We often say that a career in security as a security officer is a lifestyle choice and not a career choice, but what do we mean by this? 

What is a work-life balance?

Simply put, work-life balance is how an individual splits time between their working hours and their leisure time. It means something different to everyone, but ultimately it’s about achieving a balance in the workplace that complements and supports your life outside of work. This might be time to support your family – such as watching your little ones grow up, quality time with your partner or friends, or time for yourself to explore hobbies, fitness and support your mental wellbeing.

This #WorkLifeWeek we wanted to address how a career in security can help you to achieve that all-important work-life balance

Our security officers primarily work on a 4 days on, 4 days off shift pattern. If you’re looking for a role that supports the stereotypical ‘9-5’ work week, then pursuing a career in security is unlikely to be the right option for you. However, what a 4 day on, 4 day off work pattern does is:

• Allow large blocks of time to spend time with your family
• Avoids the typical rush hour traffic
• Allows plenty of weekday time to manage personal appointments and the running of a busy household
• Enables short trips away at non-peak times without using annual leave allowances

Can working night shifts allow for a better work-life balance?

Working regular night shifts is an entirely personal decision on whether or not it will benefit your work-life balance. However, the amount of sleep one person needs to lead a healthy life is entirely dependant on that person, some people simply don’t need as much sleep as others.

For these individuals, working in a role that requires night shifts can become a great way to manage their personal life too. Daytimes that are free for working create great opportunities for family time and running errands at non-peak times and contributes to a better quality of life. However, we realise this is perhaps not the majority, so often create contracts that limit night shifts to enable a fair split of shifts across a team.

So, if you’re looking to further your career within the security industry, please check the careers section on our website or email us an up-to-date copy of your C.V. We never subcontract, we invest in training and we work hard to support our staff. You will need to hold a valid SIA license before applying.

Alternatively, for more information on how we can work advise you on security and staffing at your business, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with a member of our team. We look forward to hearing from you.