What makes YOU and different

As I sift through multiple resumes and bios there is almost a cookie cutter mold that everyone comes from.  In this industry that we are a part of it is not the same as if you are applying for a job as an executive vice president or CEO position with a major hotel chain.  Do we look at resumes the same way as a major corpoartion does?  Do we look at your job longevity versus how many companies you have worked for in a set amount of time?  Yes and yes, however in many cases it does not work against you.

We know that specialists have to make money to keep food on their tables and the lights on in the homes, so working for multiple companies is not necessarily a red flag.  I get that.  However, I may ask why you left X Protection Services after an extended period of time.  Your response is critical to me but not a deciding factor for a thumbs up or thumbs down.

Now what about the resumes that have an EP School on it but no protection experience at all?  Not necessarily a bad thing to me.  What I look for is how long ago you went through your course and what, if any training, you’ve done since completing the course.  Investment in your craft is important.  Can you expect anyone to really to take you seriously if you’ve completed an EP School 3 years ago and have not invested in any subsequent training?  I have said on many occasions that the basic EP training course would only give you the basis of what we do.  You need to keep investiing in your education in the craft.  NEWS FLASH- even in the official sector, USSS and DS mandate that their agents do in-service courses.  So why not you?  Before we get into the common factor of cost, whereby it’s difficult to to pay for training if you aren’t making any money.  I think that the bigger issue is that most aspiring specialist don’t and aren’t guided in what is the progessive training track to success in this industry.

So much emphasis is placed on weapons, weapons, weapons, when in fact if your resume has an extensive medical training and/or skillset, you are more attractive in many cases than weapons training.  We know for a fact that a certified combat med is highly sought after overseas and for me having multiple medics on staff is just as, if not more, important than 50 shooters.  But this idea of importance will vary from company to company.  So think about what it is that makes you different from all the other specialists out there that are competing to get picked up. 

A short note to the female specialists:  The good news for you is that unlike in many corporate positions, you do not compete against the males for a position per se.  The need for qualified, trained female specialists is higher than ever.  Push yourself aggresively and the added value you bring as a female.  Honestly speaking the only person you are competing against is yourself and your willingness to move aggresively in and through the industry.

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