What It Takes To Become A Supermarket Security Guard
Security guards have unique positions in retail settings, such as supermarkets. Because of the high volume of consumers who visit supermarkets each day, security guards who work in these establishments have additional responsibilities to help maintain a safe and orderly environment. By understanding the role of a security guard in a supermarket, you can learn more about their daily duties and determine if you’re interested in becoming part of a supermarket security team. In this article, we discuss the importance of having a security guard in a supermarket and review a supermarket security guard’s key duties.
Security Importance
Preventing Shoplifting
One of the main functions of a security guard in a supermarket is assisting with loss prevention. Supermarkets have a wide variety of products for sale that typically span several aisles and areas of the store, which can provide many opportunities for guests to shoplift items. Security guards provide widespread supervision of all sections of the supermarket and supervise shoppers to identify potential theft and stop people from shoplifting. Security guards can identify suspicious behavior to prevent shoplifting or stop people after they attempt to steal an item and either recover the products or report the individual to law enforcement.
Responding To Emergencies
Security guards have the necessary training to respond to emergencies that may occur in the supermarket. Because so many people shop at supermarkets, crises can happen that require their attention, such as medical emergencies, extreme weather events, or criminal activity. Emergency response duties for security guards can range from helping a customer during a medical event to locking up the store during a storm. Security guards can provide supermarket guests and other employees with guidance, enact emergency response policies, and communicate with first responders such as police, dispatchers, and medical personnel.
Controlling Crowds
When supermarkets get especially busy, security guards manage crowd control to ensure the store complies with fire safety regulations. Crowd control is also important for providing a pleasant shopping atmosphere and limiting the capacity of the store to a manageable number of customers for cashiers and other employees. Security guards can help with crowd control by standing at the entrance and exit to count the number of customers in the store, directing the flow of foot traffic within the store, and setting up barriers to prevent crowding.
Protecting Employees
Security guards at supermarkets keep other employees safe during their shifts. They serve the especially important role of providing security services when employees transfer cash from the registers to the supermarket’s safe, preventing any members of the public from attempting a robbery. If employees identify safety and security concerns during their shifts, security guards can investigate the situation. They also identify any people who are banned from the store and prevent them from entering. Security guards may even walk employees to their cars after their shift to help them get home safely.
Deescalating Conflicts
A security guard may help de-escalate conflicts at a supermarket to prevent fights and other altercations. They use their conflict resolution and interpersonal mediation skills to identify potential issues in the supermarket and find a peaceful resolution. Security guards may resolve conflicts between customers, employees, or both. They can separate each party, take them away from other shoppers, gather information about a situation, and determine possible solutions so everyone can continue shopping. This can help maintain a positive environment for shoppers, uphold the reputation of the business and prevent minor issues from escalating.
Dissuading Criminal Activity
The presence of a security guard at a supermarket can discourage guests, members of the public, and employees from engaging in criminal behavior. When people notice that a security guard is nearby, they may be less likely to even attempt to shoplift, commit vandalism, or cause conflicts with other customers. By patrolling a supermarket, security guards can show customers that store employees are paying attention to their behavior and that there may be consequences for violations of store policy. This can cause people to be on their best behavior while shopping and prevent issues from occurring.
Communicating With Management
Security guards are important because they can inform supermarket owners and managers of key security issues in the store. They patrol the supermarket regularly and review security tapes, so they have an in-depth understanding of common safety and security problems. Security guards are a key point of contact that shoppers and employees can notify if they witness any suspicious behavior or want assistance. Guards then summarise these interactions when meeting with store managers. This allows managers to plan training sessions, update procedures and install security equipment in response to the guard’s feedback.
Creating A Professional Environment
By working in a supermarket environment, security guards can help contribute to a welcoming atmosphere and promote professionalism in the store. They can greet customers at the door, answer basic questions about store policies and help customers find items, or contact other supermarket associates. They can also be proactive about assisting any guests who look lost or confused. Their presence in the supermarket can promote efficient, professional services throughout the store.
Improving Store Policies
Security guards can write and update a supermarket’s security policies depending on the security requirements of each retail location. They can evaluate the effectiveness of different security policies and make adjustments to improve the comfort of guests and promote positive behavior. Security guards can collaborate with one another to share details about different scenarios, determine best practices for how to respond, and add their procedures to the supermarket’s employee handbook.
Key Skills Security Guard
Here are some of the main skills you may use when working as a security guard in a supermarket:
Observation
Security guards at supermarkets are in charge of surveillance tasks throughout the store, which involves having heightened observation skills. When supervising store visitors, other employees and inventory, security guards oversee live streams from security cameras and watch customers in person. Successful security guards use observation and attention to detail to identify any suspicious actions and determine when to intervene. They also use observation when reviewing security footage to identify any potential suspects of a crime.
Negotiation
Being able to negotiate is a useful skill for security guards to use when resolving conflicts with guests and other employees. They can apply their negotiation skills to find compromises during altercations or to learn information from potential witnesses and suspects of criminal activity. Security guards use negotiation by considering how to persuade others to cooperate with an investigation or comply with supermarket policies.
Interpersonal Skills
Security guards often have excellent interpersonal skills, which they use to form positive relationships with the public. Being sociable and having the ability to make positive interpersonal connections can make it easier for security guards to integrate into their local community and gain respect from supermarket guests. They can also use their interpersonal abilities to mediate conflicts, gather intelligence while patrolling the supermarket and form lasting relationships with colleagues.
Leadership
During an emergency, security guards often lead response strategies. Having leadership skills helps you give guidance to others, make decisions under pressure and respond quickly in a crisis. Security guards also use leadership to prioritize tasks in the workplace and provide other members of the team with support. They lead others by explaining procedures, giving directions, offering help with security issues, and finding creative resolutions to problems that occur in the store.
Focus
When security guards notice evidence of a possible security concern in a supermarket, they focus on those signs until they have enough information to intervene. Focus is a useful skill when tracking potential suspects, noticing details in security camera footage, reviewing security reports, and patrolling the supermarket aisles. Security guards regularly apply their focus skills when responding to crises and solving problems in a busy supermarket environment with multiple types of distractions.
Multi-tasking
Maintaining a safe environment in a supermarket involves overseeing multiple aspects of the store’s security at the same time. Security guards use multitasking skills to complete their duties simultaneously. For example, they may monitor cameras while listening to reports from their team’s internal radio system. During their patrols, supermarket security guards may pause to answer questions from guests or investigate suspicious behavior.
Want To Join Team?
We’re always looking for security professionals who want to help community members and local businesses. If you’re interested in joining the team, please email Info@Obrien-And-Associates.com or fill out the form here to inquire about available security positions.
Source: Indeed
