Security Guard resume example

A strong security guard resume leads with your license and the sites you have protected, then proves each duty with a result: incidents reduced, reports accepted, evacuations completed on time. The example below does that for a senior officer in New York. Copy the structure, then tailor it to the posting in front of you.

Cover letter for this role

Michael Brennan

Licensed Senior Security Officer | Retail and Venue Security | CCTV

New York, NY4 years of experience

Summary

Licensed New York State security officer with 4 years at retail centers and a busy waterfront venue in New York City. Leads shifts of up to 5 officers, monitors CCTV, handles incidents calmly and writes reports that hold up with the NYPD and insurers. CPR/AED and first aid certified, experienced with evacuations and large crowds.

Experience

Senior Security Officer, Waterfront Entertainment ComplexApr 2024 - Present

Harborview Security Services LLC

  • Lead a shift of 3 to 5 officers covering a complex of 40 shops, bars and restaurants with up to 12,000 visitors on event days.
  • Theft and disorderly conduct incidents fell 35% in a year after I reorganized patrol routes around CCTV blind spots.
  • Monitor 64 CCTV cameras and coordinate with the NYPD by radio, with evidence provided for 22 prosecutions.
  • Gave first aid at 30+ incidents and managed 3 full evacuations, all completed within the 8-minute target.
  • Write detailed incident reports on the same shift, with none rejected by the client or insurers.
Security OfficerOct 2022 - Mar 2024

Five Boroughs Guard Services

  • Patrolled a 25-store shopping center on day and night shifts, including lock-ups and alarm responses.
  • Stopped or deterred shoplifters in line with store policy, with no complaints against me upheld.
  • Covered lobby desks and access control at 2 office buildings, checking in around 300 visitors a day.

Skills

  • Patrolling and Access Control
  • CCTV Monitoring
  • Conflict De-escalation
  • Incident Reporting
  • Emergency Evacuation
  • CPR, AED and First Aid
  • Shift Leadership
  • Radio Communication
  • Crowd Management
  • Customer Service

Certifications

  • New York State Security Guard Registration (NYS Department of State)
  • CPR/AED and First Aid (American Red Cross)
  • FEMA IS-907: Active Shooter, What You Can Do
  • Crowd management training for event venues

Education

High school diploma, Brooklyn, NY, 2019

Fictional candidates and employers. Any resemblance to a real person or company is coincidental.

Now for your own experience and a real posting

Open a security posting in Jobiko and generate a security guard resume tailored to it from your own experience. You review every line before you send it.

Build my resume →

Security guard skills to put on your resume

Put the skills an employer screens for in your skills section, and prove the rest inside your bullets. Adjectives like “reliable” or “vigilant” prove nothing. A bullet like “resolved [number] incidents without calling police” does.

Skills employers screen for

  • CCTV monitoring, with the camera system named when the posting names one
  • Access control and visitor management
  • Patrolling, lock-up and alarm response
  • Incident and daily occurrence reports
  • First aid and AED, with the certificate name
  • Emergency evacuation and fire procedures
  • Radio procedure and liaison with police

Skills you prove through results

  • Conflict management: name one incident and how it ended.
  • Shift leadership: say how many officers you led and what changed.
  • Customer service: at a shopping center or an event, most of your contact is with the public. Show it with visitor numbers or complaints handled.

Security guard duties you can adapt

These are the duties most postings list, rewritten as achievement bullets. Replace the brackets with your own numbers, and delete any line you cannot back up in an interview.

  • Patrolled [number] sites or [number] floors per shift, including lock-up and alarm response, with [result].
  • Monitored [number] CCTV cameras and passed evidence to police for [number] incidents.
  • Checked in around [number] visitors a day at reception and controlled access to restricted areas.
  • Wrote incident reports on the same shift; [number] accepted by the client or insurer without revision.
  • Led evacuations or drills for a site of [number] people, completed within the [minutes] target.

Security guard licenses by state and province

Employers check your license before anything else. Put it on the top line of your resume, with its type and expiration date.

WhereWhat it is calledWho issues itHow to write it on your resume
United States (New York)Security Guard registration, after approved training and fingerprintingNYS Department of State, Division of Licensing Services“New York State Security Guard Registration, valid to [month year]”
United States (California)Security Guard Registration, known as the Guard CardBureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS)“California Guard Card, valid to [month year]”
Canada (Ontario)Security guard licence, after basic training and the ministry testGovernment of Ontario“Ontario Security Guard Licence, valid to [month year]”
Canada (Quebec)Agent licence, security guarding classBureau de la sécurité privée (BSP)“BSP agent licence, security guarding, valid to [month year]”

Rules differ by state and province, and they change. Check the issuing body's page before you write yours. Sources checked on October 11, 2026.

What hiring managers check first

A valid state license

Most US states, New York included, require a security guard license or registration before your first shift. Name it and keep it current.

Incident handling

Examples of calm, correct handling of incidents show judgment, which is what clients pay for.

Reporting quality

Clear written reports protect clients and support prosecutions. Mention it.

Leadership

Shift leadership or training others prepares you for supervisor roles.

Keywords the applicant tracking system matches

  • Security Officer
  • Security Guard
  • Security Guard License
  • NYS Security Guard Registration
  • CCTV
  • Patrolling
  • Access Control
  • Incident Reporting
  • Conflict De-escalation
  • First Aid
  • Evacuation
  • Retail Security

Use the ones that are true of you, in the words the posting uses.

Mistakes to avoid

  1. Not stating your license

    Name the state, the credential and any armed or specialty endorsement. Employers check it before anything else.

  2. Only listing duties

    Patrolling is expected. Show outcomes, such as reduced incidents or supported prosecutions.

  3. Forgetting availability

    Security runs 24/7. Mention the shifts you can work.

Questions

Do I need a license to work as a security guard in New York?
Yes. New York State requires a security guard registration from the Department of State, Division of Licensing Services, which involves approved training and fingerprinting. Other states and provinces have their own rules.
How long should a security guard resume be?
One page, two at most. Put your license near the top.
Should I include first aid training?
Yes. Many employers prefer or require it, and it shows you can respond in an emergency.
What should a security guard resume summary say?
Two or three lines: your license, your years and settings, and one result. Retail: “Licensed officer with [number] years at shopping centers; shoplifting incidents down [number]% after I reworked patrol routes.” Events: “Event security officer with [number] years at venues of up to [number] guests; [number] evacuations without injury.”
How do I write a security guard resume with no experience?
Lead with the license and any training, then use customer-facing jobs to show calm under pressure, responsibility for cash or stock, and reliable attendance. The security guard cover letter example shows how to explain the move.

More examples

← All resume examples