ve completed the course,” Sell says. “Any person can do that.” Men make up 86 per cent of the workforce and are more likely to have physical tasks and be more comfortable working on patrol at night. But women are sought because of their tendency to have greater attention to detail, observation, efficiency and communication skills. “Most security work is not about the physical ability, it’s about day-to-day activities – helping people, customer service, resolving problems, resolving conflict and basically looking after the property of large corporate buildings,” Sell says. Behind the front line there also is an army of workers in security. Security monitoring is a particular growth industry as technologies develop that help people stay safe before or when they fall victim to illness or crime. “Workers need good attention to detail and ability to follow a procedure as well as being good with high pressure situations and circumstances is required,” he says. “Our monitoring centre is a call centre of sorts. They deal with people who could be under stress or having an emergency of some sort. “It’s difficult to find the right people...who can display empathy and relate to people, especially if they are in an emergency type situation.” It also needs security technicians, who hold or are willing to obtain a Certificate II in Electrotechnology or similar, to deal with clients direct. They also need to be personable, particularly with ageing clients, who need to be comfortable to let people into their homes. “You need to be technologically minded, you need to be interested in new technology,” he says. “We need people interested in technical and working with their hands and they must be presentable and good with people. “We are expanding – there’s new technology developments and new customer needs that are helping us to expand and get more customers.” I’VE PROTECTED ‘THE BOSS’ AND LIONEL RICHIE Raphael Mastaing’s job involves keeping his target safe – whether it be rock stars such as Lionel Richie and Bruce Springsteen or the AFL Premiership Cup during Grand Final week parades. He also works at major events such as concerts and high-end corporate functions in his role as senior supervisor at Risk Protection Group. Mastaing, 47, has worked in the security industry for 12 years. It started as a second job when a friend suggested he give it a go to earn extra cash but soon become his full-time calling. “It’s the enjoyment factor, it’s quite diverse sort of work,” he says. “You get to do a bit of everything. It’s definitely not mundane work.” Keeping people safe ... Security guards Terri Ansett, Raphael Mastaing and Louie Guiliani Keeping people safe ... Security guards Terri Ansett, Raphael Mastaing and Louie Guiliani. Picture: Ellen Smith Source: News Limited He says there also is the options for workers to specialise or stick to the same type of work at the same location or with the same employer. Mastaing started with a certificate I qualification then continued up the training ladder, “If you keep going on, the more you get into it, the more interesting the work gets and the variety gets better,” he says. “If you commit yourself to it, you get recognised as a good worker. “It’s experience-based, like with any job.” He says the industry demographic has changed from where it started and there are many opportunities for any type of person. “I’m 5’4’’ and weigh 62kg,” he says. “It’s all about customer service and being able to talk to people and relate to people.”
Posted on: Mon, 20 Oct 2014 05:31:22 +0000
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