Strategies for developing your security career during the COVID-19 pandemic

 Are you doing the job you want?  Seize the opportunities afforded by the pandemic and develop a career strategy that will give you a sense of autonomy and ownership of your future.

“Never let a good crisis go to waste” – famously uttered by Winston Churchill, just after the Second World War – rings true to this day. Just as the war did, the COVID-19 pandemic has undoubtedly thrown the world into a state of crisis. We do not fully know, nor can we fully control, the outcome.  Yet, we are slowly starting to adapt to this new normal and its challenges.

Upholding security

One major challenge in times of crisis is to uphold security on every level: individual, organisational and societal. The private security industry shoulders some of these responsibilities and a global pandemic adds emphasis to the role played by the private security industry in general, and its individuals in particular.

Maintain your skills and knowledge

So, what can the individuals working in the private security sector do to not let this crisis go to waste?  From a career perspective there are many opportunities to not only maintain but also develop, with the knowledge that increased demand for security services also toughens competition.  It is, therefore, important to maintain whatever knowledge, skills and behaviours that you have acquired in the position that you are in.  From there, the next step is obviously to capitalise on the crisis- induced opportunities and develop your career further.

Create a career strategy

If you are looking for career development that is personally rewarding, that makes you better at what you do, and that provides purpose, doing something that has meaning and is important: create a career development strategy. This will give you a sense of where you are, where you want to go, and the opportunities and challenges you may face. A well-crafted strategy will allow you to focus on your aspirations and keep you on track, the latter facilitated by integrating SMART targets to your strategy. Throughout your career there are many choices. Some lead to achievements, others to setbacks.  Having a clear strategy will not only help you make better decisions, but also allow you to recover more quickly when things do not go as planned.

Read the remaining points here via our partners, City Security Magazine.