Tell me about the most serious conflict you have faced in your security career. How did you handle the situation?

Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Focus Your Answer On
What to Avoid
Entry Level Example
Answer Example

As a Security Manager, you must stay calm and collected in the face of conflict. The interviewer wants to know that you have exposure to conflict management and wants to hear about your problem-solving and conflict resolution skills. The more experience you have, the better prepared you will be for a role in security management.

For this 'Tell me about a time...' style of question, give a story-based example that highlights your skills in action. You can share a story of how you followed emergency response procedures to mitigate a significant issue. Focus on telling your account using the STAR framework, which is an acronym for Situation, Task, Action, Result. This method will ensure that your story remains straightforward and provides essential details.

Avoid saying that you have no conflict management experience. Even if you do not have experience in conflict management in your security career, you must have had a conflict at another time in your life. If you are new to the security industry, describe a conflict you had in another line of work and how you successfully handled the situation.

"I am new to the security industry, so I have not encountered a conflict as a Security Manager yet. I had a conflict at my previous job, where I worked as a department store manager. We had an active shooter incident; one person had been shot, and the shooter was moving towards my floor. I quickly gathered my staff and customers and moved them to my office and storage room. We barricaded the doors while calling 911. I kept everyone quiet and calm until law enforcement arrived and disarmed the shooter. After that experience, I decided to change careers and work in security."

"(Situation and Task) When I was a Security Officer with Company ABC, I and 15 other officers received a crowd control assignment for a small protest that had gathered outside of our city's legislative building. The protest started calm and peaceful, but as the day progressed, so did the drama. We had to keep a presence of protection and authority, and the police officers were there to handle any serious instances. (Action) As the day progressed, the protesters became more aggressive, and we had to jump in to help the police manage the chaos while also maintaining appropriate security measures. I kept calm and had my team members' backs while also utilizing crowd management techniques, such as blocking access to particular areas to ensure better crowd containment. (Result) We were able to work together to keep the protest as peaceful as possible that day. I learned a lot by observing the actions of my fellow officers and the local police. I saw how quickly a seemingly controlled situation can escalate and how important it is to keep a keen mind and eye, never letting my guard down."