How to craft a compelling private security cover letter
Private security professionals are brought on by a diverse range of clients, from private estates to security details for A-list celebrities. As a private security officer looking for work, a cover letter is an excellent tool for demonstrating your professionalism and discretion to employers.
In this guide, we will teach you 5 steps for writing a cover letter as a private security professional. Continue reading to learn more about:
- Creating an appealing cover letter header and headline
- Tailoring your private security cover letter for specific employers
- Writing a strong cover letter introduction as a private security professional
- Showing off your key skills and accomplishments in private security
- Ending your private security cover letter with a persuasive conclusion
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1. Create an appealing private security cover letter header and headline
As a private security professional, it is essential to let employers know who you are and how to contact you as immediately as possible. Moreover, this information should be organized in a visually-appealing manner that attracts employers’ attention.
To accomplish this, you must create a well-formatted cover letter header that includes:
- Your name and professional title
- Your professional contact information
- The name of the company or employer
- The address of the company or employer
Here is an example of a well-formatted private security cover letter header
Jane Doe, Private Security Professional
(123) 456-7890 | janedoe@email.com | linkedin.com/in/jane-doe
To: Mecha Private Security Solutions
1234 Street Address
Los Angeles, CA 90002
Once your header is in place, you can then move on to creating your cover letter headline. A headline is similar to a title and helps to introduce the main idea or most interesting point of your cover letter.
To write a headline, you should always include a keyword related to the position, an eye-catching number or trigger word, a powerful adjective or verb, and a promise statement that informs the employer the letter is written specifically for them.
Here is an example of a strong private security headline, followed by a brief explanation of its main components
3 Essential Skills that Make Me the Perfect Addition to Your Private Security Detail
Trigger Word/Number: 3 Essential Skills
Keyword: Private Security Detail
Adjective/Verb: Essential, Make
Promise: Your Private Security Detail
2. Tailor your private security cover letter for specific employers
When applying to a position in private security, you want to show an employer that you have excellent attention to detail and have taken the time to learn about their wants and needs.
The best way to do this is by researching the employer beforehand and then tailoring your cover letter to fit this research. Some key details to look for when performing this research include:
- What the specific security needs of an employer are
- What skills and qualifications the employer has prioritized in the past
- Who will be responsible for reviewing your application and later interviewing you
Using this last piece of information, you can create a personalized greeting that addresses this person by name and lets them know immediately that you have tailored your letter.
Here are 3 examples of personalized cover letter greetings
- Dear Mr. Ken Paulson,
- Dear CEO Ken Paulson,
- To Mr. Ken Paulson & the Security Team,
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3. Write a strong cover letter introduction as a private security professional
Now that you know who you are writing to and the specific details they are likely to look for in an applicant, you may begin writing the body text of your cover letter — starting with an introduction.
A strong cover letter introduction will include:
- A brief overview of your professional history and/or goals
- A statement on why you are enthusiastic about working for this employer
- A mutual acquaintance (when possible) — for private security professionals especially, naming a mutual acquaintance can work wonders in establishing immediate trust and rapport with an employer
Here is an example of a strong introduction from a private security cover letter:
Dear Mr. Ken Paulson,
I am a private security professional with 7+ years of specialized experience in home surveillance and estate management. After coming across your job posting, I reached out to my mentor, Mr. Oliver Jones, who is acquainted with both you and the estate owner. Mr. Jones encouraged me to apply for this position, as I have both the technical skills and field experience necessary to ensure your security detail is top-notch.
4. Show off your key skills and accomplishments in private security
Now that you have established who you are and the experience and specializations you possess, your next step is to provide greater insight into your key skills and accomplishments.
This information will make up the body paragraphs of your cover letter and should be as relevant and concise as possible. When in doubt, always make sure the skills and accomplishments you describe are highly accurate and relatable to the employer.
Here are 6 skills to describe in a private security cover letter
- Weapon handling and safety
- Surveillance equipment and tactics
- Discretion and confidentiality
- Patrolling procedures
- Crowd management
- Perception and attention to detail
Here is an example of how to describe an accomplishment in a private security cover letter
As a private security agent for [Former Employer], I led a security detail in escorting an A-list celebrity to major award shows and events. In this role, I developed a new crowd surveillance technique and security formation that reduced the number of dangerous encounters by more than 70%, leading to a high level of satisfaction from the client.
5. End your private security cover letter with a persuasive conclusion
It’s time to finalize your cover letter with a strong and persuasive conclusion.
To write an impressive closing statement, make sure to include:
- An enthusiastic sentence saying you are looking forward to hearing from them
- An additional sentence stating you will follow up, including how you will contact them or how they can contact you
- A formal sign-off
Here is an example of a persuasive conclusion from a private security cover letter
By adding me to your private security team, I can guarantee your clients will feel extremely comfortable and safe with my services. I am eager to discuss this opportunity with you in person and am available to meet any day next week between the hours of 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Please feel free to reach out to me at your earliest convenience at (123) 456-7890.
Many Thanks,
[Applicant Name]
If you have ever wondered how a cover letter differs from a resume, this article will tell you everything about the key differences between the two.
