Store Detective Association Get a job as a loss prevention store detective Van Nuys California

Having seen an ad on the internet for Store detectives who can make $16 an hour, I went to a meeting in the mid-valley. The building and the office were quite old and I had my questions already as to what kind of business it was based soley on the set up of the office.

I met with a middle aged man who chattered on like he was on bennies for most of the meeting, I barely got a word in. The opportunity is for attending two classes that are on two different nights for three hours, and afterwards you get a certificate that says you passed their test. The classes cost $300.

I investigated with several real companies that actually do the work, and don't just hold classes, and they had some interesting directions.

The company is only a "school", and can't really set you up in a job. They really just give you a list of companies to go interview with that you yourself have to set up. When you don't get hired it's your fault for not being a good sell. And you are out your money.

My contacts say that the information you get in the classes is not accurate anyway, and in store security trains its own anyhow, for better results. You can't qualify for more money just because you have a guard card. Security work for regular companies is a lot less hands on than this sort of work, and it takes a lot of real world experince to know how to correctly detain people and cuff them for the police. Regular security won't give you this training so your card is pretty much null and void at the beginning.

My advice is to save your money and apply with the actual store security, then be trained THIER way and be ready for work with them. Filling out a seventh grade level test that NO ONE ever fails will not get you a job and will only take your money.

Pointman
North Hollywood, California
U.S.A.