Bodyguard Jobs in Europe
Interested in becoming a bodyguard? Who wouldn't want the glamour of protecting celebrities, the all expenses paid travel to exotic places and of course the sheer thrill of the ever present threat of danger. However it is important to recognise that being a bodyguard requires a lot more than physical size.
The requirements:
One of the most important characteristics is that you need to be fit. Notice that I said fit, not big. Being a bodyguard is not all about being the biggest guy on the street. While of course a man will never be turned down for being too muscular or too tall, such attributes are insignificant if you are unable to run or defend yourself.
Secondly, you may be surprised to hear that this occupation is not all about brawn. Most bodyguards possess firearms training, unarmed combat training and first aid training. Also if you wish to truly progress in this career, much more training will be required on an on going basis.
You must also consider whether you have the right personality for the job. A bodyguard is often responsible for a human life and you must ask yourself whether you are not only professional enough but also mentally strong enough for such a responsibility.
Availability of work in Europe:
The bodyguard industry is one of the few industries unaffected by the recession and in fact, due to the general increase in violence/paranoia throughout the world, the industry is actually thriving at the moment.
There are hundreds of security companies all over Europe that primarily hire self employed bodyguards for contracts of various lengths and advertise these vacancies online. As in most industries however, finding your first job can prove difficult.
This should not put you off however. By simply starting with the more straight forward positions and having patience, it is not a particularly difficult industry to get into and with the above mentioned attributes you should eventually find your first job.
So if you do manage to break into the industry, what can you expect?
The first thing to remember about the job is that it is far from a 9 to 5 gig. Long shifts are often required. Clients usually need protection 24 hours a day, therefore evening and weekend work is obviously very common.
Travel is also a very large aspect of the job. A bodyguard's job would be a lot easier if the client stayed in their hotel room all day but they have a pesky habit of moving around a lot, often from country to country. The point is there are many people who consider this an advantage and you really need to ask yourself whether you are one of those people.
A lot of people ask about the level of risk involved. This varies widely depending on the location and the client. The majority of Europe is considered low risk; therefore you are unlikely to encounter the types of problems you would encounter in more volatile areas of the world.
The level of pay of course reflects this; therefore if you want to make the most money in this industry, Europe is the wrong place to do it. The pay does however vary a lot and there are exceptions to this rule.
In conclusion, the career of a bodyguard can be a highly rewarding one both financially and personally. With the right attributes, there are very few barriers to entry and Europe is the perfect place to start. However, before entering the industry you should answer one question. If it was a loved one that was in danger, would you trust yourself to be able to protect them?
