How to lose your security guard job in 7 days

The title of this article is intentionally provocative. Obviously, no one actually wants to lose their job. However, in the private security industry, certain behaviors are so incompatible with the profession that they can cause a security guard to lose an assignment, or even their job, within the first few days of work.

Contrary to what many people believe, security agencies generally do not fire a security guard simply because they made an honest mistake. Mistakes can be corrected through training or proper guidance. However, when a security guard demonstrates that they are unreliable, fails to honor their commitments, or does not take their work seriously, trust can quickly disappear.

Security is an industry where a single employee can have a direct impact on an entire company’s reputation. Clients do not distinguish between the security agency and the security guard: to them, they are part of the same team. That is why certain behaviors simply cannot be tolerated.

If your goal is to lose your security guard job in record time, here are nine behaviors that could quickly get you there. If, on the other hand, you want to build a solid career, consider this list the nine mistakes you should never make.

1. Arriving Late or Being Absent Without Notice

If you are looking for the fastest way to lose your employer’s trust, start by showing up late for your shifts. Better yet, simply do not show up at all without notifying anyone. In the private security industry, this is probably one of the most difficult mistakes to excuse.

Why is this a mistake?

A security guard often takes over from a colleague at the end of their shift. If you arrive late, the other guard cannot leave their post. In some cases, a building, construction site, or event may even be left temporarily without security coverage. The client is paying for continuous security coverage, not for periods when no one is on site.

What are the consequences?

For you, the consequences can be immediate. Many security agencies will quickly reduce the hours of an employee who repeatedly arrives late or misses shifts. For the agency, every late arrival damages its credibility with the client. As for the client, they are left with a service that does not meet their expectations.

How can you avoid this mistake?

Always allow extra time for unexpected delays. Arrive a few minutes early so that you are ready to receive instructions. If an accident or an exceptional situation prevents you from arriving on time, contact your dispatcher immediately. Giving notice that you will be late is always better than an unexplained absence.

2. Saying You’re Available… Then Not Answering Your Phone

You inform your security agency that you are available to work. A few minutes later, the dispatcher tries to contact you to offer you a shift… but you no longer answer. The calls pile up, messages go unanswered, and no one knows whether you will ultimately show up.

Why is this a mistake?

In private security, many assignments need to be filled quickly. The dispatcher must be able to rely on security guards who have confirmed their availability. When a guard becomes impossible to reach, they waste valuable time for the entire team.

What are the consequences?

After a few similar situations, the dispatcher will simply stop calling you. Why offer a shift to someone who may not answer when it is time to confirm the assignment? Meanwhile, reliable security guards will continue to get the best shifts.

How can you avoid this mistake?

If you indicate that you are available, make sure you can answer your phone. If your situation changes, inform your employer immediately. Good communication is often what distinguishes a reliable employee from one who gradually stops receiving calls for shifts.

3. Refusing to perform the tasks you are asked to do

When a client makes a problematic request, the security guard’s response is essential. You accept a shift, but once on site, you decide that certain tasks do not interest you. You refuse to conduct patrols, you do not control access, or you simply choose which responsibilities you feel like performing.

Why is this a mistake?

Every assignment is different. Some require frequent patrols, while others involve access control, welcoming visitors, or static security. When a security guard refuses to perform certain tasks, they are no longer providing the service the client is paying for.

What are the consequences?

The client may quickly request that you be replaced. The security agency will then have to explain why the instructions were not followed, even though they had been clearly communicated. As for you, your reputation may follow you within the company for a long time.

How can you avoid this mistake?

Before accepting an assignment, make sure you understand the responsibilities involved. Once your shift begins, perform all required tasks diligently. If an instruction seems dangerous or illegal, discuss it immediately with your supervisor rather than simply ignoring it.

4. Not completing the required reports

You think writing reports is a waste of time. So, you decide to stop completing them or to fill them out quickly at the end of your shift without actually documenting what happened.

Why is this a mistake?

Reports provide proof that the work has been completed. For many assignments, security agencies require a report every hour during the day and every 30 minutes at night. This frequency helps demonstrate that patrols are being conducted, that the premises are secure, and that any incidents are properly documented.

What are the consequences?

In the event of an incident, the absence of reports can prevent the security agency from demonstrating that the assignment was carried out properly. The client loses an essential monitoring tool, and your credibility is seriously compromised.

How can you avoid this mistake?

Take a few minutes to write each of your reports at the required time. A good report is clear, accurate, and completed on time. It protects both the client and your employer… and it protects you as well.

5. Spending your shift on your phone

You watch videos, browse social media, or spend most of your shift with your eyes glued to your phone. Meanwhile, you are no longer giving your full attention to your surroundings.

Why is this a mistake?

A security guard’s role is to observe what is happening around them. A suspicious person, an improperly locked door, or the early signs of a fire can easily go unnoticed when you are distracted.

What are the consequences?

Clients notice this behavior very quickly. A single complaint or even one photo may be enough for a security guard to be removed from an assignment. The agency must then deal with a situation that could have been avoided.

How can you avoid this mistake?

Use your phone only when the assignment allows it or when it is necessary to perform your duties. Your priority should always be to monitor the site.

6. Sleeping during your shift

If your goal is to quickly lose your job, sleeping during your shift is certainly an excellent way to achieve it.

Why is this a mistake?

A security guard who is sleeping is no longer providing any surveillance. During that time, no one is available to respond quickly if an emergency occurs.

What are the consequences?

At many security agencies, being caught sleeping on the job can result in immediate removal from the assignment. Some clients may even require another security guard to be sent to the site immediately.

How can you avoid this mistake?

Make sure you arrive at work well rested. If you have difficulty staying awake, discuss it with your employer to determine whether a different type of shift would be better suited to your situation.

7. Making up patrols or falsifying a report

You did not complete your patrol, but you still write in your report that it was done. After all, no one will notice… or at least, that is what many people think.

Why is this a mistake?

In private security, integrity is essential. A report contains information that may be used during an investigation or following an incident. Including false information in a report is an extremely serious offense.

What are the consequences?

You immediately lose your employer’s trust. If an incident occurs, this false information can also have serious consequences for both the security agency and the client.

How can you avoid this mistake?

If a patrol could not be completed for a valid reason, report it honestly and explain why. A mistake can be understood. A lie is much harder to forgive.

8. Leaving your post before your replacement arrives

Your shift ends at 7:00 p.m., and your replacement still has not arrived. You decide to leave anyway because your scheduled shift is over.

Why is this a mistake?

Until your replacement arrives or your supervisor authorizes you to leave, you remain responsible for your post. By leaving the site, you risk leaving a building or construction site completely unattended.

What are the consequences?

The client may be left without security coverage for several minutes or even longer. This situation can lead to a serious complaint and call into question the quality of the service being provided.

How can you avoid this mistake?

If your replacement is late, contact your dispatcher immediately. Never leave your post without authorization.

9. Neglecting your attitude and professionalism

You wear a wrinkled uniform, greet visitors impolitely, respond rudely to questions, or constantly display a negative attitude.

Why is this a mistake?

The security guard is often the first person visitors encounter. Their behavior directly influences the image the client projects to the public. Excellent technical skills will never make up for a poor attitude on a daily basis.

What are the consequences?

Clients regularly request the replacement of security guards who have the necessary skills simply because their attitude does not meet expectations. In many cases, it is not a lack of knowledge that costs someone their job, but a lack of professionalism.

How can you avoid this mistake?

Wear a clean and proper uniform, maintain a respectful attitude, and remain courteous with everyone you interact with. Your professionalism is often what clients will remember most.

Conclusion

Unfortunately, losing your security guard job in just a few days is easier than you might think. The nine behaviors presented in this article all have one thing in common: they quickly destroy trust. And trust is the most important quality in our profession.

A security agency can support an employee who makes a mistake, asks questions, or wants to improve. However, it will be much more difficult to keep a security guard who arrives late, becomes unreachable after confirming their availability, refuses to perform their duties, neglects their reports, or displays an attitude that does not meet the client’s expectations.

If you want to build a lasting career in private security, the best strategy is ultimately very simple: do exactly the opposite of everything presented in this article. You will quickly become a security guard your employer, colleagues, and clients can rely on.

And if, despite all our advice, you have decided to follow this guide to the letter… it may be time to start looking for a new job. You can check out the job postings available on Indeed. But here is a little piece of advice: avoid applying to Charco Sécurité until you have changed your habits!