Why Physical Security Professionals Hate Job Hunting
If you have ever held a security clearance, conducted advance work, managed a GSOC, or served as EP for a Fortune 50 principal, you probably know the frustrating truth: mainstream job platforms like LinkedIn and Indeed are not designed for our specialized field.
When searching for terms like "Executive Protection," "Protective Intelligence," "Travel Risk Manager," or "Insider Risk Manager," it's all too common to be inundated with irrelevant results, such as thousands of cybersecurity positions or financial risk management jobs. These platforms often fail to differentiate between a uniformed officer and a Tier-1 protective agent with a TS/SCI clearance…equipped with a trauma kit.
On top of that, we're often forced to craft traditional resumes or profiles into a system designed to overlook vital information, such as:
Your state or federal security certifications (of which each state has varying forms)
Firearms qualifications and training
Experience in high-risk environments
Familiarity with specific software (like Ontic, 360 Privacy, ATAK, Genetec, TopoOne, Skopenow, and Everbridge)
The complexity of applications increases when platforms require individuals to share personal details, such as phone numbers, addresses, race, gender, and veteran status, without implementing adequate information security measures. This type of sensitive information can pose significant security risks in our profession. Who is on the other end of these recruitment platforms, viewing our information? Are they properly vetted? Could they be a foreign intelligence entity?
Irrelevant information can create bottlenecks in the screening process. It may even result in the elimination of qualified candidates due to outdated algorithms that search for keywords not in their database. The traditional job search process can be particularly discouraging in many fields, especially in the security industry. Submitting 400 resumes without receiving a single response can lead to a significant emotional crisis, prompting individuals to question their qualifications and even their career choices. This is not an exaggeration; it is a reality.
The one-size-fits-all approach of the recruitment industry leads to three significant challenges for professionals like us:
Poor signal-to-noise ratio: Hiring physical security professionals via LinkedIn or Indeed is challenging because general job boards often flood results with irrelevant cyber/IT roles, exacerbate talent shortages, and fail to address niche needs like clearances, leading to high turnover and increased costs.
Compromised operational security (OPSEC): Public profiles can expose our protective teams, revealing travel patterns and making it easier for adversaries to gather intelligence. There have been concerning instances of nation-state actors scraping LinkedIn for data on cleared personnel.
Keyword confusion breaks the search process: Terms such as "Security," "Security Specialist," "Travel Security," and "Security Manager" often yield thousands of unrelated job postings in cybersecurity or financial risk. Meanwhile, legitimate physical and protective roles—such as Executive Protection, GSOC Operator, Site Security Manager, Close Protection Agent, and Behavioral Threat Detection Officer—get buried or overlooked altogether.
Great news! There is a solution! A platform built specifically to address the unique needs of our profession. Picture a recruitment environment designed exclusively for professionals in physical security, protective security, non-cyber threat management, and intelligence. You can create a profile in under ten minutes using simple checkboxes and verified uploads, eliminating the need for lengthy narratives. Best of all, you won't need to upload a resume or cover letter. Instead, you'll provide only the essential details employers need to understand your qualifications and connect with you quickly about job offers.
Until we have such specialized platforms (coming soon), we must navigate this challenging landscape.
If you're weary of explaining to recruiters why your Army infantry experience doesn't directly translate to corporate executive protection or why you're hesitant to publicize your clearance information, know that you are not alone.
The recruitment system needs to change, and it's up to us to drive it. I'm excited to share that Morton Executive Decisions is developing a revolutionary recruitment platform explicitly focused on physical security, executive protection, and intelligence professionals, crafted by individuals who truly understand our world.
Join our private beta and stop compromising your operational security to secure your next opportunity. You shouldn't have to choose between staying employed and ensuring your safety. Let's take this journey together!
To help my writing process, I used these Grammarly AI prompts:
Prompts created by Grammarly: "Improve it", "Sound more on-brand", etc.