Resources
Post a Job
 Special offer 

Jumpstart your hiring with a £100 credit to sponsor your first job.*

Sponsored Jobs posted directly on Indeed are 65% more likely to report a hire than non-sponsored jobs**
  • Visibility for hard-to-fill roles through branding and urgently hiring
  • Instantly source candidates through matching to expedite your hiring
  • Access skilled candidates to cut down on mismatched hires
*The £100 Sponsored Job credit offer is only available for new accounts in the UK that post a job and expires one year after account creation. Upon expiration of the credit, users are charged based on Sponsored Job budget. Terms, conditions and quality standards apply **Indeed data, United Kingdom, Q2 2024

Security Officer Interview Questions

Edited by Indeed Employer Content Team
Our mission

Indeed’s Employer Resource Library helps businesses grow and manage their workforce. With over 15,000 articles in 6 languages, we offer tactical advice, how-tos and best practices to help businesses hire and retain great employees.

Read our editorial guidelines

Whether you are preparing to interview a candidate or applying for a job, review our list of top Security Officer interview questions and answers.

  1. What makes you the best security officer for this role? See answer
  2. How would you remove a dangerous individual from a building? See answer
  3. Can you describe a difficult situation you faced and how you handled it? See answer
  4. What are your strengths as a security officer? See answer
  5. How familiar are you with security systems? See answer
  6. Do you have any medical or CPR training? See answer
  7. As a security officer, what industries have you worked in? See answer
  8. How do you stay alert and attentive during a shift? See answer
  9. How would you prevent theft or vandalism? See answer
  10. Imagine a fellow security officer was slacking off on the job. What would you do? See answer
  11. As a security officer, how would you handle a security emergency? See answer
  12. Are you comfortable working flexible hours? See answer
  13. Can you describe a situation when you worked with the police during investigations? See answer
  14. How would you spend your downtime at this job? See answer
  15. Imagine there’s an emergency on the fifth floor and guests on the first floor. What would you do?
Show more questions Show fewer questions

Ready to get started?

Post a job

Ready to get started?

Post a job
Our mission

Indeed’s Employer Resource Library helps businesses grow and manage their workforce. With over 15,000 articles in 6 languages, we offer tactical advice, how-tos and best practices to help businesses hire and retain great employees.

Read our editorial guidelines

15 Security Officer Interview Questions and Answers

What makes you the best security officer for this role?

This question evaluates a candidate's experience, attributes, and education. A good candidate understands the importance of obeying laws and gets along with other security officers. They should mention a skill or personality trait that sets them apart from others. What to look for in an answer:

  • Experience as a security officer
  • Attributes that make a candidate stand out
  • Desire to protect people and their properties

Example:

"My education, training, and personality traits make me the best candidate for this role. I have three years of work experience as a police officer. At my last position, I completed several training programmes and earned a permit to work as a security officer. I have excellent decision-making skills and keen attention to detail."

How would you remove a dangerous individual from a building?

Security officers often face difficult situations at work. This question aims to find out whether a candidate knows the proper procedure for removing dangerous individuals. What to look for in an answer:

  • Problem-solving and decision-making skills
  • Understanding of when to contact law enforcement
  • Risk mitigation skills

Example:

"If I noticed someone behaving dangerously, I'd immediately approach them and ask the person to leave the building. If they were uncooperative and still showing threatening behaviours, I'd call for more security officers. I'd contact police officers if I noticed the issue might escalate."

Can you describe a difficult situation you faced and how you handled it?

Depending on your industry, security officers face various difficulties, such as trespassers and thieves. This question enables you to evaluate a candidate's risk mitigation skills. An excellent applicant would explain the steps they took and the situation's results. What to look for in an answer:

  • Ability to remain calm under pressure
  • Decision-making skills
  • Proactiveness

Example:

"At my last job, an armed person was approaching the hotel through the service entrance. I identified them before they showed their gun and quickly alerted guests to stay in their rooms. My colleague notified police officers in the area of the situation. We locked all other entrances and trapped the armed person in the lobby until the police officers arrived. No guest was injured in the process."

What are your strengths as a security officer?

This question helps you understand how a candidate views themselves. A promising candidate is confident in their skills and can handle the security officer role effectively. What to look for in an answer:

  • Self-awareness
  • Ability to assess their skills
  • Understanding of how to keep an area safe and secure

Example:

"My ability to follow security procedures is my greatest strength. I diligently learned the policies of every company I worked for in the past. I also took several criminal justice courses to learn about my rights and responsibilities as a security officer. I believe my strengths would help make this environment safe for everyone, and I look forward to working in your organisation."

How familiar are you with security systems?

Security officers must know how to use security systems to keep everyone safe. This question aims to find out a candidate's experience using different security systems. What to look for in an answer:

  • Knowledge of how different security systems work
  • Attitude to learning
  • Drive to keep people safe

Example:

"In my last security officer role, I monitored security cameras to prevent home invasions. I'm also familiar with how wireless security alarm systems work. I believe security systems complement my work as a security officer."

Do you have any medical or CPR training?

This question helps you determine whether a candidate knows how to respond to medical emergencies. What to look for in an answer:

  • Relevant medical or CPR training
  • Knowledge of how to respond to emergencies
  • Desire to keep people safe

Example:

"I'm trained in CPR by the Canadian Red Cross. I've also attended first aid training programmes by non-governmental organisations. These medical training sessions helped me administer CPR at my last job when a guest suddenly stopped breathing."

As a security officer, what industries have you worked in?

Working as a security officer at a music festival is quite different from securing an office building. By asking this question, you can determine whether a candidate's experience is relevant to your industry. What to look for in an answer:

  • Experience in various industries
  • Lessons learned from experience
  • Desire to keep people safe as a security officer

Example:

"I worked as a security officer for a company in the oil and gas industry. I also worked in the entertainment industry as a nightclub security officer for three years. I learned how to control crowds and developed conflict-resolution skills that I'd love to apply to this job."

How do you stay alert and attentive during a shift?

Depending on your organisation, a security officer may need to work long hours or late shifts. This question helps you assess a candidate's strategies to stay alert and carry out their duties effectively. What to look for in an answer:

  • Effective strategies to stay alert and attentive
  • Ability to stay calm
  • Understanding of the importance of staying alert

Example:

"Before I start my shifts, I make sure I brew a cup of coffee. I also do jumping jacks when I notice my attention is declining. Short bursts of exercise keep me focused. I also stretch to stay alert and stay hydrated."

How would you prevent theft or vandalism?

Preventing theft and vandalism is an important aspect of a security officer's job. By asking this question, you can determine how a candidate would keep your organisation's property safe. What to look for in an answer:

  • Effective strategies to prevent vandalism and theft
  • Ability to remain calm under pressure
  • Proactiveness and practical decision-making skills

Example:

"I'd patrol the area to check for signs of vandals. If your organisation had remote monitoring equipment, I'd use its live stream to keep an eye on the area. I'd also concentrate on high-risk environments and limit access to unauthorised personnel. If I found a vandal, I'd secure the property first before escorting them off the property."

Imagine a fellow security officer was slacking off on the job. What would you do?

This question aims to find out whether a candidate would influence other security officers to remain alert and attentive. What to look for in an answer:

  • Ability to resolve the situation calmly
  • Excellent interpersonal skills
  • Sense of accountability

Example:

"If I noticed my fellow security guarding slacking off, I'd politely reach out to them. I'd remind the security personnel that maintaining your facility's security is our responsibility. I'd also encourage them to be more attentive. If I noticed their behaviour continued, I'd politely inform our supervisor about the situation. I understand that the actions of one security officer can affect those of others."

As a security officer, how would you handle a security emergency?

Security officers often have to respond to emergencies, such as fires, bomb threats, or natural disasters. This question tests a candidate's ability to make good decisions. What to look for in a candidate's answer:

  • Ability to remain calm under pressure
  • Practical decision-making skills
  • Knowledge of risk mitigation strategies

Example:

"An emergency is a serious occurrence that happens unexpectedly. As a security officer, I respond immediately to emergencies. If it required special training to handle, I'd ask for help from a professional. Otherwise, I'd first try to understand what occurred before acting swiftly to deal with the situation. I'd make sure I inform everyone and try to keep them safe."

Are you comfortable working flexible hours?

The goal of this question is to find out what days a candidate is available to work. It also enables you to discover whether a security officer is flexible about the start and end hours during those days. What to look for in an answer:

  • Experience working flexible hours as a security officer
  • Ability to adapt to your organisation's work culture
  • Drive to keep people safe

Example:

"I understand that you're looking for a security officer who can work regular shifts. I'm available to work regular nine-to-five hours Monday through Friday. I'm also open to working a few hours during the weekends and holidays. If you need my services during busy periods, especially when you have several guests, I'd be happy to come to work."

Can you describe a situation when you worked with the police during investigations?

Security officers often need to collabourate with police officers during investigations. The goal of this question is to learn more about a candidate's experience. What to look for in an answer:

  • Teamwork skills
  • Actions performed and results obtained
  • Keen attention to detail and desire to keep everyone safe

Example:

"At my last job, a guest stole a piece of electrical equipment and the hotel's receptionists and cleaners couldn't identify them. So, I offered to help the police with their investigations. I gave an accurate description of the guest and mentioned their location because I talked to them earlier. The information I provided helped the police apprehend the guest, and they returned the electrical equipment to the hotel."

Imagine there's an emergency on the fifth floor and guests on the first floor. What would you do?

The purpose of this question is to determine whether a candidate would make good decisions under pressure. What to look for in an answer:

  • Critical-thinking skills
  • Ability to work under pressure
  • Ability to make good decisions

Example:

"The emergency on the fifth floor would be my priority. However, I wouldn't want guests on the first floor to panic. I'd reassure them that the security team would take care of the issue before going upstairs to deal with the emergency. If the emergency could affect guests on the first floor, I'd direct them to a safe area first."

How would you spend your downtime at this job?

Depending on your organisation, a security officer may have a lot of downtime, especially during the night. They may also have little to do when there are no security threats. The goal of this question is to find out what a candidate would be doing during these periods. It also reveals whether the activity would reduce their ability to respond swiftly whenever required. What to look for in an answer:

  • Effective strategies to stay alert
  • Productive ways to spend downtime
  • Positive attitude to work

Example:

"During my downtime, I'd review your company's employee handbook and think of how I'd react to certain situations. I'd also stay hydrated and avoid distractions. I understand you need a security officer who is always prepared and proactive. I believe I'm the right candidate for this role."

Three individuals are sitting at a table with a laptop, a disposable coffee cup, notebooks, and a phone visible. Two are facing each other, while the third’s back is to the camera. The setting appears to be a bright room with large windows.

Ready to get started?

Post a job

Explore Interview Questions by Title

No search results found

    Related articles

    How to conduct a job interview
    Read article
    Best practices for virtual interviews
    Read article
    How to write a candidate rejection email
    Read article