SIA Training | the best thing I ever did - M Williams Birmingham.

Like lots of people I was made redundant recently, it was a real shock, especially because it was so unexpected. I thought I was in a secure job for life. I averaged about thirty job applications a day, but despite the fact I have got excellent references and good computer skills, job hunting just became really depressing.

My Job Centre Plus Advisor told me about SIA Training leading to Security Jobs. I did a bit of research and found Get Licensed. I had no idea the security training options were so in-depth. I admit, I thought you just put on a uniform with a security badge and that was it.

What surprised me most was the number of security job vacancies available and the salaries are really attractive too, more than I would have earned in my previous job in fact. Because I would have spent most of my working life in front of a computer screen, the CCTV operative course looked like the best option for me.

I managed to find an SIA training centre that was really convenient for me to get to and within a couple of weeks I was being trained. Get Licensed were brilliant, they even helped me make sure I filled out the application form for my SIA Licence correctly.

The course was split up into three modules. All the elements are set out clearly, and you were made aware of what the expected outcomes are right from the start of each section. You learn all kinds of things I would have no idea had anything to do with the job.

We started off with Procedures and Guidelines. This part was really interesting because there are legal requirements involved with the job. After we had got to grips with the Codes of Practice we moved on to using the equipment, it was a lot more interesting than the spreadsheets I had been used to pouring over all day.

One of the main aspects of a CCTV operators job, apart from being alert and having a good attention span, is communication. It is not as isolated as you might think, and you need to be able to make valued judgements if the other members of your security team need to be alerted. I had been a fire officer and first aider in my previous job, so taking in all the emergency procedures and health and safety aspects of the course was easy, in fact I was able to contribute to the class.

It had been a while since I sat an exam, so I was a bit nervous, but that just added to my determination to pass. There were two multiple choice exams and a practical, then within two weeks I got the news I had passed! I was over the moon. As soon as I got my results I could apply for my SIA Licence and then start looking for a new security jobs.

Unlike before, when I had just been made redundant, I was able to narrow down my job searches to a particular industry sector. You have to start somewhere, so I signed up with an agency. I soon got my first assignment, covering for an operator who was on maternity leave.

Adjusting to the shifts with with my new security job was a bit strange at first but you soon get accustomed to it. To be honest it feels like you have more time on your hands, especially when you get days off when everyone else is hard at work.

I have got a full time job now, working with a great team of people, and I really look forward to going to work. What I do for a living these days feels really worthwhile. SIA training was the best thing I ever did.

Narrow your security jobs search.

Fact - when people are searching for jobs, in this case security jobs, they are more likely to turn to the internet than take professional one-to-one advice. A quick internet search of 'security jobs UK' churns up 162,000,000 options which, if filled, would easily clear the 2.5million currently unemployed in the UK with plenty of vacancies left over for the whole of Europe and a few to spare further afield. It seemed a good idea at this point to contact David Cameron and let him know about this extraordinary end to all his unemployment worries, which he might not be aware of, except there are 53,300,000 options to, contact the Prime Minister'.

Whist the figures above are grossly exaggerated, many of the claims from even the more reputable employment agencies are equally embellished and on the whole ill-informed - simply uploading your CV, despite how pristine and interesting it may be, will not guarantee an interview, and certainly not a job without one vital ingredient and that is your SIA Licence. You can't work in the security industry without one, it's illegal and don't let anyone tell you otherwise. It's like trying to make an omelette without eggs.

In order to receive your SIA Licence you kick-start the process with expert training. There is a whole raft of training options available such as; Door Supervisor, Security Guard or CCTV Operator, and you need to prove that you have passed at least one of the training options to get your licence in order to work in one of the above professions. Why do I need to train to open and close a door or unhook a piece of rope you're asking? Well there's more to being a door supervisor or security guard than you might think.

Since the Private Security Industry Act of 2001 was introduced training has moved on leaps and bounds. Door Supervisors, as an example, now need to be aware of a lot of legal aspects that govern how they go about their jobs which include; drug legislation, conflict management strategies, crime scene preservation, physical intervention techniques as well as Health and Safety Regulations plus how to effectively manage an emergency.

On average the training takes around four days of intensive 'scenario based sessions' and a final examination. Note, 'scenario based sessions'. The right training provider will ensure you are trained in factual or actual situations by experts hand-picked from the security industry; it's not about watching endless PowerPoint slides that pose hypothetical questions to answer. And in the case of CCTV instruction you will be trained on actual equipment.

When you study the course detail it might seem like a BIG ask to take in all that information over four days. Remember, you will be under the guidance of experts and the courses are intentionally designed on a total absorption agenda to focus on the facts, but they are as enjoyable as they are informative.

Once you've passed the course and you have your results you can apply for your all important SIA Licence, and there's nothing to stop you searching for jobs at this stage either pending your licence issue. Be sure you get help with your licence application, it's not rocket science, but your submission can be rejected based on the wrong content - find a training provider who'll help you every step of the way and after a maximum of six weeks you'll have your SIA Licence.

Back to your security jobs search and the qualifications section of your CV. What do you suppose will make the difference now? Imagine two piles of CVs on the HR Managers desk, the yes pile and the no pile minus these few letters; SIA Licence. The reject pile is more than likely to be heading straight for the recycling bin or the shredder. It doesn't take a genius to figure out what your chances of an interview are here.

All jokes aside there are in fact thousands of security job vacancies in the UK right now, but they are only earmarked for the right candidates. The security industry is the biggest employment sector in the country and there are few jobs around that offer so much scope for manoeuvre, as well as excellent financial rewards; all it takes is the right training, determination and your licence. After training you can narrow your security jobs search, you're a qualified professional! We're not suggesting you'll get 162,000,000 replies, but the guarantee of a great job is just a few weeks away.