Aufgaben von Sicherheitsmitarbeitern in der Bahnsicherheit
Die Sicherheit im öffentlichen Verkehr, insbesondere im Bereich der Bahnen und Bahnhöfe, ist von entscheidender Bedeutung für die Gewährleistung eines reibungslosen und sicheren Personen- und Gütertransports (Schienenverkehr). In diesem Artikel werden die vielfältigen Aufgaben von Sicherheitsmitarbeitern in der Bahnsicherheit beleuchtet, wobei auch die damit verbundenen Gefahren, Bedrohungen und Risiken sowie die erforderlichen Fähigkeiten und persönlichen Eigenschaften für eine erfolgreiche Tätigkeit in diesem Bereich diskutiert werden.
Aufgaben der Sicherheitsmitarbeiter in der Bahnsicherheit
Sicherheitsmitarbeiter in der Bahnsicherheit übernehmen eine breite Palette von Aufgaben, die dazu dienen, die Sicherheit von Passagieren, Personal und Eigentum zu gewährleisten. Dabei sind städtische Bahnhöfe teilweise Kriminalitätsschwerpunkte. Zu den Hauptaufgaben gehören:
1. Überwachung und Prävention
Sicherheitsmitarbeiter sind dafür verantwortlich, verdächtige Aktivitäten zu erkennen und zu überwachen, um das Hausrecht durchzusetzen, die Einhaltung der Beförderungsbedingungen in den Reisezügen zu gewährleisten und auch Straftaten wie Diebstahl, Vandalismus, Belästigung und Gewalttaten zu verhindern. Dies umfasst die regelmäßige Patrouille durch Bahnhöfe und Züge sowie die Beobachtung durch Überwachungskameras und die Bedienung weiterer Sicherheitssysteme. Die Präsenz von Sicherheitsmitarbeitern, auch als Ansprechpartner und Auskunftspersonen von Zuggästen, trägt wesentlich zu einem positiven Sicherheitsgefühl und auch zur Serviceorientierung des Auftraggebers/Bahnunternehmens bei.
2. Durchführung von Sicherheitskontrollen
Sicherheitsmitarbeiter führen Sicherheitskontrollen an Bahnhöfen und in Zügen durch, um verbotene Gegenstände wie Waffen, Drogen und verbotene oder verdächtige Gegenstände zu entdecken und dadurch Schäden abzuwenden. Einhergehend mit den rechtlichen Bestimmungen und Dienstanweisungen erfolgt dies in enger Abstimmung mit den Behörden wie der Bundespolizei. Nicht selten müssen Personen, die am Bahnhof unerwünscht sind oder die Betriebsabläufe stören, der Örtlichkeit verwiesen oder der Polizei übergeben werden. Im Rahmen der Rundgänge werden auch andere relevante Sachverhalte wie z.B. Störungen/Defekte, Verunreinigungen oder Gefahrenstellen gemeldet und Sofortmaßnahmen ergriffen.
3. Hilfeleistung und Konfliktmanagement
Im Falle von Notfällen, medizinischen Zwischenfällen oder Konfliktsituationen sind Sicherheitsmitarbeiter geschult, schnell zu reagieren und angemessene Unterstützung zu leisten. Dies kann die Bereitstellung von Erster Hilfe, die Evakuierung von Passagieren oder die Deeskalation von Konflikten zwischen Fahrgästen umfassen. Gerade im Bahnverkehr, wo viele Personen aufeinandertreffen und auch besondere Unfallrisiken (z.B. beim Ein- und Ausstieg) bestehen, sind Unfälle keine Seltenheit. Hinzu kommen Personen, die die Betriebsabläufe stören, sich selbst gefährden (Suizidabsicht, Drogenkonsum, etc.) oder andere durch kriminelle oder in seltenen Fällen gar terroristisch motivierte Taten bedrohen.
4. Kundenbetreuung und Information
Sicherheitsmitarbeiter stehen den Fahrgästen als Ansprechpartner zur Verfügung, um Fragen zu beantworten, Hilfe anzubieten und Informationen über Fahrpläne, Routen und Sicherheitsvorkehrungen bereitzustellen. Sie fungieren als wichtige Schnittstelle zwischen dem Bahnunternehmen und den Passagieren. Das Sicherheitspersonal ist damit auch ein Aushängeschild für die Bahngesellschaft. Entsprechend wichtig ist hier professionelles Handeln. Etwaige Fehltritte können dank Smartphone und Social Media schnell überregional große Aufmerksamkeit erregen und damit das Unternehmen in ein schlechtes Licht rücken. „Schwarze Sheriffs“ sind daher fehl am Platze.
5. Schutz Kritischer Infrastruktur und spezielle Aufgaben
Das Bahnnetz und die damit verbundenen Einrichtungen (z.B. Datenkommunikation, Zugbeeinflussungssysteme, Energieversorgung) sind Teil der Kritischen Infrastruktur der Bundesrepublik Deutschland. Tagtäglich verlassen sich Millionen Menschen auf den sicheren Transport und sind von diesem abhängig. Sicherheitsmitarbeiter übernehmen daher auch in der Konzernsicherheit wesentliche Aufgaben wie z.B. im Bedrohungsmanagement, in der Sicherheitstechnik, in Sicherheitszentralen und in leitenden Funktionen. Spezielle Aufgabengebiete im Bereich der Bahnsicherheit können auch die Tätigkeit in mobilen Unterstützungsgruppen sein, z.B. wenn Veranstaltungen wie Fußballspiele stattfinden, die Überwachung von Streckenabschnitten mittels Drohnen oder der Dienst als Hundeführer. Die Bahnsicherheit ist also sehr vielfältig und kann wesentlich mehr umfassen als nur den klassischen Sicherheits- und Ordnungsdienst (SOD) mit der Bestreifung von Bahnhöfen.
6. Berichterstattung und Zusammenarbeit mit Behörden
Sicherheitsmitarbeiter sind verpflichtet, Vorfälle und verdächtige Aktivitäten zu dokumentieren und Berichte zu erstatten. Teilweise sind Bodycams im Einsatz, die die Situation auf Video aufzeichnen. Als Sicherheitsmitarbeiter in der Bahnsicherheit arbeiten Sie auch eng mit der Bundespolizei und anderen Sicherheitsbehörden zusammen, um zur Aufrechterhaltung der öffentlichen Sicherheit mit beizutragen. Gerade dieses Spannungsfeld aus Tätigkeit im Hausrechtsbereich und die Zusammenarbeit im Bereich der öffentlichen Sicherheit hat seinen Reiz, erfordert aber ein hohes Maß an Handlungssicherheit – auch in Bezug auf rechtliche Aspekte.
Gefahren und Risiken in der Bahnsicherheit
Die Arbeit in der Bahnsicherheit birgt – je nach Aufgabenbereich und Einsatzort – eine Reihe von Gefahren und Risiken, denen Sicherheitsmitarbeiter regelmäßig ausgesetzt sind:
1. Körperliche Gewalt und Aggression
Sicherheitsmitarbeiter können aggressiven oder gewalttätigen Passagieren gegenüberstehen, insbesondere in Konfliktsituationen oder bei der Durchsetzung von Sicherheitsmaßnahmen. Sie müssen in der Lage sein, mit solchen Situationen umzugehen und angemessen zu reagieren, ohne die Sicherheit anderer zu gefährden.
2. Risiko von Angriffen und Überfällen
Bahnhöfe und Züge sind oft belebte und öffentlich zugängliche Orte, an denen das Risiko von Überfällen, Diebstählen und anderen kriminellen Aktivitäten erhöht ist. Sicherheitsmitarbeiter müssen wachsam sein und proaktiv handeln, um solche Vorfälle zu verhindern oder zu unterbinden.
3. Gefahr von Terroranschlägen
Angesichts der aktuellen Sicherheitslage besteht auch die Gefahr terroristischer Anschläge auf Bahnhöfe oder Züge. Sicherheitsmitarbeiter müssen über entsprechende Schulungen und Protokolle verfügen, um auf verdächtige Aktivitäten hinzuweisen und im Ernstfall angemessen zu reagieren.
4. Arbeitsumgebung und Witterungsbedingungen
Die Arbeit in der Bahnsicherheit kann auch physische Herausforderungen mit sich bringen, wie z. B. das Arbeiten bei extremen Temperaturen, in engen oder überfüllten Räumen oder in abgelegenen Bereichen wie Bahnsteigen oder Tunneln.
Sturz- und Stolpergefahren sind alltäglich, im Bereich des Bahnverkehrs aber durchaus mit einem größeren Risiko verbunden als andernorts. Hinzu kommt neben der physischen Belastung (lange Laufwege, Schichtarbeit, etc.) auch durchaus eine psychische (Angst vor Übergriffen, Suizide, usw.). Last but not Least hat auch die Covid-19 Pandemie vor Augen geführt, wie schnell sich Viren und ansteckende Erreger ausbreiten können, wenn viele Menschen zusammen kommen.
Empfehlungen für Fähigkeiten und persönliche Eigenschaften
Um erfolgreich in der Bahnsicherheit zu arbeiten, sollten Sicherheitsmitarbeiter über folgende Fähigkeiten und persönliche Eigenschaften verfügen:
1. Kommunikationsfähigkeit
Gute und situationsgerechte Kommunikationsfähigkeiten sind entscheidend, um effektiv mit Passagieren, Kollegen und anderen Einsatzkräften zu interagieren. Sicherheitsmitarbeiter sollten in der Lage sein, klar und präzise zu kommunizieren und in Konfliktsituationen deeskalierend zu wirken.
2. Selbstbeherrschung und Stressresistenz
Da Sicherheitsmitarbeiter oft mit herausfordernden und potenziell gefährlichen Situationen konfrontiert sind, ist es wichtig, über ein hohes Maß an Selbstbeherrschung und Stressresistenz zu verfügen. Sie sollten in der Lage sein, ruhig zu bleiben und rational zu handeln, auch unter Druck und bei Provokationen.
3. Teamfähigkeit
Die Zusammenarbeit mit anderen Sicherheitsmitarbeitern, dem Bahnpersonal und der Bundespolizei ist unerlässlich für eine effektive Bahnsicherheit. Sicherheitsmitarbeiter sollten teamorientiert sein und gut in multidisziplinären Teams arbeiten können.
4. Verantwortungsbewusstsein und Integrität
Sicherheitsmitarbeiter tragen eine große Verantwortung für die Sicherheit von Passagieren und Eigentum. Sie sollten integer und verantwortungsbewusst handeln und sich an ethische Standards halten.
5. Körperliche Fitness und Ausdauer
Die Arbeit in der Bahnsicherheit erfordert oft körperliche Anstrengung und Ausdauer, insbesondere bei ausgedehnten Kontrollgängen und häufigen Schichtdiensten. Sicherheitsmitarbeiter sollten daher über eine angemessene körperliche Fitness und Belastbarkeit verfügen.
6. Fachkenntnisse, Schulungen und Erfahrung
Um die vielfältigen Aufgaben in der Bahnsicherheit effektiv ausführen zu können, ist es wichtig, über entsprechende Fachkenntnisse und Schulungen zu verfügen. In den meisten Positionen ist mindestens die Sachkundeprüfung nach § 34a GewO erforderlich. Auch eine Ausbildungen wie die zur Fachkraft für Schutz und Sicherheit ist gern gesehen und kann die Karriere voran bringen. Sicherheitsmitarbeiter sollten regelmäßig an Schulungen teilnehmen und sich über aktuelle Sicherheitsrisiken und ‑verfahren informieren. Zudem sollten wesentliche Fremdsprachenkenntnisse – zumindest in der englischen Sprache – vorhanden sein.
Wie komme ich konkret zu einem Job in der Bahnsicherheit?
Der größte Arbeitgeber in diesem Bereich ist die DB Sicherheit der Deutschen Bahn.
Wichtig ist die Sachkundeprüfung nach § 34a GewO, die man idealerweise bereits erfolgreich absolviert haben sollte. Außerdem kann die Bewerbung schneller zum Erfolg führen, wenn man neben den üblichen Bewerbungsunterlagen ein gültiges Ausweisdokument, eine Auflistung der Wohnadressen der letzten 5 Jahre sowie – wenn bereits vorhanden – seine Bewacher-ID aus dem Bewacherregister vorlegt. Im Regelfall sollte man über einen PKW-Führerschein (Klasse B) verfügen, im Schichtdienst arbeiten können, den Kontakt zu Menschen mögen, team- und kommunikationsfähig sein, die deutsche Sprache ausreichend beherrschen und idealerweise bereits erste Erfahrungen gesammelt habe. Die genauen Anforderungen findet man in der jeweiligen Job advertisement!
Bahnsicherheit 2030: Auch in Thema auf der Nürnberger Sicherheitskonferenz
Die Nürnberger Sicherheitskonferenz ist inzwischen eine feste Größe der Security-Fachmessen. Im Rahmen der 5. Nürnberger Sicherheitskonferenz mit dem Titel „SICHERHEIT 2030“, die am 10.04.2024 in der Nürnberger Meistersingerhalle stattfindet, wird Torsten Malt von der DB Sicherheit als Speaker auftreten. Sein Vortrag beschäftigt sich mit dem Schutz der Kritischen Infrastruktur am Beispiel der S‑Bahn München. Er will aufzeigen wie Sicherheit im Konzernverbund sowie im Verbund mit den Sicherheitsbehörden funktionieren kann und welche Herausforderungen sich dabei ergeben.
Mehr dazu unter www.nuernberger-sicherheitskonferenz.de und im Podcast für Schutz und Sicherheit:
It is true that working in the private security industry can be a tough job. Working conditions are really bad in some areas. However, the situation also varies significantly from company to company. It is not uncommon for a change to offer better career opportunities, the chance to gain new experience and a more comfortable working environment.
Step 1: Analyse the situation carefully!
It is important to know what the causes of their own dissatisfaction are and know your own motivators. Analyse the reasons for dissatisfaction: Identify exactly what makes you unhappy. Is it the working environment, the tasks, the team, the remuneration or the corporate culture? The better you understand the causes, the easier it will be to find a solution.
Often the private environment also plays a role or a change in personal needs. Therefore, also consider these aspects in your analysis!
Step 2: Think through your options and weigh them up!
A next step would be a Brainstorming and research regarding the options available: What are my chances? How high are the risks? What happens if…? etc.
Many of the following options cost No money, only overcoming. However, some options are quite time-consuming and cost-intensive or even lengthy.
Find out about your rights: Make sure you are aware of your rights as an employee in the private security industry. This includes things like minimum wage, working time laws, holiday entitlements and overtime rules. If you know your rights, you can ensure that your employer respects them.
Talk to your employer: If you are dissatisfied with your pay or working conditions, you should tell your employer. Perhaps an open discussion can help bring about improvements. Perhaps your employer can also offer you opportunities to train or specialise to improve your career prospects and opportunities.
Change the field of activity (within the company): The private security industry is multifaceted. Many private security providers offer different services. Maybe another field is better suited for you. Talk to your supervisor about it, apply internally for another job. Sometimes an internal transfer to another area of responsibility helps.
Join the union: In Germany, there are trade unions that stand up for the rights of workers — for the guarding service, this is the Vereinte Dienstleistungsgewerkschaft (ver.di). If you become a member, you can benefit from their collective bargaining power and fight together with other workers for better working conditions and higher wages.
Search for further training opportunities: If you continue your education or specialise, you can improve your career prospects and often earn significantly higher wages. Think about what additional qualifications could be helpful for your job and look for appropriate training opportunities. You will have more options for action afterwards and be more in demand.
Network with othersMany job opportunities come about through recommendations and personal contacts. In addition, contact with others offers the opportunity to exchange experiences. If you have a strong network, this can help one gain new perspectives. In addition to personal exchange, online platforms such as Xing or Linkedin are recommended.
Look for another employer: If all the above steps do not lead to improvements, it may be wise to look for another employer. There are certainly companies in the private security industry that offer better working conditions and higher wages.
Last but not least: Do it better and start your own business! Of course, this step should be very well thought out. It is often an option to become self-employed on the side and thus start gradually with less risk. However, remember that your previous employer must play along. One possibility could be, for example, freelance work as a lecturer in the security industry.
Step 3: Set your personal goals!
Only if you know as precisely as possible what you want to achieve can you work towards it in a concrete way. In order to motivate oneself, it is very sensible to Write down and visualise your own goals. It can also be helpful to use the so-called SMART rule to set one’s own goals.
The SMART rule is an acronym used as a guide for the Formulation of clear and well-defined goals serves. It helps to formulate goals in such a way that they are realistic and achievable. The SMART rule stands for the following criteria:
Specific (Specific): The goal should be clearly and precisely formulated so that there is little room for interpretation and one is fully aware of one’s goal.
Measurable (Measurable): The goal should be measurable so that progress can be monitored and success objectively assessed. It can be defined by quantitative or qualitative indicators.
Executable (Achievable): The goal should be achievable. It should be challenging but achievable by you with the means available.
Realistic (Realistic): The goal should be realistic, i.e. it should be possible to implement it as intended under the actual given framework conditions.
Terminated (Time-bound): The goal should have a clear time frame by when it should be achieved. A clear deadline promotes motivation and focus on achieving the goal.
Here is an example of a goal formulated according to the SMART rule:
Non-SMART goal: I want to earn more money.
SMART goal: I would like to increase my monthly income by 20% by completing a further training course to become a certified protection and security worker in the next six months and then being employed by my employer directly.
By applying the SMART rule, the goal becomes concrete, measurable, achievable, relevant and has a clear timeframe. This increases the likelihood that you will successfully achieve your goal.
Step 4: Make a “battle plan” to achieve your goals!
Now it’s time for implementation planning. Plan the measures that contribute to your goals, e.g.:
When do I talk to my boss about better pay? Ask for a talk, send appointment suggestions!
What do other companies offer? Research job offers!
What do I earn after further training? Check the collective agreement that applies to you!
How much time can I set aside to further my education? Talk to your partner about your plans!
Does my idea for self-employment work? Work out a business plan!
How much will upgrading training cost me? Find out about costs and state subsidies!
How have other colleagues done it? Network and exchange ideas!
It often makes sense to approach different approaches in parallel and also to have a plan B (and plan C). Prioritise your goals! Link the different actions to your goals. Make calendar entries and work in a focused way to achieve intermediate goals and milestones!
Don’t let setbacks throw you off track! Stay persistent, focused and positive!
I hope that these tips will help you to improve your individual situation.
In the private security sector, shift work, night work and work on holidays are common working conditions. Security guards often perform challenging work to ensure the safety of facilities, events and people. Unfortunately the Wages in this sector often in the low-wage sector for example, in the separate security service. If hours are unexpectedly lost, e.g. because the employer loses an important contract, and the monthly target working time is not reached because of this (or for other reasons), it can become financially dicey as a 34a security guard. This article looks at the reasons that lead to the cancellation of working days and shows the possibilities that one then has as a security employee.
What are possible reasons why my employer schedules me on fewer assignment days?
First of all, the security company’s point of view should also be briefly examined at this point. The fact that you are on the duty roster less often has in most cases (hopefully) nothing to do with you personally, but has operational reasons. If these are explained transparently by the employer and you can understand them, this offers a better starting point for a solution to the problem that can be supported by both sides. It is possible, however, that this will lead to a change of employment or to you starting to look for a new job. Or maybe the “lean period” is only short and you can compensate for the hours by working extra hours in the following month or the employer accommodates you in some other way.
Here are ten possible reasons why your employer might want to reduce your working hours:
Lower customer demand: There could be less demand for security services, leading to a reduction in the number of man-hours needed.
Economic slowdown: It is possible that the economic situation has deteriorated, leading to resource constraints and cost savings.
Changes in the business strategy: Your employer may have changed its business strategy, leading to an adjustment of human resources.
Staff rotation: Possibly rotate staff to give all staff the opportunity to work and to distribute working hours more equitably.
Seasonal fluctuations: Working hours could be subject to seasonal fluctuations, for example if less security staff is needed in certain months.
Changes in contracts with clients: It is possible that contracts with clients have changed and this leads to a reduction in the volume of work.
Legal restrictions: There could be (new) legal restrictions, such as maximum limits for working hours or rest periods between shifts. Or the existing requirements (e.g. from the Working Hours Act) are now better followed up.
Company holidays or seasonal company breaksYour employer may have decided to reduce working hours during certain periods, such as company holidays or seasonal breaks (from customers). Also, for example, the Covid pandemic had caused temporary dislocation within the industry.
Internal company restructuring: Your employer may carry out internal restructuring leading to a reassessment of working hours and resource allocation.
What options do I have if my employer assigns me to less work?
Of course, it is not worth arguing about one or two hours. However, a loss of 20, 30, 40 per cent or even more hours is a big deal, because you also have to make a living. If your boss removes you from the duty roster, assigns you to significantly fewer shifts than usual and you don’t work your hours — then you have the following options:
Check employment contract! That is the most important point. As a rule, what is decisive is what has been agreed in your employment contract. For example, if it says “full-time”, the employer is obliged to employ you accordingly. What is meant by full-time is usually regulated in the respective collective agreement. Often a specific number of hours is also agreed. If, for example, 170 hours per month are contractually stipulated in your employment contract, this number of hours must be adhered to (apart from minor fluctuations, e.g. due to sick cover).
Consult the duty roster! Duty scheduling in security services, e.g. in factory security, is often done on the basis of a fixed shift rhythm. In this way, it is possible to plan roughly in advance — of course with a certain degree of uncertainty (e.g. due to eternal outstanding holiday planning). However, the actual duty roster for the following month is decisive: If it states 20 shifts, for example, then you are entitled to work this number of shifts. Once a duty roster has been published, it may only be changed again after consultation with the employees.
Seek dialogue and actively offer work performance! Many things can be clarified through communication. Seek to talk to your supervisor and reach a consensus. Important: Communicate that you do not agree with the changes and explicitly offer your work performance! Your employer is obliged to give you the work according to the existing employment contract, you provide your work performance according to the contract.
Your employer does not react? Send a written reminder! Inform your employer in writing about the aspects mentioned above. The written form is important so that you have proof. Set a deadline for your boss, but continue to be polite and cooperative. After all, you usually want to continue working for your employer.
If nothing helps: complain! If all else fails, the employer does not react and talks (possibly also with the works council) have not led to success, the only option is to take legal action before the labour court.
Security guards play an important role in the private security industry and are often the first point of contact for customers and visitors. If you are a security guard looking for a new job, a successful application can make the difference between success and failure. The chances are quite good due to the situation on the labour market. It is also called an employee market — meaning: there are hardly enough qualified applicants for the current vacancies. You have — depending of course on some factors like your education and the desired place of work — in principle a good choice!
In this article we will give you tips and advice on how to successfully apply and find your dream job in the private security industry.
10 application tips for security guards in the private security sector
Create a meaningful cover letter
The cover letter is the first impression you make on a potential employer. It is important that you take time to create a strong cover letter that highlights your experience, skills and motivation. Make sure you tailor the cover letter to the company and the security job advertised and that you find out about the company and its activities.
Update your CV
Your CV is your most important application document and should showcase your work experience, skills and qualifications. Update your CV before you apply and make sure it is clear and easy to read. Use bullet points and clear formatting to highlight important information. Also include what training and certifications you have completed and what experience you have had in the security industry. Provide your certificates of competency, references and any training certificates. Do not include Fake documents and convince you with a professional correct expression.
Emphasise your skills and experience
As a security guard, you should be able to quickly recognise dangerous situations and react to them appropriately. In your application, emphasise your skills and experience in the field of security and make sure to highlight your competences in the areas of communication, conflict resolution and de-escalation. However, do not exaggerate, e.g. by eccentrically sprawling narratives of your past exploits as a security employee!
Be prepared for the interview
An interview is your chance to present your best side and convince the employer of your skills. Prepare for the interview by reading up on the company, preparing questions and thinking about the answers you would give. Make sure you are on time and well prepared for the interview and that you clearly present your qualifications and experience.
Stay positive and confident
As a security guard, it is important that you appear positive and confident. Be confident in your skills and experience and convey to your potential employer that you are the best choice for the job. Remain professional and polite throughout the application process and make sure you leave a positive impression. At this point, please do not badmouth your old or previous employer. This does not make a good impression and the management staff in the private security industry are often better connected than you think!
Use your network
Use your professional network to find potential employers and learn about job openings. Talk to former colleagues, supervisors and other contacts in the security industry and ask for recommendations or information about vacancies. Online platforms such as LinkedIn or XING can also help you find potential employers and make contacts. You can also indicate there that you are open to offers. Sometimes headhunters also get in touch who can be helpful in finding jobs.
Be flexible and open to new challenges
In the private security industry, there are a variety of tasks and positions that require different skills and experience. Be flexible and open to new challenges and check whether you are suitable for other positions or tasks. You may be able to contribute your skills and experience better in another position or be interested in a new challenge.
Present yourself professionally
As a security guard, you are the company’s figurehead and should therefore present yourself in a professional manner. Make sure that you wear appropriate clothing and make a well-groomed impression at job interviews or other professional occasions. Also pay attention to your body language and appearance and make sure you communicate politely and professionally.
Do not shy away from high demands
A maximum of 20 years and 10 years of professional experience — of course that’s not possible. Employers often write quite a few requirements in the job advertisements. Don’t be afraid of this, but be honest if you don’t (yet) meet a requirement. You can still gain experience in your new job, you can improve your foreign language skills by taking courses on the side (e.g. at the adult education centre) and you can make up for missing additional training. Employers are often more flexible than you think, especially if it is otherwise a good (human) fit!
Keep your eye on the ball and don’t be afraid of setbacks!
Landing a direct hit on your first application and getting your dream job is the exception rather than the rule. Don’t be afraid if you don’t succeed with your first application, but try again somewhere else. Often it is helpful to ask for open feedback about why you did not make it to the shortlist or to have professional application training, where your application documents are also reviewed and optimised. Just stay on the ball here, subscribe to relevant job offers on job portals. You will then be automatically notified when new vacancies arise in your search radius.
Conclusion
A successful application in the private security industry requires time, effort and commitment. Use the tips above to optimise your application and find your dream job. Stay on the ball and continue your education. Compare job offers and try to sell yourself in the best possible way. Be confident, flexible and professional and show your potential employer that you are the perfect choice for the job.
Talking around it is useless. One thing is clear: The traditional security industry is a low-wage sector!
Nevertheless: the security industry offers variety, responsible, exciting and also quiet jobs. And if you’re smart, you can make ends meet. But — what do you earn as a security guard with a certificate of competence?
What matters when it comes to earnings in the security industry…
If you decide to work in the private security sector or are looking for a new employer, the financial aspects certainly play a major role. There are several factors that contribute to a good hourly wage. The most important aspects for a more attractive salary are listed below.
Level of education and training
Obviously, the better trained you are, the higher your earning potential. As an unskilled security guard only with training according to § 34a GewO, you will very often not be paid much more than the minimum wage. With the expert knowledge examination, you can achieve a good bit more basic hourly wage with manageable effort.. You can go even further with further training to become a certified protection and security worker or with training to become a specialist for protection and security. Incidentally, the minimum wage nationwide has been 12.43 euros per hour since 1 January 2023. The increase to 13 euros per hour from 1 April 2023 has already been decided.
Additional qualifications
Additional qualifications, for example in first aid or fire protection (e.g. as a fire protection assistant), are very helpful and increase the market value of security staff. These do not always have a direct effect on the hourly wage, but they are always a plus point in job applications. Additional qualifications include the following:
Fire safety helper
Evacuation helper
Lift rescue (rescue of persons from lifts)
Intervention force
NSL specialist
Safety Officer (Occupational Safety)
Hygiene/Health Officer
Basic knowledge course in radiation protection and decontamination
Weapons expertise examination
Intercultural skills and knowledge of foreign languages, especially at least basic English, should also not be underestimated.
Activity
The security industry has many facets and therefore the activities that security workers perform are also very diverse. Accordingly, there are sometimes serious wage differences. Security activities such as separate guards and simple guarding activities are often rather poorly paid. Jobs that require special skills often pay well. For example in the Aviation security, in the range Cash and valuables transport, during the activity in nuclear facilities, in which Underground and suburban railway guarding or as an NSL specialist in Emergency call and service control centres the earnings are often significantly higher than the industry average. The exact amount of the wage for the job can be found in the Collective agreements take from them. If they have been declared generally binding, which is usually the case, they apply to all employees. (It is best to add the federal state to the Google search to narrow down the results).
Working hours
Anyone who is already active in the industry and works in shifts knows it: Often, biorhythms and private life suffer from the changing working hours. However, working night shifts, Sundays and public holidays often offers decisive financial advantages. Depending on the federal state/collective agreement, the following benefits can be earned Night, Sunday and public holiday surcharges that are well worth seeing. What’s more, these tax-free! On public holidays in many places 100% Surcharge possiblei.e. in addition to the actual daily wage, you receive the same amount again — but tax-free! Viewed over the month, depending of course on the amount of night, Sunday and public holiday hours, the following can be achieved Several hundred euros on top earn. Especially around the turn of the year or at Easter, this can be a lucrative affair.
Overtime/overtime
Overtime is, of course, a partial aspect of working hours. Nevertheless, I would like to devote a separate point to this aspect here. Why? Because experience shows that a lot of overtime is worked in the security sector, often much more than is legally permissible and with too few breaks between assignments. Think carefully about whether you want to go along with this and should actually work 200, 220, 240 or even more hours per month. My tip at this point would be to invest in further education and not to trade so much time for money: Memento Mori — your lifetime is also limited. Set priorities and make a good decision for you, also for your future.
State
As in other industries, there is a West-East divide in the private security sector. In the past, these wage differences were really glaring. Security workers in Berlin earned in some areas not even half of those who worked in Bavaria. As a rule, the best-paid federal states include Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg and North Rhine-Westphalia. Among the lowest paid are still the new federal states, for example Brandenburg or Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Just a few years ago, one could barely keep one’s head above water with a job as a security guard in the East German states. However, the minimum wage and the gradual convergence of collective agreements are increasingly putting the differences into perspective. In addition, one should not forget that where people earn more, they usually earn less. Cost of living (especially rents) are higher. So think carefully — if you are toying with the idea — whether a move is really worth it for you.
Industry
Many people think of security service jobs in the classic way, as the security company that as a service provider external customers. Whereas in the past, veteran employees in factories came to the plant security service towards the end of their working lives to spend the last years of their careers doing less strenuous work, the situation has changed considerably nowadays. Professional, external security service providers look after a large number of companies from business and industry or the public sector as clients. But they still exist, despite the decades-long trend towards outsourcing. The Internal plant security. Especially in industry, property and plant protection activities are when you are directly employed by the manufacturing company, very well paid. Der Grund hierfür ist, dass Sie nach dem Branchentarif bezahlt werden, dem die Masse der Belegschaft angehört. Werfen Sie einen Blick in die Rate tables for the metal and electrical industry! These monthly salaries are in a different league.
Allowances
Allowances regulated by collective agreement are usually paid for guard/shift leaders, for dog handlers or in certain facilities such as military properties. Likewise, there are often allowances for on-call duties, e.g. for (additional) work in the plant fire brigade. These range from a few cents per hour up to over 10% more pay. In Bavaria, there is also slightly more money if you work in the greater Munich area.
Security companies or their clients also sometimes pay Voluntary (revocable) allowances. Manchmal gibt es auch Einmal-Prämien für besonders erfolgreiche Einsätze oder für herausragende Arbeitsleistungen. Leider sind diese Art Zulagen aber eher die Ausnahme. Immer häufiger vorzufinden ist aber eine Wechselprämie, also so eine Art „Begrüßungsgeld“. Das allein sollte aber aber nicht unbedingt der alleinige Grund für einen Arbeitgeberwechsel sein.
Concrete numbers
You would like to know concrete figures?
If you have read the article up to this point, you will realise that this is difficult, as it can depend on a number of factors such as the federal state, the job, the working hours and their (additional) qualifications. Nevertheless, a concrete example:
Monthly salary in the separate guard service with IHK specialist knowledge examination in 2023 in Bavaria:
14,00 Euro per hour
180 hours per month
thereof
12h holiday
16h Sunday
60h night
This results in approx. 2520 euros of taxable income (gross) and just under 420 euros of tax-free supplements.With income tax class 1 and no children, a single person thus receives approx. 2170 Euro net transferred. However, this calculation is for illustrative purposes only. Your actual salary paid out may depend on numerous factors!
Hint: This article was last updated in February 2023. As there are regular adjustments to both the minimum wage and collective agreement regulations, the framework conditions may have changed in the meantime! (All information without guarantee.)
Both Jörg Zitzmann as well as Kai Deliomini are very well known in the private security industry.
Among other things, both are represented in IHK examination committees in the field of protection and security, are active as authors of books for the preparation of the expert knowledge examination and are represented with many helpful videos on YouTube and in podcasts.
With not infrequent failure rates between 30 and 50%, the question naturally arises: What’s the reason?
Some factors for success or failure are obvious. Some problems can be solved quickly and easily, some simply require intensive learning, practice and perseverance. Before I go on to point out what I consider to be the main (mis)success factors, here is the very interesting conversation between Jörg Zitzmann and Kai Deliomini on YouTube:
My top 5 reasons why so many people fail the written and oral IHK specialist knowledge examination
From my experience, the following factors are the main reasons for failure with the “34a-licence”:
Lack of motivation / lack of interest
Many participants do not see any added value in the exam. They have no real interest in the content, so they don’t want to learn at all. This is particularly pronounced among people who are “sent” by their employer or the employment agency and are not actually interested in the private security sector at all. But even if the participation itself is of their own accord: The examination is often not seen as an opportunity but as a necessary evil. Lack of motivation and interest, however, are diametrically opposed to exam success.
No sufficient preparation of the content
Some people take the exam lightly. Multiple-choice questions with pre-set answers to tick off and only 50% necessary correct answers to pass — what could go wrong, you ask yourself. But far from it. The legal topics in particular are tough. In addition, there is excitement, especially in the oral exam, and questions where you may have to think a little outside the box. If you don’t have the necessary knowledge and thus the confidence to act, you will quickly be eliminated. Comprehensive preparation is the be-all and end-all for exam success!
Insufficient knowledge of German
A lot has already been asked and said about German language skills. One thing is certain: many people who work in the security sector are not native speakers of German. Multilingualism is often important for the job, but so is sufficient knowledge of German. This is because the examination is offered exclusively in German and you must also be able to communicate confidently in German in your everyday work as a security guard. Legal texts are written in difficult language, “officialese” is usually just as difficult to understand, and the exam questions sometimes depend on individual words that can change the meaning in one direction or another or provide hints for solutions.
Structure and manner of the examination are unclear
Many people are not completely clear about the framework conditions of the exam. But only if you know which topics are important and how, and how the exam is structured, can you prepare for it specifically and efficiently. For example, there are topics that you can quickly get over, which can usually be answered with common sense. Some topics, on the other hand, count twice and some require more intensive study. In addition, there are empirical values for the oral examination and tactical tips for working through test questions, which should be conveyed by a competent lecturer or author, for example.
Difficult individual conditions
Of course, people are different. Everyone has different personal prerequisites and the general conditions (e.g. family obligations, free time for learning, learning environment, etc.) also play a significant role in success and failure. You may also know people who can memorise things with a “quick glance” and recall this knowledge at the snap of a finger. Others, on the other hand, find this significantly more difficult. Some people also have no problem at all speaking in front of others in an exam situation, most are naturally tense, some participants suffer downright from exam anxiety.
Ask yourself to what extent the points above apply to you, how you can avoid mistakes in your preparation and compensate for any deficits. You can find more information on this right here in the subject knowledge information portal numerous tips and Links to other sites or media such as YouTube.
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