Alarm Technician Job Description, Skills and Salary
Get to know about the duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and skills requirements of an alarm technician. Feel free to use our alarm technician job description template to produce your own. We also provide you with information about the salary you can earn as an alarm technician.
Who is an Alarm Technician?
There are so many careers and professions out there that are worth building and going for, alarm technician is one of them. They are a very important set of people as regards the security of a property.
Who then is an alarm technician? Firstly, the word ‘alarm’ on one hand, is defined as ‘an anxious awareness of danger, or a strike of fear’, while an alarm device is defined as an apparatus that gives loud, visual, or other kinds of alarm indicator to alert one to a critical problem or danger that requires pressing attention. A technician, on the other hand, is defined as an expert employed to take care of technical devices or fix technical types of equipment. An alarm technician, therefore, is a person who specializes in any job or work associated with installing, repairing, and connecting an alarm system to a client’s property. They are assigned with the responsibility of installing, controlling, and setting up an alarm system in a client’s abode or workplace, and also repairing in case of any fault or little damage and to make sure they are operating fine all the time.
Alarm technicians should not be a novice in the electrical field, or someone who just has a passion for electrical works; but should be a professional who has a strong comprehension of electrical arrangements and electronics, to be able to give a professional touch to the installing, fixing, and controlling of an alarm system. They should also have the ability to read sketches and blueprints relating to the field to plan out the best way to set up these alarm devices in homes and industries. Alarm technicians then should always check for updates regarding technology, especially their area of focus, and should also stay up to date with the latest advances in the same field. This is because technology is fast advancing and upgrading, and if you do not advance alongside as an alarm technician, you may feel embarrassed when confronted with a more advanced alarm device and you find out that you have no idea how to fix or set it up, thereby, losing value and worth before your client or employer, and lose the chance of getting further job contracts. Some alarm devices recently come with video surveillance cameras that allow you to see what is happening outside your abode even when not in the environment before you can alert the police. An alarm technician would hence, make deep research to recommend better and quality products to clients.
They often work in both business and housing areas, either as an installer for a specific device or a wide variety of alarm devices. Some other responsibilities of an alarm technician can include the following; programming alarm devices, maintaining records of previous works, showcasing the efficiency of security systems, and answering clients’ questions.
Nevertheless, embracing this profession would not be a bad idea, as there is always a need for an alarm technician. The emergent need for more security professionals is a move that emanates as a result of the increasing number of cyber-attacks globally. So many businesses at the moment are reliant on technology, and many have also become more fragile, and as such, become vulnerable and docile to hackers and cyber-attacks. An alarm technician, therefore, could take advantage of this movement by evolving into a certified cyber security agent and alarm system installer. This permits them to provide extra protection for businesses and help shield them from hackers and cyber attacks. Since business owners discovered that prevention is better than cure, they began running to alarm technicians to help prevent unforeseen hacks and cyber attacks; and also embrace preventive maintenance.
Alarm Technician Job Description
Below are the alarm technician job description examples you can use to develop your resume or write an alarm technician job description for your employee. Employers can also use it to sieve out job seekers when choosing candidates for interviews.
The job of an alarm technician is vast. And to be successful as a technician, you ought to demonstrate strong self-discipline and a strong passion for technology. This self-discipline and passion should manifest in the zest to carry out the job due to being an alarm technician. Some of the major jobs of an alarm technician include;
- Review setup documents and share the features and benefits of the device with clients.
- Use circuit testers: meters, toners, butt set, soldering tools, power drill, and all various hand tools.
- Read and correctly interpret blueprints.
- Teach clients how to make efficient use of the alarm devices, and basic maintenance processes.
- Inspect all the alarms in his/her working place at regular interval to ascertain when any is faulty.
- Ensure proper functioning of the alarming system.
- Analyze his/her working place to find out the positions of all the existing alarms.
- Troubleshoot all alarm systems and types of equipment.
- Source alarm replacement parts.
- Install and test backup batteries, control panels, door and window contacts, sensors, or video cameras and attach electrical and telephone wiring to connect components.
- Mount and fasten alarm control panels in home and commercial security systems.
- Read alarm repair manuals and liaise with other professionals to ensure security systems are communicating properly with signals to a central station.
- Adjust the sensitivity of alarm sensors using a remote programming device.
- Run tests and interpret results to make effective recommendations.
- Write up reports, safety regulations, and preventative maintenance plans.
- Negotiate with suppliers and clients.
- Repair or replace faulty alarms.
- Inspect alarm installation sites.
- Test and repair alarm circuits and sensors.
- Provide material cost estimates before starting a job.
- Keep abreast of advancements in the field by attending workshops as required.
- Answer the queries of clients on the security product they purchase.
- Train novice alarm technicians.
- Travel often to client’s location.
More so, an alarm technician ought to be a well-oriented problem solver. Thus he/she ought to be ever ready and willing to respond positively to any attendant alarm call, especially when it has to do with emergency alarms such as security and fire alarms. And at the same time be eager to solve the arisen problem. As a problem solver, you ought to go out of your way just to make sure a client’s technical problem is solved; this builds your integrity and value, and also increases your recommendation chances.
Qualifications
It is generally an agreed assertion that all professions need certain qualifications. It is these qualifications that legitimately capacitate one to work as a professional. With regard to alarm technicians, these qualifications are dimmed necessary:
- Five credits or above in SSCE or WASSCE, English and Mathematics included.
- Three GCE A-levels with at least a credits level in English and Mathematics.
- Upper Credit in ND or HND.
- A bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, electronic engineering, or any related field.
- Knowledge of computer operation.
- 2-3 years of work experience.
- An additional qualification such as a NICET fire protection certificate or related certification will also broaden career options.
However, each state differs in the requirements to work as an alarm technician. Be sure to contact your state to get specifics on the licenses, certifications, and education you must have to work as an alarm technician where you live.
Essential Skills
There are basic skills required of an Alarm Technician. These skills are consequential in such a way that all alarm technicians ought to possess them. However, anyone lacking in these basic skills is said to be an incompetent alarm technician. These basic skills may include;
- Problem-solving skills.
- Customer service skills.
- Computer skills.
- Multi-tasking skills.
- Communication skills.
- Teamwork skills.
- Decision-making skills.
- Troubleshooting skills.
- Driving skill.
- Active listening skills.
The above skills are most fitting for an alarm technician. However, an alarm technician ought to possess general skills. He should be versatile, in such a way that he can attend to all technical problems, and not merely those related to alarm. He should have the zeal to solve problems. In solving problems, she/he should work with honesty. This is why decision-making skill is paramount. Decision-making entails that an alarm technician ought to make unsentimental decisions to attend to the most urgent arisen problems. Hence, he ought to work without prejudices or deceit. She/he also needs a driving skill to aid him to attend to emergencies. Customer service and communicative skills on the other would help the alarm technician to relate well with his/her customers and employer as the case may be. While the computer and troubleshooting, skills would enable the alarm technician to use control panels, door and window contacts, sensors, or video cameras and attach electrical and telephone wiring to facilitate his/her job.
How to Become an Alarm Technician
The journey to becoming a professional in a particular field is not all rosy. It takes many years of dedication and sacrifice. This career journey or path varies from one profession to another. With regard to becoming an alarm technician, one is expected to follow the procedures below.
- Obtain at least an upper Credit bachelor’s degree in electrical or electronics engineering, or still an upper credit in ND or HND in engineering
- Get an internship while studying under a professional and experienced alarm technician and apply your skills.
- Obtain an additional certificate, or postgraduate degree such as a Master of Engineer to advance your skill.
- Acquire basic technical skills like computer skills to boost your qualifications.
- Register with professional communities and organizations like the Institution of Mechanical Engineers to enhance your credentials.
- Apply for a job in any business firm or organization.
Analogically, there are many ways that lead to Lagos. In the same vein, there are many ways to become an alarm technician. The above-mentioned procedures may apply to anyone who wishes to become an alarm technician formally. However, many people go through informal means, which appear to be simpler. The informal means imply working under a professional alarm technician and learning the required skills of an alarm technician within a stipulated time. In fine, it takes three to four years to become a professional alarm technician.
Lastly, every employer is different and each will have unique qualifications when they hire for an Alarm Technician role.
Where to work as an Alarm Technician
Alarm technicians are sine qua non in our contemporary world where alarms are consequential in almost every field of life. Alarm technicians are professionals employed in almost every industry. They work in both commercial and domestic houses, where they repair, install, replace, and service different alarm systems and equipment. To flee from over-generalization, the following are places where alarm technicians can work.
Banks, industries, companies, churches, public schools (Primary, secondary, universities, and other higher institutions), public clinics and hospitals, labor unions, private homes, marketplace places et cetera. To be precise an alarm technician could be employed by any private or public sector where alarms are needed. Hence they can virtually work at all places.
In banks, industries, companies, schools, markets, etc the active presence of alarm technicians are needed to control security alarms as well as fire and smoke alarms. However private sectors and individual homes need the service of alarm technicians from time to time and in times of emergency.
Alarm Technician Salary Scale
In our world today, people tend to choose a profession based on the salary it generates. In underdeveloped states, Alarm technicians fall among the most overlooked profession or careers. The reason behind this seems to be that most persons are ignorant of the work as well as the salary scale of these technicians. The services of an alarm technician are irreplaceable as far as human safety is concerned. Thus one alarm technician can be hired by different employers or firms. And at the same time receive payment from all of them.
The salary scale varies from place to place. In the United States, the estimated total pay for an Alarm Technician is $78,042 per year with an average salary of $45,838 per year. The estimated additional pay is $32,203 per year. In Nigeria, it ranges from ₦3,000,000 to ₦3,410,000. Additional pay could include cash bonus, commission, tips, profit sharing, free apartment, and health insurance.