By Doc Rogers

Being a modern bodyguard requires thoroughness in accomplishing logistic and protective tasks no matter how small. It’s a difficult and unglamorous with most of the work put in behind the scenes to keep the principal out of harm’s way throughout the world.

As a modern bodyguard you need a professional network you can call upon at a moment’s notice to support you in accomplishing your logistic and protective tasks.  This may include security drivers, area experts, venue security, vetted ground handlers, etc. The modern bodyguard knows that he cannot exist without the support of his professional network.  How strong is your current network?

Teamwork and self-discipline rounds out the modern bodyguards’ professional character; collaboration to combine the actions of a group of people to enhance the principal’s safety and the self-discipline to endure lack of sleep, starvation and high pressure while doing advance work and proving protective coverage. The modern bodyguard knows that working outside the comfort-zone is a must. When was the last time you’ve been outside your comfort-zone?

The modern bodyguard knows that advance work is the fundamental operational skill and the more time, sweat and effort expanded on crafting a perfectly choreographed arrival, departure and all the events in between the less pressure and frustration he will experience when “working the principal.” Therefore, the modern bodyguard has the determination and commitment to successfully complete the advance, even when hungry, tired and feeling miserable.  The more time you devote to your advance work, “getting it right,” the less susceptible your principal will be to threats when you are providing operation bodyguard duties.  Keep safe and God speed.

Doc Rogers is the author of Corporate Executive Protection – A Manual for Inspiring Corporate Bodyguards and president and CEO of International Corporate Executive Protection Ltd. Doc has earned a Ph.D. in Security Administration from Southwest University and he is SE Asia’s leading expert on executive protection and corporate security. Be sure to check out Doc’s new book: How To Become An Executive Protection Specialist [Kindle Edition]

Bodyguard Career Goals

The Professional Bodyguard Résumé: By Doc Rogers

1. Résumé Paper Your résumé should have a professional appearance, use high-quality white paper.

2. Font Size and Color The font color should be black; the font size should not be less than 10. You should only use Arial, Times New Roman or Tahoma font types. Keep your résumé to one page only.

3. Proofread Always proofread your résumé for typos and grammatical errors.

4. Education and Training Under education and training list in reverse chronological, name of school and bodyguard academy, time period (can be just years) and the degree or certification received. List any honors only if they are academic or bodyguard training in nature and put them under the relevant school or bodyguard/executive protection academies you have attended.

5. Experience Under experience list in reverse chronological order the name of your employer, time period (can be just years). For each job you held describe what you did in short sentences or bullet points. Include all leadership skills, such as bodyguard supervising or leading a bodyguard team as the detail leader.

6. Professional Certifications Under professional certification list all bodyguard relevant certifications and licenses.

7. Community Activities Under community activities list all bodyguard relevant community connections. Many bodyguard employers like to see this in a résumé. Such as volunteer bodyguard work non-profit associations or security work at public fundraisers, etc.

8. References Do not list your references on your résumé; use an attached sheet, which matches your résumé paper. Don’t staple your reference page to your résumé and never submit your references unless they specifically request by the bodyguard employer.

9. Additional Résumé Tips You need to update your résumé on a regular basis and tailor your résumé to the specific bodyguard employer.

10. Sample Résumé Name: John Q. Bodyguard, MS, CPS Address: 123 Any Street, Any Town, Any State, Any Country Email: Johnq@bodyguard.com

Education and Training School: Bodyguard University, Address: 456 Any Street, Any Town, Any State, Any Country Degree Received: Master Degree (MS) in Security Administration

School: Executive Security International Ltd, Address: 715 Horizon Drive, Suite 301, Grand Junction, Colorado 81506 USA Degree Received: Certified Protection Specialist (CPS) certification

Experience Employer: Multi-National Corporation, Address: 789 Any Street, Any Town, Any State, Any Country Duties: Served as an executive protection specialist for clients, prepared advance work for overseas client business trips, arranged and conducted security surveys at all scheduled venues, set up professionally trained security drivers and managed the motorcade on a daily basis, provided strategy and updates to clients regarding new environment security developments

Employer: Hollywood Corporation, Address: 789 Any Street, Any Town, Any State, Any Country Duties: Served as the chief executive protection specialist for a Hollywood movie actor and his family, arranged secure environments and secure ground transport during business and leisure travel, conducted advance work for at business aviation centers and airport for the clients private jet, setup secure hotel arrangements, professional security drivers, responsible hospitals and safe havens in 26 countries, providing personal protection and threat assessments in each location

Professional Certifications Certification: PADI Instructor Certification Specifics: Successfully completed the PADI scuba diving instructor’s certification course Certification: Armed private security guard/bodyguard (Date) Specifics: Successfully completed training required by the state for armed private security guards and bodyguards.

Community Activities Provided volunteer executive protection for the Catholic Charities festival (Date) Provided volunteer executive protection for the Breast Cancer Awareness fund-raising (Date)

Employment References Please refer to page two of my résumé.

Good luck with creating a professional bodyguard résumé and God Speed.

About Doc Rogers: He is the author of best seller Corporate Executive Protection – A Manual for Inspiring Corporate Bodyguards and the newly released eBook entitled How to Build Your Own Executive Protection Business.  Doc is president and CEO of International Corporate Executive Protection Ltd., has earned a Ph.D. in Security Administration from Southwest University, is a Certified Protection Specialist from Executive Security International, a decorated former veteran police officer and is SE Asia’s leading expert on executive protection and corporate security.

The Attitude Factor

In the bodyguard business your attitude matters a great deal.  On and off the job you should treat others like you want to be treated, unless prevailing situations dictate otherwise. Your attitude will determine your success as a professional bodyguard. Those with the wrong attitude trying to enter the bodyguard industry don’t generally achieve much professionally. The following is a list of the wrong type of attitudes to avoid:

Gangster Bodyguard

Type Also known as tough guy; these types of aspiring bodyguards often display inappropriate body language, are overly aggressive, often uses slang words or foul language among fellow bodyguard to impress or even intimidate. However, most veteran bodyguards realize that these types are often inexperienced in the field, have little actual bodyguard training, are poorly educated and don’t possess much in the way of marksmanship or self-defense skills.  Avoid this attitude type; act confident and business-like at all times.

Know It All Bodyguard Type

The bodyguard industry is filled with new bodyguards that have entered the trade from another professional who act like they know everything about bodyguarding and refuse to learn or accept advice. In reality each bodyguard assignment you go on you learn something new. However, the know it all types often criticize the operational techniques of other bodyguards in the field. They constantly express their opinion or make judgment upon a more experienced and trained bodyguard and pretend to know all the methods. However, in actuality they don’t know much and their opinion on bodyguard tradecraft is severely lacking. These types have the opinion that their bodyguard teammates are less intelligent than them. Don’t be one of these know it all types; when your bodyguard supervisor or teammate talk to you keep your ears open and mouth shut.

Conceited Bodyguard Type

The conceited type of bodyguard is one who is excessively proud of himself. He may appear vain, arrogant or snobbish to his own teammates. The puzzling thing is he is new to the industry and hasn’t accomplished anything yet to be proud about. This happens frequently when the rookie bodyguard purchases a new suit, new pair of shoes and a pair of designer shades. There is nothing wrong about looking good, clean and fresh and having female admirers look at you when you walk passed, but do not get big headed. Don’t be full of yourself; an attitude of pride or arrogance can cause wreckage to a bodyguard career before it even has a chance to start. Don’t let this happen to you. Don’t think about yourself, but instead be concerned about your principals and teammates safety and wellbeing. Thinking about yourself or centering everything around yourself will kill your career.

Old School Bodyguard Type

Although old school bodyguards are looked upon with high regard and respect, they need to move into the modern era, become updated when it comes to technology and stop saying “back in the day” so often. Technology has become a crucial part of the bodyguard’s daily life nowadays. Start studying and getting to know how to utilize the latest technology that bodyguards use on assignments. This includes: GPS navigation devices (used when performing route assessments), smartphones and other mobile devices, low-light video camera and digital cameras (used for advance work), and other technology (IED detection, bulletproof vests, surveillance technology, etc.). This will enable you to be equipped with the latest technology available and know how to use it; you’ll still be “old school” but not act like a fool.

There are many more attitude types in the industry that wasn’t covered in this short article; it would take an entire book to cover them all. Just keep your attitude as professional as humanely possible and you will go far in the bodyguard industry. Keep safe and God speed.

About Doc Rogers: He is the author of best seller Corporate Executive Protection – A Manual for Inspiring Corporate Bodyguards and the newly released eBook entitled How to Build Your Own Executive Protection Business.  Doc is president and CEO of International Corporate Executive Protection Ltd., has earned a Ph.D. in Security Administration from Southwest University, is a Certified Protection Specialist from Executive Security International, a decorated former veteran police officer and is SE Asia’s leading expert on executive protection and corporate security.