Better job, PI or Security?

[junkyarddog]

Our site is in a state of transition. Corporate Security is currently being directed under a Private Investigator (executive position within the company), uniformed security is under his direction as well but subbed out to my employer. They are merging the two, taking the uniformed contract off of my employer and making everyone corporate security. Only 5 of us at most (out of roughly 100) will be "kept", everyone else will be new. The job is mine to lose.

What I am wondering, is if it is better to make the transition or to stay working with a security contractor. Without getting into too many particulars, the corporate security job pays better at the start but not as much as "Account Manager" at the company I am working at now. I am in the process of getting the education and company training to be an account manager. But one of the incentives of making the switch is that it is a "ground floor opportunity".

I have better connections with corporate security than with my own company. The account manager job is no sure thing. The new job will have me also working details outside the primary account- other customers of this same PI. Seems that will help my resume.

I am going with the PI firm, but am kind of torn.

Any advice or suggestions?

[mad_malk]

Is being a PI regulated or licensed? Is security? which one is harder to obtain? If none of the above pertain to you remember this advice i give people. the starting pay reflects the value the company places on you and indicates the most they will pay for you.

[BadBoynMD]

I'm a private investigator, and if you have an option i'd go PI. Most PI's here in Maryland, start out making between $18 - $35 an hour. A friend of mine, got a job as a PI and she, got a starting salary of $24 an hour. Got to travel to Vegas, RI and Italy. You just have to figure your options. At the end of the day, it always comes to "how much?".

[Nauticus]

I'd go PI.

To me, the private security industry is essentially topped by two jobs - private investigation, and personal protection/executive protection. To me, those are the top positions you can attain in the private security industry.

[gcmc security part 2]

I'd go PI.

To me, the private security industry is essentially topped by two jobs - private investigation, and personal protection/executive protection. To me, those are the top positions you can attain in the private security industry.

That makes no sense to me, but it is your opinion. There are many other top positions you can attain in private security. Director, General Manager (my general manager started as a patrol officer 20+ years ago, she maid 109K last year), heck the many corporate jobs out there.

[integrator97]

I'm curious about this thing working for the PI/Directors other accounts? Is it all on the up & up.

Aside from that, I'm guessing that the "opportunity" to make the higher salary as a PI/exec prot. is greater than as a security manager or director. By that I mean, once you're a skilled licensed PI, there are more opportunities to command that salary. There's only so many managers at the level gcmc referred to, in any given company or area. And reaching is 1/3 politics, 1/3 luck, and 1/3 skill and ability. What I mean is that probably 1 in 3 managers that work their way up in any field, get there strictly cause they deserved over others every step of the way.

So if it were me, I'd do the PI thing.

[NRM_Oz]

Bread and Butter Income Needed

PI for sure and it has more options such as a client asking for assistance in providing a security plan or some options. However, you need to ensure you have continuous work to ensure you have your $24.00 USD / hour but then 25 hours @ $24 is better than 40 hours at $8.00. Most EP and PI's I know still maintain their security licences for that bread and butter money just in case things are quiet and this applies for CPP (EP) work as well - as we all need an income but we also need to find what is best for us.

Go the PI or Account Mgr career path ........... better for your career and you.

[mad_malk]

PI for sure and it has more options such as a client asking for assistance in providing a security plan or some options. However, you need to ensure you have continuous work to ensure you have your $24.00 USD / hour but then 25 hours @ $24 is better than 40 hours at $8.00. Most EP and PI's I know still maintain their security licences for that bread and butter money just in case things are quiet and this applies for CPP (EP) work as well - as we all need an income but we also need to find what is best for us.

Go the PI or Account Mgr career path ........... better for your career and you.

Read this this is very true. I have my CC Lic and still maintain a D(security officer lic.) when things are slow like now make up lost money buy pulling shifts in uniform.

[bpdblue]

From reading your post, it seems like going with the corporate security choice would be the best for you.

[Nauticus]

That makes no sense to me, but it is your opinion. There are many other top positions you can attain in private security. Director, General Manager (my general manager started as a patrol officer 20+ years ago, she maid 109K last year), heck the many corporate jobs out there.

And I don't disagree. But, like I mentioned in my original post, private investigation and executive protection are the two highest positions you can obtain, for me. I don't aspire to be a director or a corporate security worker, or whatnot. Hence why my post was specifically to me.

[N. A. Corbier]

Security and Private Investigation are the same career?

[integrator97]

Security and Private Investigation are the same career?

Well it all falls under the same umbrella, as it were, in the same sense I, an electronics guy does. (Bet y'all wish I'd just shut up sometimes )

Seems a bit odd that a large company would make a PI their director, but then, one of my largest customers just let the IT security director take over all of security (they have their own in house), when the last director retired.

Seems you would want someone with a physical security background as well.

[Limo LA]

I don't know which state you are in, but this makes me confused.

In California, PI may not perform as security service (protect property or person) unless it is prior PI related incident.
and Security may not investigate unless related to prior security related incident.
and Security company must have Qualified (licensed) Manager and PI license can not fit to Security company's QM licence.

But at least, (again in California)
Security is "Registration" and PI is "License".
Security registration can be received by 40 hours of training.
PI license need 6,000 hours of experience or College degree.

*** CA BSIS site FAQ ***
Three years of compensated experience totaling not less than 6,000 hours in investigative work, while employed by law enforcement agencies, collection agencies, insurance agencies, banks, courts, and other private investigation agencies, etc.
A college degree in criminal law, criminal justice or police science can be substituted for part of the experience.

to my eyes, PI license is much harder to get than Security registration.
Should be higher pay.

[integrator97]

In Arkansas the same department of the state police, and the same board, licenses alarm, guard and PI's. They are seperate, with different requirements, but there are levels that encompass them all or multiples, for a company that provides all services.

[junkyarddog]

I don't know which state you are in, but this makes me confused.

In California, PI may not perform as security service (protect property or person) unless it is prior PI related incident.
and Security may not investigate unless related to prior security related incident.
and Security company must have Qualified (licensed) Manager and PI license can not fit to Security company's QM licence.

But at least, (again in California)
Security is "Registration" and PI is "License".
Security registration can be received by 40 hours of training.
PI license need 6,000 hours of experience or College degree.

to my eyes, PI license is much harder to get than Security registration.
Should be higher pay.

In my State, a private investigator is anyone who contracts security work period.