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Tips for Security Guards That Want to Ask for a Raise
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So, you’ve been at the same company for a while and you haven’t gotten your first raise yet? You’re thinking it might be the right time. But how do you go about it? What can you do to increase the chances that they say, yes? There are some things that will increase your chances of getting that raise that you want.
First, make sure you are prepared. You should know that you deserve that raise. When they ask why you deserve a raise (because they will), your answer should not be, “Well, I’ve been here for two years and I haven’t gotten one yet.” That will not do the trick. You should know why you’re an asset to the company and you should be able to tell them about your accomplishments. You should also know what is an acceptable raise for the market and for the company.
Plan ahead by having a preliminary discussion with your boss. Find out what factors are considered when the company is thinking about giving someone a raise. Make sure you focus on those things. Set goals with your employer so that they know what you are working on and check in with them from time to time.
Get ready before you ask by writing down all of your accomplishments. When you meet with your employer to ask for a raise you’ll find it is kind of like an interview. You will need to be able to talk about what you have done and how that adds value to the company. Practice. Before you go into that big meeting, you should be able to talk about any of your accomplishments and explain them fully without blinking an eye. Confidence plays a big factor here.
It is also good to document things that others have said about you. When you receive praise from someone, make sure you write it down. You can implement these words of praise from co-workers and supervisors into your accomplishments so that your employer sees that it is not just you that thinks you provide value for the company.
Finally, pick the right time. You don’t want to ask for a raise when your boss is in a bad mood or when there has been a big problem in the company and several employees have had to be dismissed or reprimanded. Your boss will be stressed and will not be in the mood to approve anyone’s raise, even though you weren’t involved. If you know the company is going through some tough financial times, hold your cards and wait. Try to have your meeting after the company has had a big success or when you have done something really great.
I don’t know if I agree with this article in regards to contract security guards. If you are part of a proprietary security force this might work. If you are a contract guard, good luck. With such tight margins in the contract security industry, unless the client gives the security guard vendor a 3 – 5% increase in their rates then, NO ONE gets a raise. Best bet is to getted moved to a better paying site or promoted…
I agree with Courtney – I’ve been with this company for well over 3 years; i’m one of their top guards and have yet to get a raise. They alway’s say that it’s what the client pays them. So, if the client isn’t paying them enough – NOBODY gets a raise!
Contract security is, unfortunately, a little like slavery. Security companies bid on a job and the company who offers their people for the lowest cost wins the contract. We should unionize and end practices like these..
I’ve been with my company at the same site for 6 years, same $8.50 an hour. New people get the same amount. I’ve done big things to save the client $$ (some of which are for maintenance workers and ot security), that does not matter at all! I mean we’ve found huge issues. So I won’t be in the industry much longer. I’m going to get my CDL, and I’m really looking forward to it!
The lowest bid does not always win, it does when you’re dealing with business people who are acquiring contract security services because they have too, and are typically the ones who care about the bottom line and care very little about quality.
I have been a Security Manager (CPO) in the private sector for 17 years, and common-sense for those of us who actually know what we’re doing is to usually weed-out the lowest bid immediately unless the lowest bid is on par with typical cost. I care nothing for a contract company just trying to under-bid to win an account, and the reason is…if they under-bid and win the contract, that means I’m going to be stuck dealing with $7.25 an hour Guards because that’s all their under-bidding allows them to pay. There have actually been times when I went with the highest bid – I don’t see how anyone, even business-minded (penny-pinchers) professionals can prefer low-class security – in this business you will absolutely get what you pay for.
A lot of service people enter the security field thinking they are going to get raises and preferential treatment,but they will screw them over in the end. they get young folk just out of the military because they know these guys will stand out in the rain and not think twice. Someone who has been in the field more than two years will say screw that I’m not going to get soaked. I’ll sit in my car and stay dry.
I’ve been doing security for almost 20 years now and only one post that I’ve been at has given there guards a decent raise. I’m not there anymore but I still work security for another company and before that I was with another company. Anymore I just wanted to respond to the person that mentioned a union. Don’t Do it! I worked security for one if the largest security companies in the nation and the post I was at required that we be a part of there union. Sure u get paid a little more then other places but they also take out there union dues so your check comes out to about the same. And because supervisors are not union they treat the employees with such attitude almost as if to test you and see if youll go crying to the Union. I was fired for allegedly not reporting misconduct of another employee even though I did report it to my supervisor and yet he continued working there and I got fired. The Union didn’t do anything but take money out of my check. Securitas Ontario sucks.
I thgt thats what union was for, to help you fight in situations like that?
I think it’s a rip off … Yes they have moments to slack but when they’re needed by the staff they’re right there to defend & protect “the staff”. My husband works for a medical clinic here on Kauai, 8-years now .. no raises, no benefits .. but he’s there 10-15 minutes before his start of shift, takes off only when he’s sick which is very seldom & has been asked by a psychiatrist if he ever considered getting a degree in psychology because by the time her patients come to her, they really have nothing unbearable to gripe about .. he loves the people, most of them anyway and is constantly aware of his surroundings for himself and the staff and they can’t justify the raises for the men & women that take these types of jobs? By the way, how many raises have the office staff had?
We’ve had situations in this state where security guards (unarmed) sustained physical abuse (a security officer is paralyzed from his injuries, another was out of work for almost a year (jaw broken, eye injury, nose broken) not to mention the mental “stress” they deal with.
Companies pay to have these individuals there as a sense of security for their personnel and pay a certain amount for this service and you tell your employee to call 911 If the situation escalates … REALLY!
I’m sorry, I just think if you put your life out there to “protect” & for most people it’s a given nature, you should get compensated.