Skip to Content

How to Become a Successful Security Consultant

If you are a retired military officer and you are looking towards starting your own business and becoming your own boss, you can consider becoming a security consultant. Being a security consultant means that there are no restrictions to the industry you can operate because everybody and organization need security especially in this era where terrorism is on the increase.

Although, anybody can aspire to become a security consultant, but those that can truly do well in this type of business are those who at a point in their lifetime have served in the armed forces or in the police force of a country- especially those that worked directly in the intelligence unit while in the military or police force. If you find yourself in this category, then all you need do is just to brush up yourself a little bit and then you will be able to set up your own security consultancy firm.

NB-: This article was culled from: “The Complete Guide to Starting a Consulting Business from Scratch.”

On the other hand, if you don’t have the privilege to serve in the military or police and are passionate about becoming a security consultant, then all you have to do to set the ball rolling is to enroll in a college or university to study relevant courses like criminology, sociology, psychology et al and obtain a degree and a Master Degree as well. Now let us quickly go through the sure fire steps you need to follow to become a security consultant:

Becoming a Licensed Security Consultant – Legal Requirements

1. Be Determined and Diligent

Determination and diligence are some of the factors that can determine if anyone can succeed in his or her pursuit. If your desire is to become a security consultant, then you just have to be determined and you must be diligent in the pursuit of this dream or goal as the case maybe. The fact is that, there are many huddles you must scale through before you can become a security consultant that is worth his or her salt and that is why you just have to be determined and diligent.

2. Acquire Relevant First Degree and Second Degree

The educational foundation you create for yourself determines how far you can go in your quest of becoming a security consultant. Part of what you need to do to set the stage right in becoming a security consultant is to enroll in a college or university to study relevant courses like criminology, sociology, psychology et al.

If you obtain a good first degree in this field of study, it would be much easier for you to obtain a second degree and even a doctorate degree. If you can successfully study to PhD level, people will automatically consider you an expert in the field. So, if you want to fast track your dream of becoming a security consultant, then strive hard to study security related courses like Criminology et al to PhD level.

3. Gather Relevant Experience

Another route you can follow to become a security consultant that may be well respected in the society is to apply and work with notable security firm in your country after your first degree. As a matter of fact, if you are good with your job and you are able to grow to top management position, you would have been exposed to a lot of info that would automatically put you in the platform of experts in the security industry. In case you don’t have a degree and you want to become a security consultant, then you should look towards joining the military or the police.

If you did well in your art subjects in high school, you can be posted to serve in the intelligence department (unit) and that will definitely prepare you for your future career (security consultancy). The bottom line is that in any side of the divide you fall into, you can still fulfill your dream of becoming a security consultant with class and respect in your country and even in the world at large.

4. Enroll for Certification Courses

Even if you have gathered all the relevant degrees and experiences in the security industry, you might have to still enroll and pass all the required security certification courses in your country and even international certifications. One thing about security certification exams is that it could be somewhat difficult if you aren’t prepared for it.

But if you are actively working in the security sector and you read all the available materials for the exams, you are sure going to pass the certification exams in one sitting. You can check with relevant authority in your country to know the different period of the year you can write the exams and the application fee.

5. Stay Abreast With Global Security Issues

Becoming a security consultant means that you would be well informed of global security issues. Part of what you need to do to stay abreast with global security issues is to subscribe to various security journals from within your country of residence and abroad. You can as well browse the internet frequently to read up about security trends and all relevant topics that will keep you informed of best practices in the industry.

6. Blog and Write Commentary on Security Related Issues

The truth is that people won’t know that you are an expert in a particular field until you proffer solutions to challenges in that field. Part of what you need to do to let people know that you are an expert in the security industry, is to blog about security related issues. It could be your personal blog, or as a guest blogger. Just ensure that you give your readers the opportunity to ask you security related questions and ensure that you are prompt in answering their questions.

7. Open Your Office for Business and Let People Know What You Do

Lastly, you should set a date to open your office for business and let people and organizations know that you are a security consultant. You can send proposals to companies to request to become their security consultant and you can as well advertise your business.

These are all the steps you need to follow to become a security consultant. Be sure to hold these tips dearly and all other thing would be settled in due course.