How to Pass a Door Supervisor Job Interview
A door supervisor (sometimes known as a security guard) performs a range of duties that vary based on the type of venue you are monitoring.
It is a regulated position that needs an SIA licence; many companies will ask you to demonstrate this qualification during the recruitment process.
Your daily responsibilities consist of the following:
crowd control, queue management, and venue entry
examining tickets, age, and attitude
patrolling within and outside the venue, monitoring people’s behaviour and dealing with inconvenience, arresting and moving people out of the venue, coping with emergencies, and violence, and cooperating with the police
Commonly Asked Door Supervisor Job Interview Questions
Q1. Tell me about yourself and the skills, qualities and experience you have that will be a perfect match for the role of Door Supervisor?
If you want to maintain a good impression to get the job, tailor your answer to the role and company and research the job description and the company so you can keep answers work-related. Moreover, keep it professional, communicate and share your enthusiasm for the position with the interviewer. Keep your answers concise and to the point.
Ideally, it would be best to draw primarily from recent professional experience and success related to the job. Focus on strengths and abilities supported with examples. Lastly, discussing personal interests is a good way to wrap up your response while maintaining a professional tone.
Sample Answer:
“I am a dedicated, professional and resilient person who is fully equipped with the qualities that a door supervisor must possess. I would keep in mind all the laws and regulations which I must adhere to while performing my respective duty. Concerning the experiences I have, I have lots of experience in dealing with people in a wide range of situations, including confrontation and also potentially dangerous scenarios. Throughout these types of situations, I have kept myself intact and remained calm, and have religiously followed the training that I have undergone. If you appoint me as your door supervisor, I will always act professionally and will never put your organisation at risk.”
Also Read: How to Get an SIA Licence in 2023?
Q2. Describe a time you failed at this work and the lesson you learned.
When the employer asks questions about a moment when you failed, show that you accept your faults rather than blaming others. Take responsibility, admit that you could have done better, be direct and explain clearly. Everyone makes a lot of mistakes, but make sure you explain what you learnt and how you used it for improvement. Lastly, try to convey the story in a concise and chronological form.
Sample Answer:
“The failure I made was during my first experience as a door supervisor at an enterprise. I detected a problem with a CCTV camera while monitoring, but I did not report it instantly. There was a delay before repair, and the valuable property was declared lost. I was disappointed by the delay in fixing a camera in one of the properties that disappeared. I’ve learned to report even minor damage as early as possible.”
Q3. What kind of strategies and mince are required for this role?
Door supervisors play a significant role in the security business because they are the first individuals guests see when they arrive at events, offices, or institutions. If the strategies are being asked, tell the interviewer how you are going to familiarise yourself with the security services and adapt yourself according to the company’s policies. Door supervisors should remain focused and attentive at all times, even though the workplace is known to be peaceful. They work to keep the premises secure, and their interactions can impact the general impression a customer gets from a location.
Sample answer:
“I will stay well-organised and help coordinate activities efficiently. As door supervisors are the front line of communication between an organisation and its customers, I will maintain clear communication with their customers, management, police officers and other team members. Being focused and accurate with details is essential, so I will be aware of the rules and use them to manage the crowd and a secure environment.”
Q4. What are the qualities that a security guard should possess to be effective?
This question helps the interviewees understand how the candidate can show his capabilities. The candidate must stress his abilities as a door supervisor and specifically relate them to the requirements of his job.
Sample Answer:
“The security guard must show responsiveness and preparedness while detecting any signs of danger and must be aware of any actions of trespassing. Along with that, highly rational and effective communication skills are other essential qualities that must be owned by a security guard. They must be in full control of themselves and their body language must portray that.”
Also Read: What is the cost of an SIA Licence?
Q5. What is your greatest strength as a security officer?
This question helps interviewers understand how you view yourself as a candidate. They want someone confident in their applicable skills as well as their ability to handle this role effectively. To come up with a strong answer, think about what you do best as a security officer. Assess your skills to decide which ones help you keep an area safe and secure.
Sample Answer:
“My ability to follow procedures is my greatest strength as a security officer. For each security job I’ve had in the past, I’ve been diligent about learning each company’s policies. This strength has allowed me to display progress in the short span of my career and I will continue to incorporate it as an employee at your company.“
Q6. What would you do if a fellow guard was slacking on the job?
As security guards or officers, you and your colleagues are likely to have a lot of downtimes. This is especially true for officers who work shifts in the middle of the night. Employers ask this question to make sure you are accountable during work hours and can influence others to stay on task. In your answer, try to remain positive and show how you would resolve the situation calmly without conflict. For example, you might say that you would encourage your coworker to get back to work by reminding them about company policies.
Sample Answer:
“If I saw that a coworker wasn’t doing their job, I would first politely talk to them about it. I would remind them that the safety of this facility is our responsibility and that we need to be attentive at all times. If their behaviour continued, I would refer to the employee handbook to learn the procedure for these instances. For example, at my last job, the guidelines were to report these kinds of behaviours to management, which is what I would do if a colleague’s work ethic became a problem.”
Q7. What industries have you worked in as a security guard?
Serving as a night guard is not the same as crowd control at a music festival. Companies ask this question to determine whether you have security experience related to the open position. Mention all of the industries in which you have worked, and explain in full any experience you have in each industry. If you have no prior experience working in their particular type of security, talk about what transferable talents you have that you could utilise in this new role.
Sample Answer:
“I worked as a door supervisor at a nightclub for four years. Though this has nothing to do with working in a concert venue, I learnt a lot of skills that I can apply to this job. For example, I learnt how to manage people and keep a facility safe and organised. I also learned effective conflict resolution techniques that I could utilise if visitors become problematic in a show.”
Also Read: How To Become An SIA Licensed Security Guard in the UK?
Q8. What is your experience with managing security systems and equipment?
This question can help the interviewer understand your experience with managing a team of security officers and how you might apply that experience to this role. Use examples from previous roles to highlight your leadership skills, communication abilities and problem-solving skills.
Sample Answer:
“In my experience as a door supervisor, I was assigned the duty of overlooking all several different aspects of the security system, which consisted of sensors, monitoring cameras, alarms and other equipment. This included ensuring that all systems were functioning properly and responding to any issues or concerns. In addition, I maintained proper communication skills with the team regarding any changes that had been made to the procedures. Along with that, team members were made aware of their work so they could immediately react in case of any emergency.”
Q9. Provide an example of a time when you had to deal with an emergency.
Security supervisors often have to make quick decisions in emergencies and be logical about it and avoid making irrational decisions. Employers ask this question to learn more about your decision-making skills and how you react under pressure. When preparing for your answer, think of a time when you had to act quickly to solve a problem or keep people safe. Try to choose an example that shows you are calm under pressure and can prioritise important tasks.
Sample Answer:
“When I was working as a door supervisor at a jewellery store, a situation arose where I had to suspect the thief because of a robbery incident that has taken place. Rather than aimlessly suspecting every customer as the accused, I went over the CCTV footage quickly and the thief had been caught. It helped in avoiding any chaos and prevented any fight from breaking out.”
Q10. If we were to walk around your security post, what would we see you doing to stay alert and focused?
Security supervisors need to be able to stay alert and focused while on duty. Employers ask this question to make sure you have a plan for remaining alert on your duty and being aware of your surroundings. In your answer, explain what strategies you use to keep yourself engaged and attentive.
Sample Answer:
“I find that the best way to stay alert is by moving around my post as much as possible. I would patrol the area after every 10 minutes to be well aware of my surroundings and sense any sort of danger. I also like to take short breaks throughout my shift so I don’t exhaust myself completely and start to feel tired. The breaks would last for about 5 minutes just to refresh me.”
Also Read: 7 Essential CCTV Operator Skills Before You Get SIA CCTV Licence
Q11. What would you do if you saw an employee violating company policy regarding security?
This question can help the interviewer assess your leadership skills and ability to enforce company policies. Your answer should show that you respect authority, but also understand how to use it fairly.
Sample Answer:
“If I saw an employee violating security policy, I would inquire about the reason behind it. If the employee is continuously procrastinating, I would try to make him understand by explaining to him the result of this. If it gets out of control, I would inform the authorities before it results in any uncontrollable danger. Informing the authorities would also help the employee solve this problem.“
Get Door Supervisor Training From Us!
If you need door supervisor training, consider getting a door supervisor from Agile Security Training. You can apply for an SIA Door Supervisor Licence after completing the door supervisor course.
Our trainers can assist you in completing all of the necessary prerequisites and preparing for your first security job interview.
Or, you can also get a Door Supervisor Top-up Course from us before renewing your licence.
If you have any questions, please contact us!
