By Hucky Austin

I know that in your mind you think you are the perfect fit for Tiger Media International. Yet, you failed to mention what you are applying for; was it the janitor, the receptionist or the executive protection position?

By the way, my name is spelled “Thompson” and since I am a male, I was a little put off by the fact that you addressed me as “Ms. Leslie Thompson.” I suppose my first name threw you off. I suppose somebody didn’t do their research prior to submitting their materials.

Speaking of research, you mentioned that you “love to work with animals.” Our business, Tiger Media International, is a public relations marketing firm. No tigers. Or lions. Or bears.

By the time I got to the end of your resume (all six pages, 10-point Frenchy Script) I understood that you were interested in the Executive Protection position which was posted online. In that advertisement, I specifically requested that only individuals who speak and write fluent Spanish submit a resume. While your cover letter started with the greeting “Ola” and you sprinkled in words like “caliente” (3 times) and closed with “muchos gracias,” nowhere on your resume does it indicate that you actually speak Spanish.

Your resume painted quite a detailed portrait of you. Who knew a child could make that much in lemonade sales? And the three months you worked at Taco Gringo in 1998; you seem to feel that experience relates to this job. I can’t see it. But I’m glad you can. Oh, wait. Does that have something to do with speaking Spanish?

The job advertisement indicated that 50% of the job would require international travel, accompanying our top executive on business trips. It appears you don’t have a passport, have never negotiated an airport with a VIP, speak any foreign languages, or are even available to travel. I noticed your cover letter didn’t address this important job requirement, or how you felt about it.

(more…)

By Harlan (Hucky) Austin

I receive hundreds of e-mails a month from individuals who want to know if I accept guest posts on Bodyguard Careers, and if  so, what are the guidelines. I thought it would be easier to write the guidelines in a post and just refer every one here.
So the answer to the first question is: Yes, we do accept guest posts. At present we publish two guest posts per week, usually on Mondays and Fridays. Below you will find all the details about the process.

What kind of content do you accept?

Anything that is related to the executive protection industry and, useful for our readers is good content for a guest post. There is no minimum length for your post, but usually the guest posts have over 350 words.

General Guidelines

•    Your post must be original and must have never been published before on the Internet
•    You agree to not publish the post anywhere else (i.e., in your own blog or as a guest post in other blogs)
•    You can include one link in the byline, which will be displayed at the bottom of the post

Formatting Guidelines

•    Please format your guest post as a word document, so that we can copy and paste it into the WordPress HTML editor.
•    Make sure to include the author byline at the bottom, with the link to your website already formatted (do not spam keywords there, though).

Submission Guidelines

If you have a post that meets the guidelines above, you can send it to me on the email hucky@bodyguardcareers.com Please include the post in the body of the email itself, or as a .doc attachment.

Usually within 48 hours I will reply stating if we will accept the guest post or not. If I reject your post, you are obviously free to use it in your own blog or to propose it as a guest post to some other website.

Whether you are taking your Protectee on a drive across town from Hollywood to Anaheim, or a road trip from San Diego to San Francisco. It is important to take every necessary precaution to ensure a safe trip for you and your Protectee.

The last two decades have seen an increased in national awareness of the dangers involved in daily travel and the simple preventative measures that can be taken to greatly reduce the risks of accidents and injuries. This awareness has spilled onto the Web and information is readily available that deals with every conceivable aspect of t motorized travel and travel safety.

The crusade to spread the word about travel safety has grown to include more aggressive and progressive tactics, including defensive driving strategies, drunken driving legislation, speed limit enforcement programs, and much more. With devices such as cellular phones and GPS advanced automobile capabilities offering luxuries that present potential distractions for drivers, our nation’s highways are potentially more dangerous than ever before.

Perhaps that is the reason why more information is now available about safety laws and precautions than at any other time in the history of motorized travel. Something to think about before you put the keys in the ignition.

Many individuals trying to break into the Executive Protection field spend years training and networking but fail to recognize that one important (and inexpensive) tool is missing in their arsenal: a professional resume.

Resumes represent an individual’s ability to plan and organize and sell their skills. As they say in marketing; the packaging is key to selling a product. And YOU are the product. We have seen countless resumes that simply don’t pass muster and unfortunately, even if you have skills and/or experience, a poor resume sends a statement that your attention to detail is lacking.

Think about this from a potential employer’s viewpoint for a moment. If you can’t create a strategy to obtain a professional resume—the perception may be that you don’t value the importance of advance work. If you don’t take the time to check for spelling or grammatical errors—it sends a message that you may not be careful to double-check an itinerary or evacuation plan. If you don’t have a strong career objective, employers may feel you are unable to take decisive action. Sloppy margins, inconsistent formatting. . . you get the picture.

Your resume is your first point of contact with potential employers.
Bodyguard Careers can help you to put your best foot forward by working one-on-one with you to create a resume that will increase your chances of landing an interview. We will assess your training, experience and skills to help you prepare a strategy for your career path that starts with your resume and cover letter. We are confident our guidance will increase your chances for success. Learn more by clicking on the BGC CAREER TOOLS tab on our website.

“You Never Get a Second Chance to Make a First Impression”

By Hucky Austin

I receive hundreds of inquiries a week from individuals wanting to get into the Executive Protection Business. It’s amazing to me, how many misconceptions are out there about this industry.

So at the risk of bursting bubbles, I will tell you this: There are no short-cuts to getting started in this business. In short, be certain this is the line of work for you. Don’t try to do this job unless you find that you have a real zeal for it.

Books: This is your first assignment on this career path. I highly recommend, that you read up (research?) and get a basic understanding of some of the requirements and methodologies we use in this field. If it appeals to you I would suggest that you take the next steps; seek out training, mentoring, and networking.

If it doesn’t, you only wasted a few bucks. There are some great books out there by seasoned professionals in the industry. In addition, many EP schools have books and manuals that cover the basics.

(more…)