Bodyguard Careers
Bodyguard Careers is an informational site with the purpose of providing bodyguards with all the information and tools necessary to succeed in the executive protection industry.
Over the last several months, I have received many requests to start back up our book of the week. So after a little nudging from our many readers, here’s this week’s book of the week (Executive Protection Specialist Handbook) , which really is more of an executive protection tool. Along with many other individuals in the industry, I will tell you, if you don’t have this in your executive protection toolbox. Your missing out on one of the industry’s best resources.
Have a safe weekend
Hucky
INTRODUCTION
Breaking in the executive protection industry can be difficult and challenging. Fresh graduates from executive protection academies believe all they need is an executive protection diploma to become successful in the industry. Landing contracts and obtaining work in the executive protection business is a skill. This article is going to show you the techniques you need to land contracts and get hired in the executive protection trade.
REALITIES OF THE TRADE
Selecting a career in the executive protection industry is exciting. However, fresh out of the academy rookies have the perception that the job provides glamour, recognition and fortune and bodyguards live an electrifying, fashionable and jet set lifestyles. In reality the industry involves a lot of hard work, dedication, time-critical decisions and long hours. Rest assured there is plenty of work in this industry if you have the determination, commitment and are prepared to put in the focused efforts required.
HOW THE INDUSTRY WORKS
In order to succeed in the industry you need to know how it functions and how and where to find executive protection contracts and employment opportunities. The majority of executive protection contracts are short assignments of one to two weeks duration. Permanent executive protection positions are difficult to obtain, but not impossible. This is because executive protection personnel who have permanent positions don’t give them up easily. Most of the contracts within the industry are based on being a vendor or sub-contractor for executive protection firms as well as corporate executive protection units (EPUs). Although the executive protection industry is global in nature, it’s still relatively small. Networking, word of mouth, reputation and credibility are heavily relied upon to get assignments. To get onboard as a vendor with executive protection companies and corporate EPUs you must fit the profile of a professionally trained, discreet, team player.
WHAT TO EXPECT
You have to be well-organized and pay attention to detail. As a bodyguard you must be able to give orders and follow orders, work long and irregular hours without complaining and be able to provide top-notch, internationally accepted bodyguard techniques. This means performing your protective duties discreetly, adroitly and with complete assurance.
POSITIONS MAY VARY
On some assignments your position on the team may vary. One week you may be on the close protection team, the next week you may be on the principal’s baggage security team riding in fright elevators and in luggage deliver trucks. After that you may be assigned on the halls and walls detail guarding a hotel suite while the principal sleeps. Remember you are being tested on all aspects of the bodyguard trade when you first begin. Do not complain about any position. Gladly accept all positions and learn every facet of the job, because your professional behavior is also being tested at this stage of your career.
BE WILLING TO WORK YOUR WAY UP
The most popular way of entering the executive protection industry is by starting out as a halls and walls agent and to advance from there. If you take the halls and walls position seriously and act professional you may find yourself on the close protection team guarding the principal sooner than you expected. However, close protection positions are attainable typically on the basis of executive protection experience, training and qualifications. This is why you must be continuously developing your executive protection skill levels. Training is your fast track up the executive protection ladder and will propel you to where you want to be. You need to take a long-term interest in your executive protection career development. Keep Safe & God Speed.
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About Harlan Austin
Harlan Austin is the founder and editor of Bodyguard Careers. If you need help getting started in Executive Protection, Click on this link.
I look forward to sharing in your success–I know you will find, as I have, that you are on a career path that is both interesting and profitable.
Sincerely Harlan Austin
Executive Protection Specialists BE MORE THAN JUST A “GUARD” Executive Protection specialists in the corporate environment have to do more than just “guard” the principal. executive protection specialists should be friendly and non-threatening as well as attentive to the needs of the principal. executive protection specialists in the corporate environment must ensure that they provide a caring approach on the job. You will not be changing your professional executive protection skills. You should, however, be increasing your interpersonal skills, meeting the principal’s expectation of service and providing him or her necessary creature comforts when possible. People under stress need comfort. Genuinely care for your principal’s comfort. For example, ensure the principal has access to refreshments within the executive limo and cold towels, if available (such as in first-class commercial airlines). Ensure the local newspaper, Wall Street Journal and other periodicals are available for review.
ENSURE YOUR CLIENT IS SECURE & COMFORTABLE Ensure the principal’s physical environment within the executive limo is comfortable with no obtrusive noises or smells. Keep alert to the principal’s feelings and sensitivities. Ensure that the principal does not feel frustrated or irritated about anything you can change or influence. You should widen your concept of principal care within the corporate world. executive protection specialists should avoid the pitfalls of cell phone discourtesies by placing their cell phones on silent/vibration mode at all times while on assignment.
THE CARING HANDS OF A PROFESSIONAL Providing principal care does not mean to the point of being a butler. You are and always will be the principal’s last line of defense. However, if you provide maximum service, minimum intrusion and positive action, you will achieve optimum principal care. You should do this so your principal will realize that he or she is in the hands of a caring professional. This is the preferred style of operating on international executive protection assignments and for many highly successful corporate executive protection firms. It’s not an option. Keep Safe & God Speed, Doc Rogers
By Doc Rogers
The techniques and procedures of providing executive protection take considerable time to learn and to develop skills to a high standard. However, once you are on an executive protection team or a full-time executive protection unit it takes common sense and professional effort to remain on the team as an executive protection specialist (also known as a bodyguard).
Accountability
Being responsible for your actions; ensuring the principal’s vehicle has a full tank of gas, cleaned inside and out, well-stocked with the client’s favorite beverage and reading materials. Making sure the security driver has run the route, checked the traffic conditions and has umbrellas in the trucks for all inclement weather conditions each morning.
Acts of Service
Executive protection specialists are portrayed in movies, television shows and books as badass, muscular men with tattoos and weapons, their sole purpose is to use heavy handed tactics to push through crowds when guarding their principal. In reality the executive protection trade is a customer service industry. Executive protection specialists should think of themselves as customer service agents with guns. You should not only guard the principal, but also provide exceptional service, addressing any issues quickly and thoroughly and being steadily accessible. These are the real world situations of the executive protection specialist today. Being customer service focused will change your EP career for the better.
Self-Improvement & Continued Learning
It does not matter if you have been in the executive protection trade for 20 days or 20 years you must have a desire for professional self-improvement and learning with the ability to apply that new knowledge for even greater career success. You should educate yourself about issue concerning your principal’s safety (threat assessment, stalking, threat management, etc.) And continue to build your professional tactics in executive protection, advance work, tactical shooting and motorcade procedures. If you’re not learning and growing in the executive protection trade, you’re dying. Enough said.
Common Sense & Professional Effort
You should look honestly at your actions in regard your everyday common sense and professional efforts you put in on the job. This includes dressing appropriately for the occasion, being punctual, maintaining your principal’s confidentiality (itinerary, movements and personal information), being a team player and engaging in team efforts in the protection of the principal and never wishing to be the star on the team, as well as accepting constructive critiques and professional criticism to better your perform on the job. It’s not rocket science, its executive protection simplified. Keep sage 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 Become An Executive Protection Specialist http://www.amazon.com/Become-Executive-Protection-Specialist-ebook/dp/B00AAIFW32 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.
By Doc Rogers
This article talks about how Executive Protection Specialists can swim with the sharks however, it does not suggest that all people in the executive protection industry are ruthless or greedy. Ninety-nine per cent are trustworthy, hardworking professionals. That leaves one per cent of sharks in the executive protection waters you either have to avoid, fend off or learn to swim with and not get eaten alive.
Avoiding Shark-Infested Waters
Whenever possible try to avoid shark-infested waters. This means doing your research within the operational area in which you want to work or setup shop. Avoid areas that have long feuds involving executive protection contracts, murders linked with the executive protection or security industry as well as areas with a high rate of executive protection or security business-to-business predatory lawsuits. These types of locations and the people in them are bent upon murder and destruction and it would be difficult to fend off all the parasitic advances.
Fending Off Attacks
If you choose an area that has minimal shark infestations, you still can’t afford to relax. There is no such thing as a risk-free environment. A shark never sleeps and to keep afloat, it has to continuously swim. You may face some uncomfortable and challenging situations even in non-shark pit waters. To prevent from being bitten and to successfully fend off shark attacks proper executive protection business planning, designing and developing is needed. Blood will attract sharks so it’s imperative to have a strong team that will be able to prevent, detect, delay, fend off or neutralize attacks. Sharks frequently give off pre-attack warnings. These include making an initial passes or swimming toward their potential victims displaying aggressive behavior. Watch for these warning signs and remember the shark’s tactics and techniques are continually changing and accordingly, you must remain vigilant
Swimming with the Sharks
It is generally difficult to outswim a shark. You may have to learn to swim safely with the sharks; so fast and resolute mitigating action is needed. This means beating the sharks at their own game. It’s the “if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em” attitude. You won’t become one of them; you’ll just be swimming alongside of them. The sharks in the executive protection business are normally not true executive protection professionals. They are not client focused or service orientated. Your clients have to be satisfied with your executive protection performance. This means forging your way ahead with no disgruntled customers, no delays or poor quality services and insisting on quality work from your executive protection team and always watching each other’s back 24/7. This will make you an unattractive target.
Conclusion
Swimming with the sharks is risky business. It should only be taken if it’s a calculated and smart; keeping constant watch for sharks circling below and above you. This is accomplished through solidarity and knowing that sharks will always be in the executive protection waters. Knowing the risk is always there; but never allowing it to keep you on the beach. We all have seen the signs “swim at your own risk” for some people in the industry they rather swim with the sharks than follow the heard. Some gutsy, streetwise executive protection professionals from hardscrabble backgrounds not only survive, but thrive in this type of environment. 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.
By Doc RogersEstablishing yourself in the executive protection industry is very important, because if no one has heard of you, you’ll never land a job or get picked up by an executive protection team. You begin the progression by first establishing the professional services you will offer prospective clients, visiting executive protection teams and while working for executive protection firms as a vendor. These are some questions you need to ask yourself:
What precise services do you offer?
Some examples:
How are your services different from your competitors?
Some examples:
What do you specialize in?
Some examples:
Making Connections
Once you have these above questions answered it’s time to roll up your sleeves and get to work establishing yourself in the industry. It’s always hard to get that first client, that’s why you must start promoting your name and EP services as much as possible. The more well-known you are now, the more opportunities will have in the future. To do this you need to have a complete understanding of the EP industry and have the ability to make personal and professional relationships so you will be referred to others based on the connections you build. Putting yourself in situations where an opportunity could easily happen.
Marketing Yourself and Your Services
Your goal in marketing yourself is to explain to people who you are and what you do in a non-pushy fashion in order to reach potential clients (executives, celebrities, executive protection firms, and executive protection teams) who you feel want or need your professional services. There are whole bookshelves on the subject of marketing yourself. However, the simplest way to go about it in the EP industry is through email, social media, and snail mail, press releases, handing out business cards at executive protection trade shows, face-to-face meetings, and professional networking. Use each option to your advantage and customize your approach based on the client selection you are promoting. Build a list of planned marketing efforts you want to conduct and start going about in a systematic manner.
Develop a Strong Social Media Presence
You need to have a strong presence on Facebook and LinkedIn to establish yourself in the executive protection industry. This means professional looking photos of yourself and executive protection team members. Leave the photos of firearms and happy hour at the pub off the pages. This not only shows bad taste but could lead to a loss of credibility. You are looking to develop a professional presence only. Become active in your Facebook and LinkedIn groups. Provide good solid information on discussion topics and keep professional at all times. You are looking to attract only professional attention. Never lose sight of your primary responsibility. Follow the advice in this article and you’ll get established in the executive protection industry industry in no time. Good luck 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.
