Security Guard Interview Questions and Video Screening

Introduction

Hiring the right Security Guard is critical for protecting assets, ensuring staff and visitor safety, and reducing operational risk in the Other Industries sector. A well-structured screening process reduces turnover and raises frontline security standards.

This guide provides targeted Security Guard interview questions across basic, intermediate, and advanced levels, plus five pre-screening one-way video interview questions ideal for ScreeningHive. Use these to standardize evaluations and speed hiring.

Security Guard Interview Questions

Basic Security Guard Interview Questions

• What motivated you to become a Security Guard and why are you interested in this role?
• What are the primary duties and responsibilities of a Security Guard at a commercial or industrial site?
• How do you maintain situational awareness during a long shift?
• Describe your experience with access control and visitor management.
• How do you document and report incidents or unusual activity?
• What steps do you take to deescalate a verbal confrontation?
• Are you licensed and trained in the required certifications for this position? Please list them.
• How do you prioritize tasks when multiple issues occur at once?

Intermediate Security Guard Interview Questions

• You notice a person behaving suspiciously near a loading dock after hours. Describe your response and how you would escalate if necessary.
• A fire alarm activates in a building you patrol. What is your immediate action and how do you coordinate with building occupants and emergency services?
• An aggressive visitor refuses to comply with a security request. Explain how you would manage the situation while preserving safety and legal compliance.
• You discover signs of forced entry in an office. What steps do you take to secure the scene and preserve evidence?
• Describe how you would handle a reported theft and the procedures you follow for interviewing witnesses and filing a report.
• A CCTV operator reports suspicious footage of a vehicle near the perimeter. How do you verify and respond to the alert?
• During a large event, crowd flow becomes congested at an exit. What crowd control measures would you implement to prevent injury?
• A staff member requests an escort to their vehicle after a late shift. How do you assess and fulfill that request while maintaining other duties?
• You receive conflicting instructions from a supervisor and a client site manager. How do you resolve the conflict and ensure proper action?
• Describe your role in conducting routine patrols for safety hazards and how you document follow up actions.

Advanced Security Guard Interview Questions

• Outline a security plan for a multi building facility that balances access control, surveillance, and patrol resources.
• How would you analyze incident data to identify trends and reduce repeat security breaches?
• Describe strategies to optimize patrol schedules and manpower allocation across rotating shifts.
• What criteria do you use to evaluate and implement new access control technologies and cameras?
• Explain how you would develop and deliver a training program to improve team performance on emergency response and deescalation.
• How do you ensure chain of custody for physical evidence from an incident until handover to law enforcement?
• Discuss methods to measure security team performance using KPIs and how you act on the results.
• How would you manage vendor relationships for contracted security services to maintain consistent quality and compliance?
• Describe your approach to budgeting for security operations while meeting risk reduction goals.
• Explain how you stay current with legal and regulatory requirements affecting security operations and employee conduct.

Pre-Screening Video Interview Questions for Security Guard

These five one-way video questions are ideal for ScreeningHive to quickly assess candidate fit, communication, situational judgment, and experience before live interviews.

1. Why do you want to work as a Security Guard at our organization and what makes you a strong match?

   This evaluates motivation, role fit, and ability to communicate relevant experience succinctly.

2. Describe a past incident where you identified a safety risk and the steps you took to resolve it.

   This checks real world problem solving, attention to detail, and adherence to procedure.

3. How do you handle long night shifts to remain alert and professional throughout the assignment?

   This assesses reliability, self management, and practical strategies for shift work.

4. Provide an example of how you deescalated a tense confrontation while keeping people safe.

   This evaluates conflict management, communication style, and judgment under pressure.

5. What certifications and training do you hold, and how do you maintain them over time?

   This confirms credentials, commitment to continuous learning, and compliance readiness.

Conclusion

This question set helps hiring managers, recruiters, and HR teams efficiently evaluate Security Guard candidates at every experience level. Structured interviews improve consistency and reduce hiring time while uncovering the skills that matter most for frontline security roles.

ScreeningHive one-way video interviews enable faster screening, standardized evaluations, and fairer candidate comparisons. Use these questions to accelerate hiring and select Security Guards who protect people and property effectively.