Store detective to security guard
A store detective already meets 35% of what the security guard role asks for. The move turns on 12 required skills not yet in the profile.
69.3/ 100
1 How much of what a security guard is expected to do is already part of a store detective’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 guard role is recorded as needing, required and optional together. What these numbers mean.
Why this move works
A security guard role treats 8 of its required skills as things a store detective already does. You would walk in with these on day one.
- detain offenders
- ensure public safety and security
- identify security threats
- identify terrorism threats
- liaise with security authorities
- monitor surveillance equipment
What stands in the way is 12 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 16 skills that carry over, these are the ones fewest other occupations ask for. A security guard role needs them, and most people applying for one will not have them already. This is the part of a store detective background worth leading with.
- already held document security incidents in the store information skills
- already held interrogate individuals communication, collaboration and creativity
- already held monitor surveillance equipment constructing
- already held perform security checks assisting and caring
- already held check methods social sciences, journalism and information
- already held legal requirements related to ammunition business, administration and law
All 16 carried skills, including the 8 the security guard role treats as required.
Table 3 · What you may need to learn
The 35 missing skills fall into 6 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 check tickets at venue entry required
- still to learn execute inspection walkway required
- still to learn maintain facility security systems required
- still to learn check official documents required
- still to learn comply with the principles of self-defence required
- still to learn deal with aggressive behaviour required
- still to learn ensure law application required
- still to learn patrol areas required
- still to learn perform body searches required
- still to learn restrain individuals required
- optional, not held carry out security activities with a dog optional
- optional, not held exercise security in hospitals optional
- optional, not held provide security in detention centres optional
- optional, not held conduct airport security screening optional
- optional, not held ensure store security optional
- optional, not held manage lost and found articles optional
- optional, not held control crowd optional
- optional, not held ensure compliance with types of weapons optional
- optional, not held handle surveillance equipment optional
- optional, not held manage major incidents optional
- optional, not held provide door security optional
- optional, not held provide first aid optional
- optional, not held regulate traffic optional
- still to learn security threats required
- optional, not held alarm systems optional
- optional, not held security in commercial buildings optional
- optional, not held security in industrial buildings optional
- optional, not held illegal substances optional
- still to learn stay alert required
- optional, not held ensure security on ships optional
- optional, not held ensure hotel security optional
- optional, not held monitor parking areas to maintain security optional
- optional, not held inspect cargo optional
- optional, not held legal use-of-force optional
- optional, not held explosives optional
Table 4 · Where to start
The 3 entries a security guard role is least likely to hire without. The ordering is computed from the skill data, not from what pays.
- 01 check tickets at venue entry practise this
- 02 execute inspection walkway practise this
- 03 maintain facility security systems 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 16 skills that carry over
- already held detain offenders skill
- already held ensure public safety and security skill
- already held identify security threats skill
- already held identify terrorism threats skill
- already held liaise with security authorities skill
- already held monitor surveillance equipment skill
- already held perform security checks skill
- already held practice vigilance skill
- already held check methods knowledge
- already held criminal law knowledge
- already held document security incidents in the store skill
- already held fire safety regulations knowledge
- already held interrogate individuals skill
- already held legal requirements related to ammunition knowledge
- already held operate radio equipment skill
- already held surveillance methods knowledge
23 supplementary skills, helpful but not required
- optional, not held alarm systems optional
- optional, not held carry out security activities with a dog optional
- optional, not held ensure security on ships optional
- optional, not held exercise security in hospitals optional
- optional, not held provide security in detention centres optional
- optional, not held conduct airport security screening optional
- optional, not held ensure hotel security optional
- optional, not held ensure store security optional
- optional, not held explosives optional
- optional, not held manage lost and found articles optional
- optional, not held monitor parking areas to maintain security optional
- optional, not held security in commercial buildings optional
- optional, not held security in industrial buildings optional
- optional, not held control crowd optional
- optional, not held ensure compliance with types of weapons optional
- optional, not held handle surveillance equipment optional
- optional, not held illegal substances optional
- optional, not held inspect cargo optional
- optional, not held legal use-of-force optional
- optional, not held manage major incidents optional
- optional, not held provide door security optional
- optional, not held provide first aid optional
- optional, not held regulate traffic optional
13 held skills the security guard role does not ask for
- not needed by the target role apply conflict management skill
- not needed by the target role carry out covert security observations skill
- not needed by the target role civil law knowledge
- not needed by the target role comply with legal regulations skill
- not needed by the target role confront offenders skill
- not needed by the target role create a prevention security plan for the store skill
- not needed by the target role identify suspicious behaviour skill
- not needed by the target role monitor cashiers skill
- not needed by the target role monitor sales area for security reasons skill
- not needed by the target role operate fire extinguishers skill
- not needed by the target role perform risk analysis skill
- not needed by the target role prevent shoplifting skill
- not needed by the target role screen clients skill
7 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 security threats required
- optional, not held alarm systems optional
- optional, not held explosives optional
- optional, not held security in commercial buildings optional
- optional, not held security in industrial buildings optional
- optional, not held illegal substances optional
- optional, not held legal use-of-force optional
Common questions about this move
Can a store detective become a security guard?
Yes, and it is a substantial move. A store detective already covers 35% of what a security guard is expected to do: 16 skills carry over, 8 of which the security guard role treats as required.
What skills does a store detective need to become a security guard?
12 required skills are missing, plus 23 optional ones. They fall into 6 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, led by assisting and caring. The single most important is check tickets at venue entry.
How hard is the move from store detective to security guard?
Its learning distance is 69.3 out of 100, which is the substantial 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.