As a security guard, it is important to be prepared for any question that may come your way. The interview process can be daunting, but being well-prepared will help you feel confident and ready for whatever questions are thrown your way. In this blog post, we will provide some common interview questions and answers for security guards. We hope that this information helps you as you prepare for your interview!
1. What makes you want to work as a security guard?
An answer could include: protecting people and property, helping others, keeping the community safe, and/or making a difference in people’s lives. You can also mention specific examples of why this job appeals to you or what attracted you to it, such as how you have a strong interest in law enforcement or crime prevention.
2. What experience do you have in the security industry?
If you have any previous security-related experience, be sure to highlight it in your answer. This could include working as a security guard, loss prevention officer, or detective. If you don’t have any security experience, that’s okay too! You can talk about any other relevant work experience you have or transferable skills you may have. For example, if you have customer service experience, you could talk about how you are good at managing difficult situations and interacting with people.
3. Why would you like to work for our company specifically?
An answer could include: wanting to be a part of a company that genuinely cares about its employees, wanting to work with a team of people that have a passion for their job or being excited by the prospect of working for a well-known brand. You can also mention how you want to grow professionally and/or personally within this role.
4. What are your strengths as they relate to this position?
An answer could include: being punctual, being cooperative, being reliable, having problem-solving skills, etc. Be sure to back up any claims you make with examples from previous experiences!
5. What are your weaknesses as they relate to this position?
An answer could include: not getting along well with everyone (but knowing how to manage difficult situations), sometimes being too hard on yourself when things don’t go as planned, or struggling with the organization when there are multiple tasks assigned. Be sure, to be honest about any potential weaknesses you may have!
6. How do you handle stressful situations?
An answer could include: taking a deep breath, breaking down the steps needed to resolve the situation into smaller parts, talking in a calm voice, etc. You can also talk about how you try to stay positive in difficult situations and/or focus on the end result.
7. What has been your biggest professional accomplishment?
This question is looking for achievements that relate specifically to security-related work or previous jobs held by candidates applying for this particular role. An example of an accomplishment could be providing exceptional customer service.
8. What has been your biggest personal accomplishment?
Examples of an answer could include: successfully graduating from high school or college, raising a healthy and happy child with your spouse, overcoming obstacles to achieve something in life, etc.
9. If we made a mistake and accidentally hired you for this job, what would you contribute it to?
An answer could include: making a great first impression or being so qualified that the interviewer couldn’t overlook your experience. You can talk about how even though it may seem like an accident, you would do everything in your power to make sure the company doesn’t regret their choice!
10. Do you work well under pressure? Why?
An answer could include: being a self-starter and/or being able to prioritize certain tasks under a set deadline. You can also highlight your ability to remain calm in stressful situations, which allows you to work more efficiently.
11. What is the most important thing you have learned from your previous jobs?
An answer could include: how to be courteous and respectful towards customers, the value of hard work, etc. Be sure to choose things that relate specifically to security work!
12. Are you willing to travel if necessary? How far would you be willing to travel for this job?
An answer could include a short distance or a willingness to relocate as long as there was no conflict with personal responsibilities.
13. How would your current supervisor describe you?
An answer could include punctual, dependable, and detail-oriented. You can also talk about teamwork skills or being able to approach situations in a calm manner even when things take an unexpected turn for the worse!
14. What types of decisions are most difficult for you? Why?
An answer could include work/life balance issues because you do not want to let either suffer by trying to achieve one at the expense of the other. You can also mention how it’s hard to say no when asked repeatedly by another coworker who needs help finishing certain tasks on their own deadlines.
15. Are there any security certifications you are working on currently?
If you are not in the process of acquiring any security certifications, be sure to state so. However, if you are in the process or have already acquired security certifications, this is a great opportunity to talk about them! Certifications could include: ISACA CISM certification, (ISC)2 CISSP certification, GIAC Security Essentials certification, and CompTIA Security+ certification.
16. What do you think sets you apart from the other candidates applying for this job?
An answer could include your educational background and/or work experience in the security field. You can also mention how passionate you are about helping others and finding solutions to potential problems. Lastly, you could talk about how you possess qualities that the company is looking for, such as being a team player and being able to work under pressure.
17. Have you ever had to convince your boss of an important issue? How did you handle it?
An answer could include the importance of certain tasks being completed by a set deadline, which lead to this situation more than once. It is essential to be able to work well under pressure. You can also mention how this was done face-to-face or even over the phone if necessary considering you would have already established a good rapport with your supervisor.
18. What type of security concerns are currently affecting your department/company?
An answer could include how malware is continuously being updated and that new types are constantly devised in order to avoid detection by antivirus programs, cyberattacks are becoming increasingly common worldwide, and that there is more of a need to protect data as it becomes digitalized.
19. How would your peers describe you?
An answer could include: someone who is efficient, dedicated, and able to work well on their own and as part of a team under any circumstances.
20. Have you ever had to handle confidential information? What precautions did you take?
An answer could include the importance of not discussing sensitive information with anyone outside of the organization, asking for help from HR or security if necessary, and taking immediate action when breaches into systems occurred in order to stop further damage from being done. You can also mention how confidentiality agreements were signed upon hiring since this was a requirement from management.
21. Describe a time when you had to manage a difficult or challenging project?
An answer could include: how the project was handed off to you at the last minute with very little time to spare, and that there were unrealistic expectations of what could be achieved in such a short timeframe. However, you managed to pull through and complete the project on time and under budget by working long hours and utilizing the team’s strengths to offset any weaknesses.
22. What system/software do you use most often when conducting your job duties?
This question is meant to gauge if you are familiar with certain systems and software used by the company. If you are not familiar with them, now would a good time to ask! A good answer could be that you are familiar with most systems and software used by the company, as well as how to utilize them.
23. What motivates you to stay up-to-date on current security trends?
An answer could include: the importance of being able to provide solutions to potential problems, helping others stay safe from cyberattacks and other threats, and wanting to be seen as an authority figure in the security field. Lastly, you could mention that you enjoy keeping up with the latest news and developments.
24. Have you ever had a situation where you had to go above and beyond your job duties?
This question is meant to see if you are someone who is initiative and is always looking for ways to contribute. A good answer would be that you are always looking for ways to contribute, even if it is outside of your job description. You can also mention how this was done by offering to take on certain tasks in addition to the ones assigned to you or coming up with solutions when systems or software were not working properly.
25. What are some of the most challenging situations you have faced? How did you handle them?
An answer could include: having to work under difficult circumstances without additional help from management, being given unrealistic expectations, and feeling overwhelmed when these issues occurred more than once. However, you worked through them by utilizing your strengths and team members’ strengths in order to overcome any weaknesses, focusing on one task at a time until it was completed, and communicating openly with management and your team.
26. What do you think are the benefits of pursuing a career in information security?
An answer could include: being able to help protect people from cyberattacks, having a job that is always changing and evolving, and being able to utilize new technologies as they become available. Lastly, you could mention that it provides job stability since there is always a need for security professionals.
27. Do you have any experience working in a team environment? How would you describe your teamwork skills?
An answer could include: how you have worked on many projects in the past where teamwork was essential to success, and that you are able to work well with others even when there were different skill sets. You could also mention that you understand the value of teamwork and how it allows each team member to contribute in a unique way.
28. Have you ever had a disagreement with a co-worker?
An answer could include: being upfront and honest about your thoughts, having an open dialogue without getting too personal or attacking individuals, and seeking out advice from your supervisor when necessary. Lastly, if your actions lead to a negative impact on work relationships you would take responsibility for them and apologize to fix any issues that occurred because of this situation.
29. What are some of your previous failures, and what did you learn from them?
An answer could include: not doing thorough research prior to accepting a position, not verifying if management would be flexible with their deadlines, or making assumptions about the work environment. You could also mention that failure is an inevitable part of any learning process. Lastly, you believe success is built upon these experiences so they were valuable in the long run.
30. How comfortable are you with technology (e.g., office equipment, communication tools)?
An answer could include: how it has always been easy for you to pick up on new systems and software because your co-workers were willing to teach you. Another option would be saying that even though there may be a steep learning curve at first, you are willing to put in the extra effort to get up to speed as quickly as possible. Lastly, you could mention that you are always open to new technologies and how they can improve your productivity or workflow.
31. What do you think are some of the biggest challenges facing information security professionals today?
An answer could include the increasing number of cyberattacks, managing risk in a constantly changing environment, and integrating new security technologies. Additionally, there is also the challenge of training employees on how to properly protect company data.
32. Do you have any experience working with forensics teams? How would you manage a situation where the forensics team needed assistance collecting and analyzing evidence?
An answer could include: You have worked with forensics teams in your previous position and you were able to play an integral role. Saying this, you know that it is important to be supportive of their efforts since they need as much support as possible during this hectic time. Lastly, you would also ask what additional resources or tools they need from someone else on your team so that everyone can work together efficiently.
33. What steps would you take if there was a server outage and users reported they could no longer access email?
An answer could include: researching details like when the last backup occurred and why certain servers were offline at the time, putting out fires by addressing the most urgent user complaints, and creating a plan for how to prevent future outages from happening. Additionally, you would document everything that happened as part of an after-action report.
34. Have you ever been in a situation where you had to handle sensitive data? How did you go about doing so?
An answer could include: being conscious of who was around when discussing confidential information, using discretion when sending or receiving emails, and properly disposing of any printed documents that contained sensitive data. Additionally, you could mention that you are familiar with common security measures (e.g., passwords, encryption) and use them whenever necessary.
35. What do you think is the most important attribute of a successful information security professional?
An answer could include: being able to stay calm under pressure, being proactive in identifying potential risks, and having a deep understanding of the technology they are working with. Additionally, it is also important to be able to communicate effectively with other members of the team so that everyone is on the same page.
