In the armed forces, new recruits are screened to determine their best fit with needed positions. Then, after basic training (i.e., “boot camp”), some get additional training in whatever their designated specialty might be. Those who might be considered “the best” because of their physical prowess and aggressiveness, for example, might be trained as commandos. Others, who might be considered “the best” because of their leadership qualities and intellect, might be trained as officers.
Nadine Lecomte is GardaWorld’s Vice President, Talent Management, with 15 years of international experience in talent acquisition and business management.
At GardaWorld, members of our International Protective Services might well be former commandos and officers. Still, they get additional training to improve their skills and expertise in protecting diplomats, corporate executives and other GardaWorld clients in the world’s hotspots. To staff our Protective Services and Aviation Services teams in Canada, we screen our candidates carefully, choosing only from the top performers. We then develop them even further through rigorous training.
Training—the big differentiator. Many security companies give their new hires orientation training that’s as thin as the creases in their new uniforms. This undermines the credibility of the industry, leading the public to assume that uniformed private security guards are anything but a professional. That’s not the case with GardaWorld’s Protective Services.
The 22,000 security professionals who make up our Protective Services division guard Canada’s airports, oilfields, major construction sites, hospitals, commercial office buildings and a lot of other sites as well. The value of what they provide the people they protect—peace of mind—is immeasurable, especially when emergencies or threats arise. Thanks to their training, they know what to do.
Classroom and online training. After hiring, new Protective Services employees get extensive training in classrooms and online. As part of the GardaWorld Career Development Center (CDC), we operate two classroom training centers, one in Montréal and the other in Toronto. In addition, we have 11 regional classrooms, located across Canada’s four other provinces. As part of the CDC, we also operate an online training system that provides 17 training courses, covering all business lines.
In fact, our Protective Service personnel are highly trained in a number of areas, with regular refresh sessions, so they’re always ready to respond appropriately, in any situation:
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• How to respond to different threat levels, using GardaWorld’s own advanced safety, security and emergency first-aid protocols
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• How to keep situations from escalating and deflating ones that have
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• How to perform within the framework of public laws and regulations
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• How to operate most major fire and security systems, including video surveillance
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• How to respond in accord with our customer’s own standards and protocols for:
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o Environmental, health and safety
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o Fire and security systems
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o Engaging its often broad base of stakeholders—employees, customers, clients, suppliers, travelers and other constituents
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o All other relevant systems and procedures
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• How to minimize risk in hazardous industrial environments like the oil fields, where they usually face the same onsite risks as our customers’ employees do, too
All our employees are trained in GardaWorld’s own policies and security protocols as well as in those of our clients. Our Aviation Services screening officers, for example, must provide security and safe passage through 28 Canadian airports, so they need the in-depth and refresher training to help them provide those vital services. Well-trained employees are confident employees, who tend to be happier in their jobs, perform at higher levels than unhappy employees, and ultimately stay in their positions much longer (even though GardaWorld provides many opportunities for lateral moves and upward advancements).
