One Shield’s Formula for Hiring Security Officers

| “You can’t just hire anybody and put ’em in a uniform and say, ‘Go do security,’” said One Shield Account Manager Charmaine Palmer during a recent episode of the Vision InSites Podcast. “That’s what a lot of companies do. No training. No protocols. Just a windbreaker and a warm body.”

That approach doesn’t hold up in high-accountability environments like HOAs. With board members and property managers closely watching, failure to deliver service gets noticed—and contracts get cut.

Building a Better Hiring Pipeline

Instead of rushing to fill posts, One Shield took a smarter route: they turned event security into a talent pipeline.

| “If they weren’t reliable for events, they weren’t going to be reliable for standing posts,” said Rash.

Events provided more than income. They became an extended tryout—an opportunity to evaluate performance, attitude, and reliability before offering full-time positions. This strategy created a culture where full-time security officer roles were earned, not handed out.

Growing Through Responsiveness and Reporting

At the start, the team only managed four to five accounts. That tight focus allowed them to be hands-on, hyper-responsive, and deeply involved with each client.

| “We didn’t have 30 or 50 accounts. We had a few. That meant no problems went unnoticed,” Rash explained.

One of the biggest growth levers? Going all-in on electronic reporting early.

While many guard companies still relied on paper logs or email templates, One Shield embraced security guard management software to streamline reporting, improve visibility, and stay accountable.

| “The reports helped our team stay organized and helped our clients see the value,” Rash said. “It created trust, and trust drives retention.”

How COVID Became a Catalyst

In 2020, COVID-19 hit the event business hard. One Shield lost almost 50% of their revenue overnight. But instead of folding, they focused.

| “It was a chance to slow down and double down on what we really wanted: standing guards, HOAs, and commercial sites,” said Rash.

With leaner operations and a clear vision, the company weathered the storm and scaled smarter.