17 Protection Officer Interview Questions and Answers

Protection officers are responsible for ensuring the safety of people and property. They may work in a variety of settings, such as office buildings, retail stores, schools, and hospitals. No matter where they work, protection officers must be alert and observant at all times.

If you’re interested in becoming a protection officer, you’ll need to go through a job interview. During the interview, the interviewer will ask you questions to assess your suitability for the job. To help you prepare, we’ve compiled a list of sample protection officer interview questions and answers.

Are you comfortable working in a potentially hostile environment?

Protection officers often work in potentially hostile environments. Employers ask this question to make sure you are comfortable with the risk of working in these situations. In your answer, explain that you understand the risks and have experience handling them. Share a story about a time when you worked in a dangerous environment and how you handled it.

Example: “I am very comfortable working in a potentially hostile environment. I’ve been doing security for over ten years now, so I’m used to dealing with all kinds of people. For example, at my last job, we had an incident where a drunk man got into a fight with another guest. He was yelling and threatening other guests as well as our staff. I calmly approached him and asked him to leave. He refused, but I remained calm and eventually convinced him to leave.”

What are some of the most important qualities for a protection officer to have?

This question can help the interviewer determine if you have the necessary skills and abilities to succeed in this role. When answering, it can be helpful to mention a few of your most important qualities and how they benefit you as a protection officer.

Example: “I believe that one of the most important qualities for a protection officer is patience. This job requires us to interact with many different people every day, so having patience can help us remain calm when we’re faced with challenging situations. Another quality I think is essential is communication skills. Protection officers need to be able to clearly communicate their instructions to clients and other security personnel. Finally, I think empathy is an important quality because it allows me to better understand my clients’ needs and concerns.”

How would you handle a situation where you were outnumbered by hostile individuals or groups?

This question can help the interviewer assess your ability to handle dangerous situations and make quick decisions. Use examples from past experiences where you were in a similar situation, or discuss how you would react if this scenario occurred.

Example: “In my previous role as a protection officer, I was called to an event where several individuals were causing a disturbance. When I arrived on scene, there were three people who refused to leave the premises. I calmly explained that they needed to vacate the area immediately, but they continued to refuse. At this point, I informed them that I would be arresting them for trespassing if they did not comply with my request. They still refused, so I had no choice but to place them under arrest.”

What is your process for investigating suspicious activity?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you approach your work and what methods you use to complete it. Your answer should include a step-by-step process for investigating suspicious activity, including how you gather information and how you report your findings.

Example: “I first assess the situation by speaking with witnesses or victims of the suspicious activity. I also look at any evidence that may be available, such as photos or video footage. After this, I speak with the individual who reported the suspicious activity to learn more about their experience. Finally, I write up my findings in an official report.”

Provide an example of a time when you had to use your negotiation skills to resolve a conflict.

An interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your problem-solving skills and how you use them in the workplace. Your answer should include a specific example of when you used negotiation skills to resolve a conflict, as well as what steps you took to achieve a positive outcome.

Example: “In my previous role as a protection officer, I had to respond to an incident at a local high school where students were fighting in the cafeteria. When I arrived on scene, I noticed that one student was holding another student down while other students gathered around them. I asked the students who were watching to step back so I could assess the situation. After speaking with both students involved in the fight, I learned that they were friends and got into a disagreement over something unrelated to the fight. I talked to each student separately and helped them come up with a solution.”

If you saw a fellow employee or coworker engaging in suspicious or unethical behavior, what would you do?

An interviewer may ask this question to assess your commitment to upholding the law and protecting others. Your answer should show that you would report any suspicious or illegal activity to a supervisor or other authority figure.

Example: “If I saw a coworker engaging in unethical behavior, such as accepting bribes or stealing from the company, I would immediately report it to my manager or human resources department. If I witnessed someone committing a crime, such as embezzlement or fraud, I would call the police and ensure they had all of the information necessary to investigate the situation.”

What would you do if you saw an unauthorized individual entering a restricted area?

This question can help the interviewer assess your ability to make quick decisions and act on them. Your answer should include a specific example of how you would respond in this situation, as well as what steps you would take to ensure that you followed all security protocols.

Example: “If I saw an unauthorized individual entering a restricted area, I would immediately call for backup and then approach the person with caution. If they were unaware of their surroundings or unable to communicate, I would ask if they needed assistance. If they didn’t need my help, I would escort them out of the building and report the incident to my supervisor.”

How well do you perform under pressure? Can you provide an example from your previous job where you had to perform above expectations?

This question is an opportunity to show your interviewer that you can perform under pressure and still meet the expectations of the job. When answering this question, it’s important to highlight how you overcame any challenges or obstacles in order to succeed.

Example: “In my previous role as a security guard at a local mall, I was tasked with monitoring multiple areas of the facility while also ensuring customers were safe. One night, there was a power outage in one of the stores, which meant I had to monitor two floors instead of just one. However, I remained calm and focused on my task, even though I was working overtime. In the end, I successfully monitored both floors until backup arrived.”

Do you have any experience with security cameras or other monitoring tools?

This question can help the interviewer determine your experience with security tools and how you might use them in this role. If you have relevant experience, share what you’ve done with cameras or other monitoring devices to show that you know how to use them effectively. If you don’t have any experience, you can talk about how you would use these tools if you were hired for the position.

Example: “I worked as a security guard at an event venue where we used security cameras to monitor different areas of the property. I also helped train new guards on how to use the cameras so they could learn how to use them effectively. This experience has given me some familiarity with using security cameras, although I’m always open to learning more about their capabilities.”

When performing patrols, do you prefer to work alone or with another protection officer?

This question can help the interviewer determine how you work with others and your interpersonal skills. Your answer should show that you are a team player who is willing to collaborate with other officers when necessary.

Example: “I prefer working alone, but I understand that there are times when it’s beneficial for two protection officers to patrol together. For example, if one officer needs backup or assistance in performing their duties, then I would be happy to partner up with another officer. However, I am confident enough in my abilities that I don’t need someone else to perform patrols with me.”

We want to ensure our employees feel safe at work. How would you build a rapport with coworkers to establish trust and encourage them to report suspicious activity?

An interviewer may ask this question to assess your interpersonal skills and ability to build relationships with coworkers. Use examples from previous experiences where you’ve built trust with coworkers or other employees in the workplace.

Example: “I believe that establishing a rapport with my coworkers is an important part of building trust. In my last role, I worked with a team of security guards who patrolled different areas of the property. We had weekly meetings where we discussed any suspicious activity we noticed during our patrols. This helped us establish a relationship where we felt comfortable reporting each other if we saw something unusual. It also allowed us to learn more about each other’s strengths and weaknesses as security professionals.”

Describe your process for reporting suspicious activity or an emergency to your supervisor.

This question can help the interviewer assess your communication skills and ability to follow protocol. Your answer should include a specific example of how you followed reporting procedures in the past, along with an explanation of what led you to report suspicious activity or an emergency.

Example: “In my last role as a security officer at a local mall, I noticed a man acting strangely near one of the stores. He was looking around nervously and pacing back and forth. After observing him for several minutes, he started walking toward the store’s entrance but then quickly turned around and walked away. I immediately called my supervisor on my radio to report the situation. She instructed me to stay where I was until she arrived. When she got there, we both approached the man together and asked if he needed any assistance. He said no, but we could tell that something wasn’t right. We decided to escort him out of the building and call the police.”

What makes you an ideal candidate for this protection officer position?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your qualifications for the job. They want someone who is passionate, hardworking and committed to their role. Before your interview, make a list of reasons why you are qualified for this position. Consider including any relevant experience or skills that relate to this role.

Example: “I am an ideal candidate for this protection officer position because I have extensive security experience. In my last role as a private investigator, I worked with clients to solve cases involving missing persons and property damage. I also have training in self-defense techniques and conflict resolution. These skills make me well-suited for this role.”

Which safety training certificates do you currently hold?

Employers may ask this question to learn about your commitment to continuing education. They want to know that you are actively learning new ways to keep their employees safe and healthy. In your answer, share which certificates you have earned in the past five years and explain why you chose to take these courses.

Example: “I am currently certified as a first aid instructor through the American Red Cross. I took this course because I wanted to learn more about how to help people who were injured on the job. I also completed an online training program for bloodborne pathogens. This was part of my initial certification process, but I found it so helpful that I decided to continue taking refresher courses.”

What do you think is the most important aspect of your job as a protection officer?

This question can help the interviewer understand what you value most in your work. Your answer should reflect a commitment to protecting people and their property, upholding the law and maintaining order.

Example: “I think the most important aspect of my job is ensuring that everyone I encounter stays safe. Whether it’s preventing crime or responding to an emergency situation, I take pride in knowing that I’m helping someone when they need it most. In my last position, I responded to several medical emergencies where I helped calm down panicked individuals and called for backup when necessary.”

How often do you perform patrols?

This question can help the interviewer understand your experience with performing patrols. You can answer this question by describing how often you perform patrols and what types of patrols you’ve performed in the past.

Example: “In my current position, I perform a patrol once every two hours. However, when I first started working as a protection officer, I would perform a patrol every hour. As I gained more experience, I was able to reduce the frequency of my patrols because I became more familiar with the property and could notice any changes or disturbances more quickly.”

There is a suspicious package on the floor in an office area. What is your first reaction?

This question is a test of your ability to make quick decisions in potentially dangerous situations. Your answer should show the interviewer that you can think quickly and act decisively when necessary.

Example: “I would first assess whether there are any other suspicious packages or objects in the area. If not, I would call for backup before approaching the package. Once my partner arrived, we would carefully approach the package together and use our training to determine if it’s safe to move or detonate. We would then decide on a course of action based on our assessment.”