In today’s competitive job-hunting landscape, standing out from the crowd is more important than ever. You want to highlight your skills and experience in ways that matter and that grab the recruiters’ attention. One of the best ways to achieve that is by writing a compelling security guard cover letter.
You might be exceptionally diligent and have impeccable attention to detail. But unless you know how to showcase these qualities on your cover letter or resume, you likely won’t impress any potential employer.
That’s why we put together a robust guide that will teach you everything from how to format your security guard cover letter to how to refine it and make it better than the rest of the competition.
Without further ado, let’s jump right in!
Key Takeaways
The best way to set up and organize your security guard cover letter is to follow a business letter format.
Your cover letter should be one page long and have between 250 and 400 words.
You should include the date of writing in addition to your and the recipient’s contact information.
Do your research and try to address the hiring manager by their name to create a personalized experience and improve your chances.
Add a call to action toward the end of the letter to prompt the reader to invite you for an interview.
Don’t use a cover letter to repeat the details of your resume but add new information.
The Best Format to Use for a Security Guard Cover Letter
The best format to use for a security guard cover letter is a business letter format. It encompasses everything from an orderly arrangement of the sections to a visual presentation of the document.
Let’s start with the contents of your cover letter for a security guard role. Here’s how you should order the sections:
Cover Letter Format
Contact information goes at the top, in the header.
Salutation comes next and serves as a formal greeting for the reader.
The main body should have three distinct parts:
A catchy introductory paragraph that highlights your key strengths
An information-packed middle portion with your skills and achievements
A strong closing paragraph with a call to action
Polite farewell with your signature.
This is the established arrangement that works best by grabbing the reader’s attention, impressing them with your qualifications, and capitalizing on that with a strong call to action.
Another crucial element to consider when writing a cover letter is its visual representation. Your document needs to look clean and professional while being easy to scan and read.
Here are some tips to help you achieve a striking cover letter layout:
Cover Letter Layout
Keep your cover letter one page long.
Your writing should be 250–400 words and 3–5 paragraphs.
Choose an appropriate font for your cover letter that isn’t overly stylized and difficult to read.
Set the font size between 10 and 12 pt.
Adjust line spacing to 1.0 or 1.15 with an additional line between paragraphs.
Set margins to at least 1 inch on all sides.
Use left or justified text alignment.
Security Guard Cover Letter Outline
Now that we know the basics of formatting a cover letter, let’s find out how to write each of the sections. But before that, here’s a concise visual guide to help you piece everything together:
#1. Contact Information
Contact information goes at the top of your security guard cover letter—in its header. It’s a straightforward section where you should simply list your and the recipient’s contact details.
Start with your information, and include the following:
Contact Information Details
Name
Job title
Address
Phone number
Email
(Optional) Relevant social media profile (e.g., LinkedIn)
After that, input the date of writing before listing the hiring manager’s details.
Here’s what that looks like in practice:
Contact Information Example
Paul Williams Security Guard 3669 Big Indian New Orleans, LA 70112 504-692-1132 paul.williams@example.com linkedin.com/ln/paulwilliams
New York, 07/04/2023
Henry McComb Hiring Manager Platinum Investment Inc. 4907 Angus Road New York, NY 10007
#2. Salutation
A cordial salutation is a typical way to start a cover letter. However, there’s one neat trick here that you can use to get ahead of the competition, and that is to address the reader by their name.
You should research the company and the job ad to find the name of the hiring manager or person who will be reading your letter. By addressing them directly, you’re creating a personalized experience that builds rapport and can set you apart from the competition by making your letter more memorable.
If you can’t find the name, you can use the reader’s professional title. You just need to avoid generic openings, such as “To Whom It May Concern.”
Now let’s see a good example:
Salutation Example
Dear Mr. McComb,
#3. Opening Paragraph
The opening paragraph is your elevator pitch. In a couple of sentences, you want to highlight how much experience you have and point out one or two notable accomplishments. The goal is to spark the hiring manager’s interest and entice them to keep reading.
Here’s an example:
Opening Paragraph Example
I am writing to express my strong interest in the position of security guard at Platinum Investment Inc. With more than 9 years of experience in the field working in high-stress environments and 250 hours of specialized training in advanced security, I am confident in my ability to contribute to your organization. Notably, I led a private security team in a shopping mall that successfully evacuated 300+ visitors during a fire emergency.
#4. Skills, Qualifications, & Experiences
The middle part of your security guard cover letter should be focused on your skills, qualifications, and experiences relevant to the job that you’re applying for. That’s why you want to carefully examine the job ad and the company to figure out what competencies they are looking for in candidates.
For example, there are vast differences between armed and unarmed guards, and there’s no point talking about your experience with firearms if you’re applying for the role of an unarmed guard.
Here’s a good example:
Skills, Qualifications, & Experiences Example
I am proficient in risk assessment and incident response strategies while having proven leadership and organization skills. That allowed me to train a security team and staff members at my previous company, increasing their preparedness by 55% compared to the pre-training state.
If you’re writing a security guard cover letter with no experience, you should leverage your skills and education. You can highlight specialized training or certifications or showcase experience obtained during past jobs in compatible fields, such as police or military.
#5. Motivation for the Role
Accentuating your motivation for the specific role that you’re applying for vastly improves your odds with the hiring manager and sets you apart from other job seekers with generic cover letters. The best way to achieve that is to highlight something specific about the company that made you want to apply to it.
Here’s a well-written example:
Motivation for the Role Example
I am particularly drawn to the opportunity to work at Platinum Investment Inc. due to your use of modern technology and the implementation of machine learning to enhance security systems.
#6. Call to Action
A call to action toward the end of your security guard cover letter increases the chances of getting a response. You don’t have to overcomplicate things; it’s often enough to thank the reader for their time and ask them to contact you for an interview.
This is what that looks like:
Call to Action Example
I am looking forward to the opportunity to discuss my skills and competence in an interview and highlight how I can help your organization advance its security practices.
#7. Conclusion & Sign Off
You should conclude the letter in the same manner that you opened it: include a cordial closing and follow it up with your name.
Here’s an example:
Conclusion & Sign Off Example
Sincerely,
Paul Williams
After combining everything we've learned so far, this is a complete example of how your security guard cover letter should look.
3 Pro Strategies for Writing a Security Guard Cover Letter
To finish this comprehensive guide with a bang, we’ve compiled a short list of pro cover letter tips and strategies that will further help your application for a security guard job stand out:
Tips To Write a Security Guard Cover Letter
Your security guard cover letter shouldn’t repeat information already stated in your resume. Instead, take the opportunity to mention your security guard skills and accomplishments that you didn’t already emphasize.
One of the best ways to make your accomplishments pop is to use numbers and statistics. They add measurable value to your work and make it concrete in the eyes of the readers.
Carefully proofread your cover letter before submitting it. Attention to detail is a must in your profession, and even something as small as a typo can draw the wrong kind of attention.
Final Thoughts
In a dynamic world of job hunting, you can think of your cover letter as a security detail for your resume. It’s a complementary document that adds tremendous value to your application and vastly increases your chances of getting an interview with the hiring manager and potential employer.
Fortunately, writing one is simple once you know the basics. The guidelines and tips in this article will help you whether you’re writing an entry-level security guard cover letter or if you have decades of experience and are looking for a senior position.
Remember to show off your skills and experience, but don’t forget to display drive and motivation for extra points. Add a strong call to action to all that, and your interview will be right around the corner!
