Safety and Security Cover Letter Examples

State your interest and motivation in your opening paragraph. Begin your cover letter by making the best first impression on employers with a positive attitude and genuine interest in the role. Share the role you’re interested in and what drew you to it. Be sincere but stay away from subjects of money or unemployment. Keep it light by mentioning positive feedback you’ve heard from former employers or by mentioning the specific skills you hold that match the job’s requirements.

Share job-relevant accomplishments in your letter’s body. Use your cover letter to further convince employers you’re the perfect fit for the role. Don’t just repeat what’s on your resume. Analyze the job description to understand what the employer needs to fill this position, and think back on your experience for an accomplishment that conveys those requirements.

Showcase a variety of skills. As a safety and security professional, you’ll need all sorts of skills. Hard skills like emergency response, surveillance, and risk assessment are must-haves on your cover letter. Combine those with soft skills like attention to detail and conflict resolution and you’ll show employers you’re the ideal candidate.

Compensate for a lack of experience. If, like many security professionals, you’re transitioning from a different role or industry, make up for a lack of formal experience by highlighting transferable skills in your cover letter, such as problem-solving, leadership, communication, time management, and adaptability, to name a few.

Focus on trust and integrity. Although your cover letter should focus on concrete qualifications and measurable achievements, that doesn’t mean you can’t let a bit of your personality shine through. For safety and security professionals, showing you’re a trustworthy and dependable individual is key. Including a phrase like "I pride myself on maintaining the highest standards of integrity and confidentiality in all security operations" signals you’re committed to the job’s responsibilities.

Highlight the required certifications. Pay attention to the licenses and certifications different employers are looking for. Ensure your firearm permit or concealed license permits are up to date. Some employers also require OSHA training or First Aid/CPR; the latter also must be renewed yearly.

Understand your role as a security professional. Many aspiring safety and security professionals confuse their role’s purpose. Private security is not law enforcement. In those cases, your role is not to arrest people but rather to keep people from going into dangerous situations or deescalating situations. Understanding this key difference is crucial as you fill out job applications and interview with prospective employers.

Use your network wisely. Connect with friends, family, or colleagues in the safety and security industry for any jobs that might be opening soon. Your personal network is also a great source of insider tips for landing a job and keeping it. If you don’t know any security professionals personally, check out Facebook groups or online forums to familiarize yourself with the work environment and job market.

Show off your soft skills. Although a strong knowledge of safety procedures and emergency response are crucial to land a job, many seasoned professionals will tell you that soft skills like communication, interpersonal skills, and emotional self-regulation are a big part of the job. For instance, dealing with difficult shoppers or tenants can be emotionally draining and agitating, so showing employers you can keep your emotions under control will make you a highly coveted candidate.

Use local security contractors and staffing agencies. Many security guard jobs are filled through licensed contractors rather than direct job ads. Applying with reputable security companies gives you access to multiple sites and more consistent shifts. Once you build a good reputation, you may get better assignments, more hours, or opportunities to move up.