Bodyguard Job Description, Skills, and Salary
Are you searching for a bodyguard job description? Get to know about the duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and skills requirements of a bodyguard. Feel free to use our bodyguard job description template to produce your own bodyguard job description. We also provide you with information about the salary you can earn as a bodyguard.
Who is a Bodyguard?
A Bodyguard personally protects people, such as public personalities, well-known characters in entertainment, top corporate leaders, or other people.
Bodyguards are adept at identifying risks and putting preventative measures into action. The task of the bodyguard truly begins before a threat ever materializes, albeit they require the ability to respond quickly in a dangerous situation.
A bodyguard will typically evaluate prospective security concerns, create effective security tactics, and skillfully respond to threats when they materialize.
Bodyguards contact their clients far more directly than commercial or residential security employees. They frequently work as part of a 24/7 security detail for the client. Bodyguards usually have access to private business and personal information and are familiar with the ins and outs of their client’s schedules.
Bodyguards frequently have years of specialized training. Many are ex-military or special forces, and their distinct skill sets enable them to provide their clients with first-rate security services.
Bodyguards work for clients for different purposes. People in the public spotlight are subject to security hazards. Threats to a VIP’s money or status come from stalkers, thieves, overly enthusiastic admirers, and others. Bodyguards must be alert and prepared for various circumstances for their clients to feel secure and to securely conduct their personal and professional life.
Although the wealthy and famous are the majority of those who employ bodyguards, regular folks may also need them in specific situations. In reality, almost everyone who feels that their security is in danger can profit from their services.
Bodyguard Job Description
What is a bodyguard job description? A bodyguard job description is simply a list of duties and responsibilities of a bodyguard in an organization. Below are the bodyguard job description examples you can use to develop your resume or write a bodyguard job description for your employee. Employers can also use it to sieve out job seekers when choosing candidates for interviews.
The duties and responsibilities of the bodyguard include the following:
- Assign duties to each team member if you are heading a group of bodyguards.
- Accompany the clients in public places.
- Check cars for potential hazards or tampered parts.
- Defend with licensed weapons if permitted or use acquired martial arts.
- Get in touch with the appropriate authorities if a crime or an accident occurs.
- Escort their client away from a place that could be unsafe.
- Drive employers to their destinations because you may double as their driver to always be close to them.
- Identify any potential bugging of electrical equipment.
- Monitor surroundings where the client is situated.
- Maintain communication with the other team members (bodyguards).
- Move the customer securely away from the threat’s location.
- Perform background checks on new hires, coworkers, suppliers, and people who will connect with clients.
- Provide reports on any questionable activity or relevant information to the supervisor.
- Plan the client’s daily schedule and safety precautions(s).
- Prevent unknown people from approaching your employer until the identity is confirmed.
- Prepare security protocols and backup strategies.
- Recognize suspicious activity or unauthorized individuals.
- Scan the client’s home and public areas for vulnerabilities.
- Remove trespassers and other undesirables from the area.
- Report any shady behavior.
- Secure public venues before the clients attend public events like award ceremonies, conferences, or other public engagements.
- Watch out for the client’s movements and locations.
Qualifications
- High school diploma or GED
- Be 18 years old or above
- Be in good physical shape
- Possess a certificate in first aid
- Pass background checks
- Have a license from the Security Industry Authority in your country of residence
- Possess a valid driver’s license.
Essential Skills
- Excellent Communication
- Alertness
- Confidentiality
- Driving Expertise
- Multitasking
- Physical Fitness
- Professionalism
- Security Knowledge
- Sound Judgment
Excellent Communication
Bodyguards should know how to communicate effectively to succeed in the role. Strong verbal communication abilities help to assure their client and provide personal safety recommendations. By being able to communicate correctly, they may also minimize potential problems and stop them from occurring. As a personal bodyguard, speaking more than one language may be helpful in diplomatic work or jobs that involve foreign travel.
Bodyguards may interact with others while guaranteeing the security of their clients. They may consult with other security personnel or the client’s staff to protect their customers’ safety.
Bodyguards could also communicate with anyone attempting to obtain access to the customers. They must be able to speak well to carry out their tasks properly. Strong communication abilities may also be required when conveying to customers the specifics or gravity of prospective risks.
Alertness
Bodyguards must possess the requisite qualities of alertness and situational awareness. Bodyguards must be vigilant and pay attention to everything going on around them. Because of their enhanced attention, a competent bodyguard can identify and avert potential dangers more readily than other individuals. Even during breaks or casual social engagements, bodyguards can be attentive.
Confidentiality
Bodyguards spend a lot of time with clients to ensure their safety. They frequently overhear their client’s private talks with others and may discover sensitive information about the client’s life. It’s critical for bodyguards to maintain their professionalism in these circumstances so that their customers may trust them to protect their privacy and safety.
Driving Expertise
Driving expertise entails more than just having a license. Driving defensively might help keep clients safe and safeguard their possessions. Many clients are looking for bodyguards that can drive defensively and evasively in a crisis while doing it fast and securely.
They may need to occasionally remove clients from hazardous settings by driving them out of the situation. To secure the client’s safety, bodyguards must possess good driving skills.
Multitasking
There may be occasions when bodyguards have to do many tasks simultaneously. Therefore, they must know how to multitask well to fulfill their duties at work. For instance, you could securely accompany your client to the place, keep an eye on your surroundings, and assess the security of all the access and departure points.
Physical Fitness
This position helps to be in excellent health and to have high levels of physical stamina and fitness. It may be necessary for you to act fast in your capacity as a bodyguard under demanding and aggressive circumstances. Being able to handle all the physical demands of the job is necessary to develop into a competent and trustworthy bodyguard.
Professionalism
Although bodyguards often interact with their employers, they must be professional and have courtesy at all times. Bodyguards can keep a professional gap between themselves and their clients to do their jobs effectively. Additionally, they can be polite and refrain from engaging in any activity that would impair their attentiveness or their capacity to defend their client.
Security Knowledge
It is part of a bodyguard’s responsibility to ensure that their client or clients are secure and to shield them from harm such as assault, kidnapping, assassination, or other potential threats. So many clients seek the security of a bodyguard with a law enforcement or military background.
Sound Judgment
Bodyguards must use sound judgment. More than simply education and expertise are required to keep a client secure and to preserve their belongings and possessions. When they have good judgment, they may use critical thinking to evaluate any dangers and safety concerns, especially in highly stressful situations, and then decide the best course of action.
How to Become a Bodyguard
This career does not need formal education and does not need conventional requirements like some jobs. Below are the steps to becoming a Bodyguard.
Step One: Get a High School Diploma
Bodyguards must be ready for everything, so the more learned and talented they are in various subjects, the more protection they can provide their employer. People who want to work as bodyguards should take classes in several areas in high school, such as English, psychology, physical education, etc.
Step Two: Take a Postsecondary Education or Training
Bodyguards frequently begin their careers in the military or in civilian law enforcement, where they acquire the essential crowd management, firearm handling, and emergency response abilities. Bodyguards often have some college education, although it is not necessarily required. Experience in crowd psychology, law, or criminal justice can assist a bodyguard in better grasping the needs of the job. A well-educated individual is frequently the most adaptable to quickly changing scenarios. An essential component of the training is getting hands-on experience working with various people in challenging circumstances. New employees may also be required to complete training that lasts for several weeks to several months, depending on the business, and covers subjects including criminal law, weapons usage, and personal defense methods.
Step Three: Possess a Deep Knowledge of the Position
Similar to any other professional path, they must know what their work entails and what to anticipate before beginning. Most prospective applicants are unaware of the time commitment needed for this job. They need to put in more than 40 hours a week at work. Being a bodyguard also entails a lot of travel and secondarily assisting their client in areas other than security.
Step Four: Be in Perfect Health
Being in excellent form is necessary to work as a bodyguard. They must possess the required strength to defend their clients.
Bodyguards should have excellent senses, including hearing, sight, scent, and common sense. They must possess the patience, physical prowess, and mental tenacity to perform. Before starting a new job, it is advised to begin an exercise routine to get in shape for the position. Many begin these routine months before they apply for a bodyguard’s role. Crossfit training sessions are a fantastic approach to hasten the procedure. They can become in shape rapidly with this kind of exercise.
Step Five: Learn CPR and First Aid Techniques
Prospective Bodyguards must finish their first-aid and CPR certification training to start work. Both skills might assist them in giving their clients superior protection. To obtain a one-year certification card, look for CPR certification courses in your neighborhood and finish the coursework and exam. First-aid classes are available both offline and online. Learn how to check for breathing and treat burns and wounds in these classes, among other things before taking clients to the hospital.
Step Six: A License to work as a Bodyguard
The certification procedure and standards vary by state or county. Before considering becoming a bodyguard, check the criteria in the states or nations where you would offer your services. Some organizations need prior military or paramilitary experience like what they might get in a personal defense course.
Step Seven: Experience
It will be challenging to gain practical experience as a bodyguard in school, but taking criminal justice courses, internships, or part-time work in law enforcement will be helpful.
Bodyguards often need to be older than the minimum age for police officers because many of them are ex-police officers. If a bodyguard is employed by the police, they must also have completed a rigorous physical examination. In addition to starting their professions as bodyguards or other forms of security professionals, many also pursue these jobs after receiving specialized training.
In addition to their extensive martial arts education, bodyguards are increasingly studying counterintelligence operations, electronic security systems, and surveillance tactics are updated and increase their chances of employment. A lot of bodyguards have received specialist defensive driving training, which helps them keep better control of a car in emergency circumstances.
Where to Work as a Bodyguard
Bodyguards may work for government agencies, businesses, or private citizens. Their clients may include royalty, public personalities, business leaders, and celebrities.
Bodyguards might provide individualized services or be a part of a bigger close protection team with other experts.
They might work long day, night, or weekend shifts if they are a part of a 24-hour protection team. They may have to work indoors and outside, go to social events as needed, and travel often.
Bodyguard Salary Scale
First off, there are no fixed costs associated with hiring a bodyguard. Bodyguards negotiate salaries upon discussion with the client. They may earn more money if they have outstanding skills, knowledge, training, or personality. Although these are frequently professions with precise prerequisites and skill limitations, and they may work halfway around the world, an experienced bodyguard who works for a top official or celebrity may make as much as $100,000 per year with bonuses.
The annual average bodyguard income in the United States is $66,550, although the normal compensation range is $60,454 to $77,423.
In the United Kingdom, bodyguards may earn an annual average salary between £13,464 and £65,928.
In Australia, a bodyguard makes an annual average pay of $50,256. The range may fall between $34,200 to $63,000 every year.
In Canada, a bodyguard makes an average salary of $41,918 yearly. A bodyguard can expect to make between $31,774 and $48,876 a year.
In Germany, a bodyguard makes an average of €32,346 annually and €16 per hour. The wage range for a bodyguard is €24,518 to €37,716 on average.