Security Engineers have a variety of responsibilities and tasks, which require a range of skills, qualifications and attributes. The role can include servicing CCTV, access or alarm systems, developing technical procedures and processes, following British technical standards, out of hours support, and continuously developing and improving security systems and services. The salary for a Security Engineer ranges from £26k-£50k, and more for management personnel. Read on to find out what steps you can take to start a career as a Security Engineer.
Training and qualifications
Each company will have a different set of requirements, but most will be looking for a candidate with a strong background in security, and confidence and technical skills in installing, servicing and monitoring various systems.
Training in the installation and maintenance of security systems is crucial for a Security Engineer role. An understanding of the necessary standards and regulations is also generally a requirement. Look for training courses which cover both the practical skills and the technical requirements in order to meet both. Take a look at our courses here, which are a mixture of hands-on training and theoretical learning.
Developing personal attributes
As well as having technical skills, Security Engineers need to have some key personal attributes in order to flourish at their job. Take a look at the list below, and see if there are any areas you might need to work on. Short online courses are great for building personal skills like these; try LinkedIn, Udemy, or FutureLearn, which all offer personal development courses. If you’re already confident in these attributes, don’t forget to have some examples of your abilities to talk about in interviews.
- Attention to detail
- Great communicator
- Problem solving
- Teamwork
- Leadership
Finding work
Most jobs will be posted online, so keeping track of what ones are coming up is important for applying before the deadline. Check out our article on where to apply for security jobs here for a list of the best resources.
Recruitment services can also be helpful if you’re finding it difficult to pin down a job yourself, or if you don’t have time to trawl the web. Get in touch with our recruitment team here and we’ll do the hard work for you.