You can keep your cool when things get heated. You’re a pro when it comes to dealing with conflict. You know what it takes to protect both yourself and those around you. If you’re nodding your head at each of these claims, chances are you’d make an excellent door supervisor.
Landing yourself a role in this part of the security sector can be challenging. You need to prove to the hiring manager that you have what it takes. Writing a compelling door supervisor CV is the answer. But how do you cram your expertise, experience, and skills onto this document?
Luckily, you’ve come to the right place. In this guide, we share how to write a door supervisor CV that will win over the hiring manager. Read on to learn everything you need to know.
CV guide for a door supervisor CV
Want a CV that really opens doors? Check out our selection of CV examples that will inspire you. We also have an easy-to-use CV builder to help you get started in no time.
This CV guide and corresponding door supervisor CV example will cover the following:
- How to write a door supervisor CV
- Choosing the right CV format for door supervisors
- How to add your contact information
- Using summaries
- Adding your door supervisor experience
- Listing education and relevant experience
- Picking the right CV design/layout
- What the door supervisor market looks like, and what salary you can expect
How to write a door supervisor CV
Before you start working on your door supervisor CV, you need to know what elements to include. Your document should always have the following sections as standard:
- The CV header
- The CV summary (aka profile or personal statement)
- The employment history section
- The CV skills section
- The education section
Chances are, there are a whole load of security professionals just like you. They may have the same qualifications as you, the same experience level as you, and the same set of skills. So, how do you set yourself apart from the crowd? The answer is by pinpointing your unique selling proposition. This is the thing that you have which no one else out there has.
What is it that makes you different? It could be that you have a specific background check, or that you have done security for a big name brand, for example. You can lead with this in your personal statement and then hint at it throughout the rest of your CV. When you are writing it, keep in mind that it’s a marketing document. You need to sell yourself as a professional.
Looking for some extra advice? Here are the golden rules to keep in mind when you’re writing your next door supervisor CV:
- Tailor your CV to the job. If you use the same old CV for all of your applications, it’s time to shake things up. The truth of the matter is that a hiring manager can spot this a mile off. If you want to win them over, take the time to learn about the business and the role. Align your door supervisor CV with the demands of this specific vacancy.
- Use the right keywords. One thing that you may not know about tailoring your CV to the job is that you should include keywords. That is because many hiring managers—and even recruitment agencies—now use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). This software scans incoming CVs to see how well each of them matches the job criteria. If you want to beat the bots, return to the job advert and pick out keywords. Using these throughout the body of your door supervisor CV could make all the difference here.
- Adopt a professional tone. When you’re writing a CV, you need to use a formal tone rather than a casual one. It doesn’t matter whether you know the boss or you have worked for the business before, using the right language can get you far.
- Include results-based points. You’re likely to make a load of major claims on your CV, and so you need to make sure that you can back them up. Ensure that you include results-based points throughout the document. In each case, let the hiring manager know how your actions lead to a positive result. Highlighting this shows your value.
Choosing the right CV format for a door supervisor
Now that you know how to write your door supervisor CV, let’s talk about which format to use.
For most professionals, we recommend using a reverse chronological order. This is the standard approach to writing a CV and is most likely what you learnt back at school.
However, there are instances when you will want to take a different approach. For example, if you don’t have a wealth of experience in the sector, you can use a skills-based CV instead. This option allows you to highlight the competencies that you have without putting too much weight on your work experience. It also works well if you are attempting to transition to a new sector.
If you want some help along the way, it’s worth using one of our many field-tested CV templates. We have a selection of designs to suit your job-seeking needs with a range of formats, too.
Include your contact information
If your door supervisor CV does its job, the hiring manager will want to reach out to you. Don’t make it hard for them.
Your CV header is like a business card. It includes the basic details that the hiring manager has to know about you. Here’s what you should include in this section:
- Full name & title. First up, you should include your first and last name. You also want to include the title of the job you’re applying for, in this case ‘door supervisor’.
- Email address. Use a suitable-for-work email address that you check regularly.
- Phone number. You can include your mobile number here. Make sure that your answering message is clean and appropriate for a workplace setting.
- Location. You don’t have to include your whole address anymore (if you don’t want to!). But you should list the basics: your town or city and the county in which you live.
Don’t include:
- Date of birth. The hiring manager does not need to know how old you are and this can actually lead to age discrimination.
- Marital status. Whether or not you are married or have kids is entirely irrelevant to your working life.
- Personal details. Avoid including personal information, such as your NI number.
Carl Jones
Married
44 Tree Lane, Sheffield,
South Yorkshire, S1 7FP
Security Genius
0872873127
Make use of a summary
Also known as your personal statement, your CV summary is located at the top of your CV. This part of your application is where you can speak directly to the hiring manager.
Once again, you need to lead with your unique selling proposition. This is the quality that you have that will put you ahead of the competition. It may be helpful to draft a few different ideas and see which one jumps off the page to you.
Remember, the idea here is to make the hiring manager say ‘wow, this is the perfect candidate for the job’. Put on your thinking cap.
Action verbs will also play a central role in your summary. You can use these words to show how you excelled in previous roles. Rather than writing a dull and boring blurb about you, you should include these specific words to give your summary movement and make it engaging.
Find your hook!
Hiring managers spend just seven seconds looking at each new CV that comes their way. That means that you don’t have all that long to make the right first impression.
Consider how you can hook the reader’s attention. That may mean using enticing language, including an interesting fact about you, or backing up your claims with statistics.
Do you need some inspiration before you get writing? Check out our related CV examples, including:
You can find adaptable door supervisor CV examples summary below:
Entry-level door supervisor with a commitment to crowdmanagement and conflict resolution. Offering a customer-focussed approach with excellent communication skills. Committed to upholding the highest of security standards while protecting the premises.
Savvy door supervisor with 5+ years of experience working in the club and entertainment industry. Skilled in a selection of emergency response techniques, managing large crowds, and overseeing the general safety of patrons. Boasting strong leadership skills and the ability to manage teams of up to 10 security staff members.
Experienced head door supervisor with more than 10 years of history working in retail and hospitality. Adept in risk assessment, large crowd management, crisis management, and staff training while also adhering to the latest security standards. Confident in training new starters to meet industry standards. Strong focus on customer safety and satisfaction while also aligning with regulations and the overarching business goals.
Outline your door supervisor work experience
When it comes to the work experience section of your CV, you only need to list roles going back the last 15 years. If you’ve been working for longer than that, you can keep things short and snappy. The hiring manager simply needs to get a snapshot of your most recent experience.
Start things off by listing the basic information about the role: the company name, location, and how long you worked there. Below that, you can include some bullet points that explain the accomplishments you gained within the position. Be specific about how your actions affected the team, business, or solved a problem. If in doubt, you can use the STAR method here.
Don’t simply list your responsibilities!
One of the biggest mistakes that job seekers make when writing about their work experience is listing their daily tasks. The hiring manager does not want to read a carbon-copy of your job description. Instead, show them the inherent value you brought to the position.
Space is limited when you’re working on this section. To save it, you can avoid using sentence openers such as “I am” or “I have”. Cut to the chase. Here’s how that looks in real terms:
- “Managed a team of 15 security personnel”
- “Oversaw the daily security operations for the business”
- “Improved overall security of the business by 15% in the first quarter”
Whenever you are including a bullet point, ask yourself what it tells the hiring manager about you. It’s never about simply filling up the space with meaningless statements. Each thing that you decide to include should tell the reader something new and interesting about your work.
Take a look at the door supervisor history CV sample below:
Door Supervisor at Manticore Security Ltd., Manchester
2020 - Present
- Conducted thorough security checks of patrons, including ID verification and bag searches
- Monitored the entrance and interior of the venue, promptly addressing any suspicious activities or potential threats
- Resolved conflicts and de-escalated tense situations using verbal communication skills and physical intervention when necessary
- Collaborated with other security staff and management to maintain a safe and enjoyable environment for guests
- Assisted with crowd control during peak hours and special events
Security Officer at Showsec, Manchester
2017 - 2020
- Patrolled assigned areas, identifying and reporting any security breaches or safety hazards
- Responded to emergency situations, providing first aid and contacting emergency services when required
- Monitored CCTV systems and access control points to prevent unauthorised entry
- Provided excellent customer service, directing patrons and answering their inquiries
How to write a door supervisor CV with no experience
When you are new to the security sector, you may worry that your lack of experience will hold you back. That is simply not the case. Everyone has to start somewhere, and you are no different. If this is the first job of this kind for which you are applying, focus on the following:
- Transferable skills. What competencies have you learned elsewhere that you can apply to this particular role? Highlighting your transferable skills will put you in a prime position. For example, you may want to emphasise your physical fitness, teamwork skills, professionalism, CCTV monitoring skills, and your ability to stay calm under pressure.
- Enthusiasm. Why is it that you want a job as a door supervisor? What excites you about the role? Show the hiring manager that you are serious about wanting this particular job.
- Special skills. Do you have any special skills that you can bring to the table? If the answer is yes, you should list them on your CV. It’s all about including anything that will put you ahead of the competition when you are applying for this role.
- First aid knowledge. If you have a working knowledge of first aid — or even training or certificates — you might want to mention it here. Including this on your CV will set you apart from applicants who may need this additional training at a later date.
Remember, you need to accompany your CV with a cover letter. This is especially important when you have no prior experience to speak of. Read our guide on how you can get it right.
Include the relevant key skills that make you a great doorman
To be a great door supervisor, you need the right balance of skills. Hard skills are technical and tend to apply directly to the role.
For example, they may include self-defence skills, first aid training, physical strength, and modern-day surveillance techniques.
However, it doesn’t start and end there. Since this is a person-centred job, you also need a range of soft skills, too. These talents may include interpersonal skills, great communication, time management, and organisation. Consider which are your top strengths and list them.
Our CV builder offers AI-generated skills to choose from when creating your document. You can also write your own skills in the template.
- Valid SIA (Security Industry Authority) Door Supervisor license
- Proficient in conflict resolution and de-escalation techniques
- Excellent observational and problem-solving skills
- Strong verbal and written communication abilities
- Physically fit and able to stand for extended periods
- First Aid and CPR certified
As the role of door supervisor is essentially a leadership position, you want to throw in a few skills that align with this level. You might want to add in key skills such as collaboration, management, delegation, and training, for instance.
Detail your education & relevant door supervisor certifications
If you want to work as a door supervisor, you will need to have a valid Security Industry Authority (SIA) licence. Find out about your training options on the government website.
You should list this certification along with your other educational feats. As we mentioned before, you will need to use the reverse chronological order here. Start with the most recent qualifications you have gained at the top and work your way back in time.
Aside from the basics (i.e. your schooling and licence), there are other types of education you may choose to list. Take a look at some examples below:
- Training. If you undertook any courses to bolster your security techniques, you should list them in your education section. To get a security licence, you may need one of the following qualifications: Highfield Qualifications, National Open College Network (NOCN), Pearson, Qualifications Network (QNUK), or SFJ Awards.
- Professional development. For example, you may have taken a leadership day course or completed a qualification online.
- Apprenticeships. One of the best routes into security is via a government apprenticeship. If that is how you got into the field, you can talk about it in your education section.
You don’t need to write too much beneath each education point. Simply include the dates that you received the qualification, the institute, and the score or grade. If there is a point of interest that you think is particularly important, you can include it as a bullet point below the above.
SIA certified, London Security College, Manchester
2017
CPR & First Aid Certification
Pick the right CV layout and design for a door supervisor CV
We’ve already covered what you should include in your door supervisor CV. But what about how it should look? The design and layout of this document matters more than you may imagine. It tells the hiring manager how professional you are and gives them a taste of what to expect.
Avoid opting for anything too ‘flashy’. Using a load of colours and imagery is a surefire way to annoy the hiring manager. Instead, you should aim to keep things simple. Make sure that the content is easy to read and that everything is clear. To do that, you need a minimal design.
We won’t beat around the bush. Perfecting the look of your CV can be hard. However, there are some quick ways that you can improve the layout of your CV. If you want to make sure that your document looks professional, use one of our many well-designed CV templates now.
Door supervisor text-only CV example
Profile
Licensed and experienced Door Supervisor seeking a position within a reputable establishment to ensure the safety and security of patrons and staff while maintaining a welcoming environment.
Employment history
Door Supervisor at Manticore Security Ltd., Manchester
2020 - Present
- Conducted thorough security checks of patrons, including ID verification and bag searches
- Monitored the entrance and interior of the venue, promptly addressing any suspicious activities or potential threats
- Resolved conflicts and de-escalated tense situations using verbal communication skills and physical intervention when necessary
- Collaborated with other security staff and management to maintain a safe and enjoyable environment for guests
- Assisted with crowd control during peak hours and special events
Security Officer at Showsec, Manchester
2017 - 2020
- Patrolled assigned areas, identifying and reporting any security breaches or safety hazards
- Responded to emergency situations, providing first aid and contacting emergency services when required
- Monitored CCTV systems and access control points to prevent unauthorised entry
- Provided excellent customer service, directing patrons and answering their inquiries
Skills
- Valid SIA (Security Industry Authority) Door Supervisor license
- Proficient in conflict resolution and de-escalation techniques
- Excellent observational and problem-solving skills
- Strong verbal and written communication abilities
- Physically fit and able to stand for extended periods
- First Aid and CPR certified
Education
SIA certified, London Security College, Manchester
2017
CPR & First Aid Certification
Door supervisor job market and outlook
Thinking of breaking into the security sector? Now is the ideal time. The industry is thriving with businesses recruiting for 65,000 new security specialists over six months in 2023. As the demand for security personnel—including door supervisors—grows, you can expect there to be plenty of vacancies popping up in this field. Watch this space.
What type of salary you can expect as a doorman
Before you start applying for roles, you want to know how much money you will make. According to the National Careers Service, you can expect to make between £20,000 and £35,000 a year as a security professional. The salary you can gain will depend largely on your level of experience. The more years of experience you have, the higher your income may be.
Key takeaways for building a door supervisor CV
The UK security industry is thriving, and so there has never been a better time to get applying. If you have what it takes to be a door supervisor, it’s time to win over that hiring manager. In this guide, we have given you the inside scoop on how to perfect your next CV. Start by creating a plain draft of this document and then tailor it to meet the needs of the vacancy at hand.
If you want some help along the way, our CV builder will do the heavy lifting for you. Simply input your details and we can help you create a stellar application in a matter of minutes.