What Are The Job Requirements Of A Bodyguard

What Are The Job Requirements Of A Bodyguard

Bodyguards in the movies and in the tabloids may make the job look exciting and glamorous. While it can be that way, it can also be a boring, taxing and thankless job for some. Bodyguards spend much of their time waiting for things that never occur, constantly on guard when nothing is going on. Many are mostly status symbols for vain celebrities more interested in showing up with an entourage of people than being guarded against possible threats. A bodyguard's work may include mundane tasks, fetching and personal assistant-type duties that involve much more than personal protection.

Because a bodyguard is responsible for the personal safety of the client they are working for, many times they are involved in preparing that person's schedule. They may plan their client's arrivals and departures at certain times in the day or night when risk of threat or press is lower. This may involve clearing the lobby of a hotel in advance for a block of time to allow the client to enter privately. A bodyguard may make special arrangements for their client to shop before or after hours at a store in order to allow them privacy and security while they shop.

The paparazzi are a huge factor for those people that require a bodyguard, and dealing with that paparazzi is an equally large part of the job. Handling the press takes a little more finesse than simply shooing them away at every opportunity. A bodyguard that knows how to handle the media will also know when is a good time and a bad time to allow them to see the client. Celebrities are famous because of the media, and they don't always need to hide from every camera. Knowing when to allow for cameras and adoring fans and when to hold them off is a key element of being a bodyguard.

Evasive driving can be a part of the bodyguard job. Princess Diana died tragically while her car tried to evade the paparazzi in a high-speed chase. It is important to be able to drive in high pressure situations while keeping a cool head and performing other bodyguard duties at the same time. While many celebrities that have bodyguards also have professional drivers on staff, it may also be necessary for a bodyguard to perform both functions. Training in safe evasive driving could be beneficial if a bodyguard needs to do this.

A bodyguard often arrives at a location before the client does in order to do a security sweep. This may involve searching the home of a client, vehicle, office and hotel rooms. The bodyguard should know to look for safety threats, stalkers, even bomb threats. They will also coordinate events for security and privacy. For many public figures, a bodyguard will stay on guard 24-hours a day outside a hotel room in order to screen anyone that may try to come to the room.

The life of a celebrity or public figure can be exciting and even dangerous, so a bodyguard is a necessity for many of them. For the right person, the job requirements of a bodyguard are no big problem. However, it is important to realize that the job is not all glitz and glamour and can be taxing or even boring. Regardless of the details related to the specific client, a bodyguard's job is demanding and not for everyone.