A security CV is not just a record of past jobs. It is evidence that you can be trusted with people, property, access control and procedures. When an employer is filling a guarding, CCTV, door supervision or mobile patrol role, they need to see your licence status, availability and relevant experience without searching through two pages of general information.
Knowing how to write a security CV means putting the details that matter to security employers first. A clear, accurate CV can help a hiring manager quickly confirm that you meet the requirements for the role and are ready to work professionally from day one.
Start with the details employers need first
Place your name, mobile number, email address and general location at the top of the page. You do not need to include your full home address. Your town, city or postcode area is usually enough and helps employers assess commuting distance, especially for shift-based roles.
Directly below this, state your licensing position clearly. For work in the Republic of Ireland, include your PSA licence type and expiry date. For roles connected to Northern Ireland, list the relevant SIA licence, such as Security Guarding, Door Supervision or CCTV. If you are currently completing approved training and have not yet received your licence, say so honestly and state your expected completion date.
For example:
PSA Security Guard Licence – valid until March 2028 Full clean driving licence – own transport Available for day, night and weekend shifts
This information should be easy to spot. Do not hide it in a skills section at the bottom of the CV. Licensing is often a first-stage requirement, and clarity reduces the chance of being overlooked.
Write a security profile that fits the role
Your profile is a short paragraph of three or four lines beneath your contact and licence details. It should explain the type of security professional you are, where your experience sits and what work you are seeking.
Avoid generic statements such as “hard-working individual seeking a new opportunity”. Security employers need more than that. Mention the environments you know, the responsibilities you have handled and the standards you bring to the role.
A security officer with retail and corporate experience might write:
> PSA-licensed Security Officer with four years’ experience across retail, commercial and front-of-house sites. Skilled in access control, CCTV monitoring, incident reporting and customer-facing security. Reliable for rotating shifts and committed to professional, procedure-led site protection.
A licence-track applicant can still create a strong profile. Focus on relevant transferable experience, such as customer service, lone working, warehouse operations, hospitality or event stewarding. State the training you are completing and the type of position you want. Employers value honesty, punctuality and a willingness to learn, particularly for entry-level opportunities with structured induction.
Put your security experience in practical terms
Your employment history should be in reverse chronological order, with your most recent role first. Include the employer, job title, location and dates of employment. Then use short, specific statements to show what you actually did on shift.
A job title alone does not tell an employer whether you were working on a construction gatehouse, a busy retail floor, a corporate reception or a night patrol. The setting matters because the risks, procedures and customer contact can be very different.
Instead of writing “responsible for security duties”, explain the duties that demonstrate your capability. Good examples include:
- Controlled staff, visitor and contractor access in line with site procedures.
- Completed foot patrols, perimeter checks and opening or closing duties.
- Monitored CCTV systems and escalated suspicious activity appropriately.
- Managed incidents calmly, recorded facts accurately and submitted reports to supervisors.
- Checked deliveries, vehicle movements and contractor permits.
- Provided a professional visible presence for customers, staff and visitors.
Use only duties you have genuinely performed. A CV is often discussed in detail at interview, and security work depends on credibility. If you supported a task under supervision rather than led it alone, say that. Accuracy is more valuable than inflated claims.
Show responsibility, not just activity
Where possible, include useful context. If you worked at a high-footfall venue, supported a team on event nights, supervised a reception point or held keys, mention it. If you dealt with alarm activations, welfare checks or emergency procedures, include that too.
For example, “Completed patrols” is basic. “Completed scheduled patrols and welfare checks across a multi-building industrial site, reporting defects and access concerns through the site log system” gives an employer a much clearer picture.
There is a balance to strike. You do not need to name sensitive sites, security systems or confidential client information. Describe the environment and your responsibilities without disclosing operational details.
Add licences, training and relevant qualifications
Create a dedicated section for licences and training after your profile or employment history. This is particularly useful if you hold more than one qualification or are applying for specialist roles.
Include the licence name, issuing body where relevant, and expiry date. Also list training that supports the vacancy, such as first aid, fire marshal training, manual handling, conflict management, safeguarding, control room procedures or counter-terror awareness training.
For mobile patrol or cash-in-transit work, a full driving licence and driving experience may be important. For CCTV roles, specify your control room or monitoring experience. For door supervision, include experience of queue management, conflict management and customer interaction where applicable.
Do not add every course you have ever completed. Prioritise training that proves you can perform the advertised role safely and professionally. If a certificate has expired, do not present it as current.
Include skills that reflect real security work
A skills section should reinforce your experience, not repeat empty phrases. Terms such as “team player” and “excellent communicator” can be useful, but they are stronger when connected to security responsibilities.
Relevant skills may include incident reporting, access control, visitor management, keyholding, radio communication, patrol routines, CCTV observation, conflict de-escalation, emergency response and customer service. Add digital skills if you have used electronic reporting systems, access control software or scheduling platforms.
Language skills can also be worth including when they are relevant to public-facing sites, hospitality, transport or international workplaces. State your level honestly.
Tailor each application without rewriting everything
The best approach to how to write a security CV is not creating one document and sending it unchanged to every vacancy. Keep a strong master CV, then adjust the profile, skills and most relevant experience for each role.
If a vacancy is for a corporate reception security officer, lead with front-of-house experience, access control, visitor handling and professional presentation. For a mobile patrol role, bring your driving licence, lone-working experience, alarm response and patrol work forward. For events, show crowd awareness, customer service, flexible availability and your ability to work effectively under pressure.
Read the job description carefully. If it asks for night availability, a current licence or experience on a particular site type, make sure the relevant information is visible. Do not copy the advert word for word. Use the language naturally and back it up with evidence from your own work.
Keep the format clear and professional
Aim for two pages if you have several years of experience. One page can be enough for a new entrant with limited employment history. Use a straightforward font, clear headings and consistent dates. Avoid coloured backgrounds, graphics, photographs and complicated layouts that can make a CV difficult to read on a phone or recruitment system.
Check spelling, dates and licence numbers before you upload your document. A missing employment period is not automatically a problem, but unexplained gaps can raise questions. Briefly account for them where appropriate, whether you were studying, caring for family, travelling or waiting to complete licensing requirements.
Name the file professionally, such as `Firstname-Surname-Security-CV.pdf`. PDF is usually the safest format because the layout stays consistent when an employer opens it.
Do not forget availability and references
Security recruitment often moves quickly. State whether you are available immediately, your notice period and the shifts you can work. If you can work nights, weekends, public holidays or travel between sites, say so. Equally, be clear about genuine restrictions. It is better to set realistic expectations than accept a role whose hours do not suit you.
You can write “References available on request”, but be prepared to provide professional referees who can confirm your reliability, attendance and conduct. Make sure they know you are job hunting before passing on their details.
Before applying through Security Jobs Ireland or directly to an employer, read your CV once as if you were the person shortlisting it. Can they immediately see your licence, location, role experience and availability? If the answer is yes, you have given them the information they need to take the next step.