How to Apply for a Security Guard Job: 6 Simple Steps (2026)

Step 3 of 3: How to apply

At Allied Universal, one of the biggest US security employers, you don't need a guard card before you apply, and many officer roles are entry-level. Follow the 6 steps below in order, and the next page shows the trusted places to search and apply.

First, what's your goal right now?

What kind of security job do you want?

📋 Before you start: what to prepare

Having these ready makes the process faster and avoids delays:

• A working email address and phone number, because employers contact you by email, text or phone
• Your photo ID and the documents that show you can work in the US
• Your high school diploma or GED, if you have one
• Any training certificates or guard card you already hold
• Your work history and availability, including nights and weekends
• A short list of the areas you can reach reliably

✅ The 6 steps to apply

These steps follow the official guidance from state licensing agencies and Allied Universal's hiring FAQ. Other employers use a similar process.

1. Check your state's rules. Look up your state's licensing agency, for example BSIS in California, FDACS in Florida or the Department of State in New York, and note the training hours and fees.
2. Find official openings. Search employer careers sites such as jobs.aus.com (Allied Universal), securitasinc.com/career (Securitas USA) or securityjobsus.garda.com (GardaWorld), or trusted job portals.
3. Apply online. At Allied Universal, you click Apply Now on a listing, create a profile with your email address and complete the form. You should get an email or text saying your application is under review.
4. Do the screening. You may be invited to an online assessment, a phone screen or an in-person interview. Be on time and dress neatly.
5. Get your training and guard card. Take the required course at a state-approved school, do your fingerprints and send your state application. Some employers explain this step after you apply.
6. Pass the checks and attend orientation. Expect a background check and often a drug test. Allied Universal says its new-hire orientation usually lasts 2 to 3 hours at the local branch.

Tip: keep copies of every certificate and receipt. You may need them for your employer and for renewing your guard card later.

Ready to start? The next page shows where to apply safely, plus trusted US job portals.

🕒 What happens after you apply

After you submit, watch your email, texts and phone closely. Missing a message is one of the easiest ways to lose your place.

If you pass the screening, the employer will explain the licence steps for your state and run its checks. Allied Universal says its background checks generally include fingerprints and a criminal record check, and that it requires a drug test as a condition of employment.

Once you're cleared, you'll attend orientation and get your post and schedule. Allied Universal says it supplies the uniform, except for shoes, belt and socks.

📚 Keeping your guard card valid

Your training doesn't stop on your first day. In California, you finish 32 hours of skills training in your first six months, then do 8 hours of refresher training each year. In New York, you complete 16 hours of on-the-job training within 90 days of starting and an 8-hour course every calendar year.

Mark these deadlines in your phone calendar. Missing them can put your registration at risk.

Want more choices? The next page lists the top US job portals so you can compare openings near you.

⚠️ How to avoid fake recruiters

Job scams target people looking for entry-level work. Allied Universal warns about phishing scams that use fake job postings on outside sites. The Federal Trade Commission says: don't pay for the promise of a job.

• Never pay a "recruiter" to get you hired or to hold a job for you
• Pay for training only to the state-approved school you chose yourself, never to a stranger who contacted you
• Never deposit a check from an employer and send part of the money back
• Be wary of pay that sounds far too good for little work
• Apply through the employer's official careers site or a trusted portal

🧑‍💼 How to do well in the interview

Security interviews are usually short and practical. Employers want to know you're reliable, calm and honest, so think about real examples from past jobs, school or volunteering.

• How you handled a difficult customer or visitor
• A time you showed up on time and covered a shift when it mattered
• What you would do if you saw something suspicious on your post
• Which shifts and locations you can commit to

🙋 Small things that make a big difference

• Apply to several employers, including hospitals, colleges and hotels that hire their own guards
• Be clear about the shifts you can really work
• Answer the background questions honestly
• Show up to interviews early, neat and ready to talk about reliability

❓ Quick answers

On the next page: where to apply safely, plus 6 trusted US job portals and tips on resumes, ID and interviews.

🔥 Other jobs hiring now

Security isn't the only job you can start without a degree. These guides are worth a look too.

Disclaimer: This is an independent information website. We are not a security company, state agency, employer or recruiter, and we do not hire anyone or collect job applications. Pay, licensing rules and hiring steps change and vary by state, so always check the official state licensing agency and employer careers site before you apply. Never pay anyone to get a job.