In 10 years, Chris Murray went from being a security guard to a regional manager at GardaWorld. His advice to others who want to advance their careers? Ask a lot of questions and show a willingness to take on new challenges.
After 3 years of service in the Canadian Forces, I began working as a security guard in 2010. Just three years later, I was hired as Operations Manager of Atlantic Canada for GardaWorld. In my role, I oversaw scheduling and recruitment; client relations; mobile alarm responses; event security setup and supervision; and high-level, close-protection assignments for Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island.
Moving from operations management to business management
As an Operations Manager, I had the willingness and open mind to get involved in the business management side of things. And because of that, I was given the opportunity to take on business management tasks.
In 2018, I became a regional manager for Nova Scotia and PEI. With hard work and a lot of investment, I’ve been learning the financial aspects of the role. It’s my job to ensure the branches’ profit margins are maintained through analyzing our cost spending, auditing our client services, and pricing new contract bids to ensure we are both successful and profitable.
A level of camaraderie similar to in the military
At GardaWorld, I’ve been inspired by the level of teamwork, and the overabundance of support and mentorship from some of the most knowledgeable people I have ever met. I believe camaraderie is a common element between military life and civilian security. In both the military and the security field, you work with individuals from all walks of life. The military teaches its members that success comes from working together toward a common goal, and that certainly holds true at GardaWorld too.
Ask questions, job shadow, and learn from everyone
I think I’ve advanced my career because I have a passion for learning, and a willingness to learn from others, from mentors to peers to security guards in the field. As a regional manager, I don’t claim to know everything and I’m not afraid to ask questions or bounce my ideas off of others. I’m always seeking ways to better myself through shadowing those with knowledge and experience around me, and taking part in any training or exercises I can. I plan to continue to grow GardaWorld’s presence in the Atlantic region, and expand my role.
A fast expansion with a rock-solid team
I’m proud of the solid growth and expansion we’ve seen in Nova Scotia and PEI. When I started, GardaWorld had a satellite office and two contracts, and I was the only manager in the region. Now we manage a dozen or more clients locally and hundreds nationally. We’ve built a rock-solid team of people who are extremely motivated to continue to grow our company and provide the best service GardaWorld can offer its partners.
Discover how you can enjoy a successful career at GardaWorld. View our job opportunities here.