In today’s scenario there is a big demand for security jobs in Kenya. You can work as a bodyguard or a personal guard or as a private security consultant.
Security jobs are amongst the most lucrative jobs available in Kenya. A career as a security officer is a great way to earn a living and support your family into the future.
What Careers Are There In Security?
With the rise of terrorism, security is an important topic these days. Security is not only a government concern but also a private sector concern. The private sector needs to ensure that its employees are safe and secure while they are at work.
Even though there are many careers in security, we will focus on the following careers:
Security Guard
Security Guard is one of the most popular careers in security as are the eyes and ears of many businesses. They are not only responsible for keeping an eye on the property, but they also play a big role in creating a positive image of the business by interacting with customers and other visitors. Security officers are often the first point of contact that customers have with your business. This is why it’s important to make sure that your security staff is well trained, professional and courteous at all times.
People want to feel safe when they visit a place, so it’s important for businesses to hire well-trained security officers. The best security officers are more than just “bouncers” who keep people out; they’re trained professionals who understand how to handle any situation in a calm and professional manner.
Security officers have many responsibilities:
- They ensure that everyone who enters your building has permission to be there.
- They check bags or backpacks for weapons or illegal items at entrances.
- They keep an eye out for suspicious activity (such as someone loitering around your building).
- They may escort someone from the premises if they violate company policy or break laws (for example if someone is drunk or disorderly).
A security guard must be alert at all times and should have good communication skills as well as strong observation skills.
Private Investigator
A private investigator (PI) is an individual who investigates crimes or situations on behalf of individuals or companies who are seeking information about someone else’s activities. Private investigators often work with attorneys on civil cases such as divorce cases where they gather evidence against one party that might be used in court proceedings. Private investigators typically work alone or with only one other employee but some larger agencies have more than one investigator working for them at any given time.
Security Screener
A security screener is an individual who searches people and their belongings for prohibited items at a government checkpoint or event. Security screeners are often required to have special training because of the potential for violence in the workplace.
Security screeners can be found at many different types of locations, including airports, train stations and sporting events. This is because they are responsible for ensuring that the people entering their respective locations are safe and that no illegal items are being brought in with them.
The job requires an individual to be alert at all times and able to react quickly if a suspicious person enters their area.
The primary responsibility of a security screener is to make sure that only authorized personnel enter certain areas or buildings. This means that they may need to search bags and other belongings as part of their job duties. In some cases, this may include pat downs or even requiring someone to go through a metal detector machine.
Security screeners should not be confused with security guards or bouncers, who typically focus on keeping people out rather than letting them in safely. A bouncer might remove someone from an event for fighting or causing trouble; however, it would not be part of their job description to determine if someone is a security threat.
Surveillance Officer
A surveillance officer is a person who conducts surveillance operations. They may work for government agencies or private companies to collect information on individuals or groups. Surveillance officers may use a variety of technology and equipment, including cameras, microphones and listening devices.
Some surveillance officers are assigned to watch certain people or places, while others are assigned to gather information about specific events. Surveillance officers may work alone or with other officers in teams.
Surveillance officers must be able to follow instructions precisely and have good observational skills. They also need an understanding of how to use the technology they use and how it works. Most surveillance officers are required to take continuing education courses throughout their careers to keep up with changing technology.
Security escort services are for the protection of high-profile individuals, celebrities and political leaders. These services are usually provided by a team of trained bodyguards who accompany the client at all times. The security escort is designed to prevent any unwanted incidents from occurring during the course of their work or travel. A security escort can be hired for a specific event or just for the duration of a trip. Some companies offer 24-hour security escorts so that clients can feel safe wherever they go.
Security escorts provide protection against threats such as kidnapping, carjacking, assault and other crimes. They also help clients avoid traffic accidents, personal injury and other mishaps that may occur while traveling in unfamiliar areas. Most security escorts have experience in law enforcement or military service and are trained to respond appropriately when faced with danger. They know how to deal with aggressive drivers on freeways, suspicious pedestrians in parking lots and unruly passengers on airplanes. Security escorts also know how to handle unexpected situations like medical emergencies and natural disasters that require immediate assistance from law enforcement agencies or medical personnel.
Security Manager
A security manager is a person who is responsible for the security of a particular organization or place. The security manager may be responsible for overall management of an organization’s security, or they may be a specific position within an organization (such as a security guard).
A security manager may also be known as an “chief of security” or “director of public safety.”
The duties and responsibilities of a security manager vary based on the size and nature of their employer. Security managers can work in a variety of industries, from entertainment venues like concert halls and movie theaters, to airports, sports stadiums and government buildings. A larger venue may have multiple levels of security managers: one in charge of overall operations, one overseeing each shift and another managing individual areas such as parking lots or VIP rooms. Smaller organizations usually have only one person fulfilling all these roles at once.
Security Consultant
The security consultant has the responsibility of ensuring that companies and individuals are safe from any form of danger. The job of a security consultant is to ensure that all their clients feel safe and secure in their homes, offices or any other place they visit. The job requires you to carry out various activities such as risk assessments, asset protection and security audits.
A security consulting firm can be hired by anyone who wants to protect their assets from theft or any form of harm. This includes business owners, homeowners and even government agencies, where they may specialize in cybercrime investigations or assist agencies with other types of investigations involving information technology related crimes such as identity theft or computer intrusions (hacking). A bachelor’s degree in computer science or information systems is often required for entry-level positions as well as experience working with computers and computer software packages such as Windows®, Microsoft Office® or Adobe Acrobat®..
There are also several benefits associated with hiring a security consulting firm for your company. Some of these benefits include:
Safety – Having an established security consulting firm will help keep your company safe from any threats that may come your way. The consultant will be able to advise on what kind of safety measures should be implemented in order to keep everyone safe at all times.
Security – Security is always important when it comes to protecting your assets from being stolen or harmed in any way possible. A good security consulting firm will be able to provide you with the best possible solutions in order to keep everyone secure at all times without having to worry about anything else going wrong in the future whatsoever as long as they are hired on time before anything.
What Skills Do You Need For A Security Job
A security job can be a great way to build a career. There are many different types of jobs available in the security industry, from security guards and police officers to network administrators and computer programmers.
There are many different skills that are needed for these positions. For example, if you are applying for a job as a security guard, you will need to have good customer service skills. A job as a police officer requires good communication skills and an ability to work well with the public.
The following is a list of some of the most common skills that are required for these types of jobs:
Customer Service Skills
If you want to work as a security guard or police officer, you must have excellent customer service skills because they will be dealing with members of the public on a daily basis. When someone walks into a building or business looking for assistance, they expect their needs and concerns to be addressed immediately. If this does not happen, then there is always another business waiting for them down the street who can provide better service than yours!
Communication Skills
Communication skills are also very important for these positions because often times you will need to deal with people who may not understand English very well or who may have hearing problems due to age or illness (such as Alzheimer’s).
Problem-solving skills
Security officers regularly encounter situations that require quick thinking and problem solving in order to keep things running smoothly. For example, if an alarm goes off at a business, they need to determine whether it was triggered by an intruder or a malfunctioning system before calling the police or fire department.
Physical fitness
Security officers often need to be able to run long distances quickly, as well as lift heavy objects when necessary. They also must undergo extensive training in self-defense techniques in order to protect themselves against potentially violent situations involving the public or other employees at their workplace.
Organizational skills
Security guards need good organizational skills so they can keep track of their daily schedules and perform their work assignments efficiently without missing any important deadlines or forgetting important items that need doing each day.
Interpersonal skills
Security guards often work closely with other people, including managers, customers and law enforcement officers, so good interpersonal skills are crucial for building positive relationships and resolving conflict peacefully when necessary.
Computer skills
It’s also useful if you’ve had some experience with computers, as many security guards now use mobile devices to communicate with each other and their supervisors.
Teamwork Skills
Security professionals must have strong team skills in order to work effectively with others. Teamwork is a critical skill for security professionals because they are often required to work in teams to accomplish tasks such as performing investigations, conducting audits and managing risk.
Flexibility
As a security professional, you’ll need flexibility so that when things don’t go according to plan, you can adapt without losing sight of your goals (and without letting anyone else lose sight of their goals either!).
Attention To Detail
You need to be able to read people and situations.
Attention to detail is the cornerstone of security. It’s what allows you to spot the subtle details that can make all the difference between a successful and failed operation.
Security professionals need to be able to pay attention to all sorts of things, from small pieces of information to large-scale changes in the environment they’re protecting.
Attention to detail is more than just being able to read a report or watch a video — it’s about being able to draw conclusions from those things. And it’s about being able to spot connections between seemingly unrelated events and actions.
Attention to detail is an essential skill for all security professionals, but it can be especially useful if you work in something like physical security or computer forensics. For example:
If you work as an armed guard, your ability to notice small changes in your environment could prevent an attack before it starts or help identify a suspicious person who might be up to no good.
If you work as a CCTV operator, your ability to notice small changes in traffic flow or activity levels could help keep your building safe from intruders or employees who shouldn’t be there (such as someone carrying something they shouldn’t).
How much do security guards in Kenya earn?
The average pay for a security guard is between KSh 10,000 – KSh 15,000 per month. In Nairobi and other major cities like Mombasa, Kisumu and Eldoret, the salary can be higher at KSh 15,000 – KSh 20,000 per month.
Security guards are not paid by the hour but receive a monthly salary. This means that they get paid even when they don’t work on their shifts. But their salaries usually vary depending on where they work and what kind of company they are working for.
The salary of a security guard depends on many factors including the size of the company he or she works for (small or big), location (urban or rural), experience, level of training and education among others.
Benefits of Working As a Security Professional
Security professionals have one of the most important jobs in any organization. They are responsible for protecting their company from internal and external threats, and they must do so without causing alarm to their fellow employees. Security professionals need to be able to assess situations quickly, react accordingly and deal with sensitive information without being compromised by others in the workplace.
A career in security can be very rewarding for those who like working with people, solving problems and helping others feel safe. It can also be quite stressful, however, especially if you work long hours or are on call 24 hours a day.
Here are some benefits of working as a security professional:
You’ll never lack for new challenges.
Security professionals rarely see their job descriptions stay the same from one day to the next. You may find yourself moving from one position to another over time depending on your employer’s needs and how much responsibility they want you to assume at any given time. This can be a great way to learn new skills while still being able to focus on one primary area of expertise that interests you most.
You’ll get paid well for what you do — at least if you’re good at it!
People who work in security tend to make more money than those who don’t have this important job title, but there’s more…
Flexible Hours
Most employers are flexible when it comes to scheduling work hours. If you need flexibility in your schedule, you can often negotiate with your employer for more flexibility in exchange for extra work or overtime or for training opportunities or other benefits. Some employers will allow you to work nights or weekends if you prefer those times of day over others.
Many Career Paths
There are many different career options available within the field of security management and protection services. You could specialize in one area such as law enforcement or investigations, or choose a more general path that includes all aspects of security management such as loss prevention or risk management.
Security professionals also get to meet some amazing people, especially if they work in law enforcement or military jobs. The pay is good and so are the benefits, which include health insurance coverage and retirement plans.
Where To Get Security Jobs In Kenya
The security sector is a rapidly growing industry in Kenya. In the last few years, there has been a massive increase in demand for security personnel. This has led to an increased need for training and certification.
The demand for security officers is expected to continue rising over the next few years, and by 2020, the number of people working in the security field is estimated to reach one million.
Since Kenya’s economic growth has been driven by tourism and commercial activities, it’s no wonder that there is a high demand for security officers in this country. The government also recognizes this need, which is why it has increased its investment in police training programs that focus on improving skills and increasing professionalism among police officers.
This section will provide information about where you can find jobs as a security officer in Kenya:
There are many places where you can apply for a security job in Kenya and these include:
- Private Security Companies
- Public Sector Jobs (Police, Prison Service, National Intelligence Service, Army etc)
- Government Departments (Ministries)
- Banking and Finance
- Insurance
- Construction
- IT, Telecom and Internet Data Centers
- Property Management Companies
- Retail Stores and Shopping Malls
Conclusions
Working in security can be very rewarding and fun. In the midst of all the excitement, it can be easy to forget the serious side of important life decisions. Don’t make a mistake you’ll regret. Do your homework, and pick out companies you want to work for. A secure, prosperous career can begin here in Kenya.
