Bodyguard Careers

Bodyguard Careers is an informational site with the purpose of providing bodyguards with all the information and tools necessary to succeed in the executive protection industry.

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Your First Advance

Career Advice, Doc Rogers

By Doc Rogers

Background: The detail leader is responsible for having advance work (reconnaissance) carried out. He assigns an advance man to gather all pertinent information of the threats and obtain information of the environment in which the client will visit. For the new advance man this may seem like a daunting task. Advance work in general, is technical and highly specialized service. The following recommendations will assist you in accomplishing your first advance work duties with few difficulties, however timely planning is necessary.

Objectives: Your objective as the advance man is to gain foreknowledge, acquired by going to each location in advance to evaluate, analyze and obtain all available information related to the client’s visit to reduce vulnerabilities and improve logistics so the executive protection team members can successfully accomplish their mission.  You are to reduce to a minimum all uncertainties and setup security measures regarding the client’s visit at each location he or she will physically visit. The security measures you setup as the advance man are both active and passive, designed to insure the safeguarding of the client and to prevent needless delays, confusion, etc.

Action: While on advance work duties you do not have time to dillydally. Advance work involves rapid assessment and analysis of current information and prompt delivery of the the advance work you have produced to the detail leader. The advance man must obtain many sources of mission appropriate information in five categories:

Arrivals: Evaluate for security and comfort of movement for the client at entry airports, hotels, venues and safe havens.

Departures: Evaluate for security and ease of movement for the client at exit airports, hotels, venues and safe havens.

Venues: Evaluate for safety and security, movement for rapid evacuation if necessary and client comfort.

Routes: Evaluate for quickest safest and most favorable client vehicular movements; to include secondary routes, travel estimates in time and miles. Learn the status of all routes and avoid those frequently used by criminals. You should include a route map as a source of information for the detail leader for pinpointing all vital locations.

Safe Havens:  Evaluate and setup rally points in case of incident or medical emergency. The safe havens must have favorable safety conditions, excellent communication systems, available 24/7 and with positively identified friendly personnel preferably armed and provide good fortification. Embassies, hospitals, police stations, military facilities and other suitable areas must be carefully evaluated.

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Going After the Bodyguard Jobs

Doc Rogers, Featured Articles

Bodyguard Jobs: By Doc Rogers

You’ve been to a descent bodyguard academy already, but still have not gotten work in the trade.  You don’t need any more classes or specialized bodyguard workshops at this stage. This does not mean you will not continue to hone your craft. However, at present you need to go directly for what you need – go after the bodyguard jobs.

• Get directly in touch with the people doing the hiring.

• Let these people know you exist.

• Bring yourself to their attention to get hired.

• Demonstrate the value you bring to the table.

To demonstrate the value you hold by presenting a professional résumé. One that is well written and shows good training and work experience; hire a professional. If you are new to the trade and don’t have any background experience, show how your past employment has been a stepping stone and how it relates to you in becoming a professional bodyguard. Stress your bodyguard academy training and the additional assets you’ve learned. This will certainly demonstrate your value.

Next, is the old standby networking; I know you’ve been told this over and over, but have you really tried professional networking? Professional networking is one of the most important actions you can take in the bodyguard trade.  It is vital to your success in the industry. Owners of executive protection, VIP protection, close protection and professional bodyguard company’s must network.  For them to maintain success they network with other professionals in the trade to find agents for new assignments, to obtain new resources and contacts.  They have no choice, same goes for you. Look at every opportunity as a networking event.  You have to know the professionals who do the hiring in the bodyguard trade, because they hire the people they know in their network.

In order to get Bodyguards jobs, bodyguards need to start promoting, advertising and marketing themselves because they are the product. Nobody will hire you if they don’t know you exist this should be done in a discreet and professional manner. This includes sending out résumés, passing out professional business cards and again networking with industry leaders and senior veterans of the trade on the social media and bodyguard jobs  sites.  However, before you do any of these activities you must believe in yourself and the value you bring to the table.  Get out and make contact, show ambition; let people know that you are a contender.  Keep safe and God speed.

 

Success vs. Failure in the Bodyguard Trade

Career Advice, Doc Rogers

By Doc Rogers

Everyday more and more people enter the bodyguard and executive protection industry. However, only a few land lucrative assignments and go on to have successful careers.  What do all successful professional bodyguard and executive protection specialists have in common?

  • Successful professionals see opportunity where others see disappointment.
  • Successful professionals focus on a positive path within the bodyguard industry.
  • Bodyguards that made it big in the industry worked on what they love to do rather than only making money. They knew that money would eventually follow from working on their dreams and aspirations.
  • Successful bodyguards take responsibility for their own life and livelihood.

To become a success in the bodyguard and executive protection trade you have to start thinking and acting different. This means changing your patterns, activities, and your thoughts.

First off, you are going to need to present yourself in a professional manner and do a complete makeover if necessary. The better you look and feel about yourself, the better chances for success.

You are going to have to sell yourself and your bodyguard services.  In this business everything that happens to you depends on you alone. Make it positive by acting well, dressing well and speaking well. The choices you make for yourself also have an impact on your career. This includes the seminars you attend, the articles and books you read, the people you choose to associate with and others you choose to distance yourself from.

Your success in the industry requires lots of actions. Opportunities in the bodyguard and executive protection field exist, but it’s up to you to take action and go after them.  This is the one solution to get on a successful career path.  Starting today, your full-time job is to become a success in the industry.

This will not be easy, you’ll have to put in 10-12 hour days networking, writing cover letters, and sending out résumés, handing out business cards, mailing out “thank you” cards and follow up letters.  You must display confidence and professional polish in all you do. Have a strong personal motivation in mind and body. Calculate every world you speak and every move you make. And develop your own coherent strategy to become a successful.  Stop doing what everyone else is doing and stop walking that common path with your eyes shut and you will have success. To your success and God speed.

 

If It Was Easy, Everyone Would Be a Bodyguard

Doc Rogers, Featured Articles

By Doc Rogers

The bodyguard trade has a price, everyone must pay for admission. When you first start you must get specific executive protection training from a recognized school. The training does not come cheap, but look at it as an investment. Once you successfully complete your training there are additional fees that must be paid and honestly many bodyguard candidates aren’t willing to pay.

This includes long workdays (12-20 hours) intense agendas and stressful conditions, weeks and even months away from your family, living out of a suitcase and lots of unexciting hotel and airline food.  These are not complainants. The pay is decent; hard work deserves good pay and most of us knew what the job entailed before we got into the trade. However, I want to make it clear that this type of work isn’t for everybody. If it was an easy way of life, everyone would be a bodyguard.

If after reading the above, you are still interested in becoming a bodyguard, than you have the required determination and heart to succeed.  I’m not trying to discourage people from entering the trade, but remember there is a price to pay. You may be in for a struggle and lots of non-glamorous work. After your initial bodyguard training at the academy do not stop your learning process. Read everything you can on the subject.  There is no such thing as too much experience and knowledge.

When looking for work in the industry do not pass up volunteer jobs. This includes volunteering your time at local celebrity dinners or functions.  These volunteer jobs always tend to payoff in the future. It also looks good on your résumé.  But remember; go to give, not to take and serve greatly.

Next suggestion, move to city where the bodyguard trade is in demand. It is possible to find bodyguard work anywhere in the world.   But your best chances are in a city the needs bodyguards.  Do not move to any particular city on a whim. Be prepared and do your research first.  Start making daily, weekly, monthly and yearly goals for your bodyguard career.

When you first start, start out small. Get some quality business cards made, start meeting others bodyguards on Facebook and LinkedIn. Start attending bodyguard workshops in your area and mailing your résumé to Fortune 500 company executive protection units. Just make sure your résumé makes a good impression before sending them out. As you meet each goal, generate a new one until you land a bodyguard job and obtain a long-term career. With heart and determination you will make it. Keep safe and God speed.

How to Excel in the Bodyguard Trade

Doc Rogers, Featured Articles

By Doc Rogers

For many the bodyguard industry is not easy to excel in. Breaking into the bodyguard business can be an uphill battle.  This is the cold, harsh reality of the bodyguard and executive protection industry. However, there are a number of executive protection and bodyguard schools you can attend to better your chances of breaking into the trade. Refer to Harlan (Hucky) Austin’s Executive Protection Schools E-book to find the best options.  Here are some suggestions that have helped me over the years to excel in the profession, protecting people, making a good living and doing what I love. Please pay very close attention.

1. Customer Service.  Whether you are just starting out in the business or a seasoned veteran you need to provide customer service.  Some misinformed apprentice bodyguards don’t get this. Their point of view is “I’m a bodyguard, protecting clients’ against personal threats; I don’t need to provide customer service.”  Bodyguarding and executive protection is a service industry; we are here to improve the client’s quality of life. Customer service provides value to your client, builds your professional reputation and helps you to earn client loyalty.  And to do this you must be hundred per cent focused on the client.

2. Get Results. In your efforts to provide amazing service to your clients, make sure you give them the results they are looking for.  You don’t hear the word “results” often when talking about the bodyguard trade. Results are the favorable or concrete outcomes of your bodyguard duties.  Results speak louder than words. Here are some of the results clients may look for when retaining your bodyguard services:

A. Reduced fear. B. Reduced annoyances. C. Smooth and fast-tracked services. D. Crisp and expedient ground transportation.  E. VIP treatment. F. Low profile or high profile bodyguard service (depending on client’s request). G. Make a difference in the client’s life.

Bottom-line; do the things you were hired for in the first place. That’s why you are paid the big bucks. Do the above things consistently and watch your client base grow.

3. Network Intelligently. The bodyguard trade is a connections game. Who you know, can get you work and make your career. Start networking seriously and make the right connections. This is no easy business, but making good connections help. If you play your cards right, attend the right bodyguard academy, go to the right seminars, workshops and conventions you may find yourself employed and going on assignments in no time. The pitfalls; if you don’t plan you may find yourself unemployed and broke quickly. A winner plays the game like it is the last game he will ever play. It’s your decision.

4. Strive to Be Better Than Your Last Assignment.  Improve your bodyguard craft, service and people skills. Learn from your last assignment (the good, bad, and ugly). Commit yourself to do better each time. Keep learning the trade by reading and taking distance study courses. When not on the road attend bodyguard workshops and seminars and interact with the instructors and people in attendance. As you increase your knowledge, you will be able to help clients more efficiently.  There are no “get rich programs” in the bodyguard or executive protection trade only hard work, adding value and serving and keep client’s safe. Good luck and God speed.

Usher Gets Restraining Order Against Stalker

In The News

[youtube]http://youtu.be/J3Tfy_VELiw[/youtube]

Usher Gets Restraining Order Against Stalker

Police have issued a restraining order against Darshelle Jones-Rakestraw after she tried to enter Usher’s home on June 23 by “pounding on the door” and demanding to be allowed in, according to TMZ. Despite being asked by police to leave the property, she came back the next day, telling cops she was Usher’s wife and had lost her keys. After Usher got the restraining order on her, Jones-Rakestraw posted a video on YouTube in which she insisted, “I’m not a stalker. He has officially slandered me and defamed my character.”

 

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