Security guard to security alarm investigator
A security guard already meets 48% of what the security alarm investigator role asks for. The move turns on 7 required skills not yet in the profile.
49.9/ 100
1 How much of what a security alarm investigator is expected to do is already part of a security guard’s work. Directional: the figure for the reverse move differs, because moving into a speciality is not the same problem as moving out of one. 2 Every skill the security alarm investigator role is recorded as needing, required and optional together. What these numbers mean.
Why this move works
A security alarm investigator role treats 6 of its required skills as things a security guard already does. You would walk in with these on day one.
- liaise with security authorities
- monitor surveillance equipment
- operate radio equipment
- security in commercial buildings
- security in industrial buildings
- surveillance methods
What stands in the way is 7 required skills the profile does not yet cover. Table 3 groups them; Table 4 says which to take first.
Table 2 · What you already bring
Of the 13 skills that carry over, these are the ones fewest other occupations ask for. A security alarm investigator role needs them, and most people applying for one will not have them already. This is the part of a security guard background worth leading with.
- already held security in industrial buildings services
- already held security in commercial buildings services
- already held monitor surveillance equipment constructing
- already held deal with aggressive behaviour assisting and caring
- already held detain offenders assisting and caring
- already held security threats services
All 13 carried skills, including the 6 the security alarm investigator role treats as required.
Table 3 · What you may need to learn
The 13 missing skills fall into 5 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, numbered in the order worth working in. Areas carrying the most required skills come first, and inside each one the required skills sit above the optional ones. Nothing here is a verdict on you: it is a list of what this particular job asks for that your current one does not.
- still to learn apply safety management required
- still to learn respond to burglar alarm systems required
- still to learn building's electronic access equipment required
- still to learn locking mechanisms required
- still to learn keep task records required
- still to learn read technical datasheet required
- still to learn manage alarm system required
- optional, not held repair alarm system optional
- optional, not held drive vehicles optional
- optional, not held advise on strengthening security optional
- optional, not held apply conflict management optional
- optional, not held assist police investigations optional
- optional, not held train employees optional
Table 4 · Where to start
The 3 entries a security alarm investigator role is least likely to hire without. The ordering is computed from the skill data, not from what pays.
- 01 building's electronic access equipment study this
- 02 locking mechanisms study this
- 03 manage alarm system practise this
Each entry opens a course search for that skill. Career Overlap earns nothing from these links.
Appendix · The rest of the record
All 13 skills that carry over
- already held liaise with security authorities skill
- already held monitor surveillance equipment skill
- already held operate radio equipment skill
- already held security in commercial buildings knowledge
- already held security in industrial buildings knowledge
- already held surveillance methods knowledge
- already held criminal law knowledge
- already held deal with aggressive behaviour skill
- already held detain offenders skill
- already held ensure compliance with types of weapons skill
- already held ensure public safety and security skill
- already held fire safety regulations knowledge
- already held security threats knowledge
6 supplementary skills, helpful but not required
- optional, not held repair alarm system optional
- optional, not held advise on strengthening security optional
- optional, not held apply conflict management optional
- optional, not held assist police investigations optional
- optional, not held drive vehicles optional
- optional, not held train employees optional
38 held skills the security alarm investigator role does not ask for
- not needed by the target role alarm systems knowledge
- not needed by the target role carry out security activities with a dog skill
- not needed by the target role check methods knowledge
- not needed by the target role check official documents skill
- not needed by the target role check tickets at venue entry skill
- not needed by the target role comply with the principles of self-defence skill
- not needed by the target role conduct airport security screening skill
- not needed by the target role control crowd skill
- not needed by the target role document security incidents in the store skill
- not needed by the target role ensure hotel security skill
- not needed by the target role ensure law application skill
- not needed by the target role ensure security on ships skill
- not needed by the target role ensure store security skill
- not needed by the target role execute inspection walkway skill
- not needed by the target role exercise security in hospitals skill
- not needed by the target role explosives knowledge
- not needed by the target role handle surveillance equipment skill
- not needed by the target role identify security threats skill
- not needed by the target role identify terrorism threats skill
- not needed by the target role illegal substances knowledge
- not needed by the target role inspect cargo skill
- not needed by the target role interrogate individuals skill
- not needed by the target role legal requirements related to ammunition knowledge
- not needed by the target role legal use-of-force knowledge
- not needed by the target role maintain facility security systems skill
- not needed by the target role manage lost and found articles skill
- not needed by the target role manage major incidents skill
- not needed by the target role monitor parking areas to maintain security skill
- not needed by the target role patrol areas skill
- not needed by the target role perform body searches skill
- not needed by the target role perform security checks skill
- not needed by the target role practice vigilance skill
- not needed by the target role provide door security skill
- not needed by the target role provide first aid skill
- not needed by the target role provide security in detention centres skill
- not needed by the target role regulate traffic skill
- not needed by the target role restrain individuals skill
- not needed by the target role stay alert skill
2 gaps that are knowledge rather than practice
Knowledge gaps usually close through study. Practical skill gaps usually need something you can point at.
- still to learn building's electronic access equipment required
- still to learn locking mechanisms required
Other moves recorded from security guard
- security guard supervisor 67% covered · moderate
- door supervisor 66% covered · moderate
- gate guard 66% covered · moderate
- hand luggage inspector 65% covered · moderate
- crowd controller 62% covered · moderate
- store detective 60% covered · moderate
- bodyguard 60% covered · moderate
- prison officer 47% covered · moderate
Common questions about this move
Can a security guard become a security alarm investigator?
Yes, and it is a moderate move. A security guard already covers 48% of what a security alarm investigator is expected to do: 13 skills carry over, 6 of which the security alarm investigator role treats as required.
What skills does a security guard need to become a security alarm investigator?
7 required skills are missing, plus 6 optional ones. They fall into 5 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, led by assisting and caring. The single most important is building's electronic access equipment.
How hard is the move from security guard to security alarm investigator?
Its learning distance is 49.9 out of 100, which is the moderate band. That accounts for both how much is missing and how specialised those skills are.
How this record was compiled
Both occupations are taken from ESCO, which lists the skills and knowledge each occupation is expected to have and marks every one required or optional. Nothing here is a prediction about hiring, and nothing here knows that a particular employer wants a particular certificate. Treat Table 3 as a starting point for your own research rather than a syllabus. The full method states what these figures can and cannot tell you.