PART 1: LEARNING HOW TO GET A PRIVATE SECURITY CONTRACTOR JOB WITHOUT MILITARY EXPERIENCE

Have You Always Wanted to Work as a Security Contractor for a Major Private Military Company Overseas?

Stacking fat paychecks between R&Rs in Bangkok. Posting pics of yourself in the desert, standing next to an armored SUV in your best "cool guy" pose. You thought that dream was out of reach because the industry seemed closed to anyone without a military or law enforcement background?

If that sounds like you, keep reading.

I started in the private military industry with no prior military experience. Through persistence, hard work, and the right strategy, I found a way to get my foot in the door. That opportunity turned into over a decade of working everywhere, from Iraq to Southeast Asia. Now, I am going to walk you through the same process so you can land your first job in international private security contracting.

This two-part guide will break it all down:

Part 1: What you need on your resume to land your first international security contracting job. From essential certifications to relevant work experience, I will show you exactly what companies look for and how to position yourself as a strong candidate, even without prior military service.

Part 2: A step-by-step process to go from where you are now to securing your first overseas contract. We will cover the best ways to gain relevant experience, the education and security clearance you need (and where to get them), and how to package it all into a competitive candidate profile.

Let’s get started.

THE PLAN: BECOME A DESIRABLE CANDIDATE

THE GOOD NEWS

You only need four things on your resume to put yourself ahead of 99% of the other candidates applying for entry-level overseas security contractor jobs.

THE FOUR THINGS YOU NEED

Active Secret Security Clearance (or higher)
At least two years of armed protective security experience
Relevant certifications, licenses, and education for overseas PMC jobs
One hard-to-get extra that most candidates will not have

If you have these four things, you are almost guaranteed to receive multiple job offers when you start applying.

THE BAD NEWS

There are about 100 steps to getting those four things, and almost every step will suck.

Like any shortcut in life, trying to bypass the system comes with a price. Not just in money, but in relocation, grinding through a job you will hate, and possibly going into debt. Expect to live in near poverty for a couple of years before you start making real money overseas.

But I did it. And like I already said, I am half-stupid. So if you have grit and determination, you can do it too.

LET’S BREAK IT DOWN

1: A U.S. SECURITY CLEARANCE

The number one thing you need on your resume, aside from consistent relevant security experience, is a U.S. Security Clearance.

Why Is a Security Clearance So Important?

Most overseas security contractor jobs require a clearance. While some companies may sponsor you for one, you will be competing against candidates who already hold active clearances or former military personnel without clearances—both of whom will almost always be chosen over you.

What Is a U.S. Security Clearance?

A U.S. Security Clearance is a government-issued authorization that allows an individual to work with or access classified information.

The Most Common Clearance Levels

Secret – The minimum requirement for most overseas security jobs.

Top Secret – Required for higher-level contracts and more specialized roles.

If you want to maximize your job opportunities and stand out from the competition, securing a clearance before applying is a game-changer.

2: TWO YEARS OF ARMED PROTECTIVE SECURITY EXPERIENCE

All overseas security contractor jobs require armed security experience that is directly relevant to the demands of overseas contracting.

Sure, technically, you could meet the minimum requirements by working as an armed guard at a Waffle House for two years. But let’s be real—if you want to be competitive, you need experience that sets you apart.

The goal is not to scrape the bottom of the barrel. You want better experience than the average applicant so you stand out when it comes time to apply.

ARMED SECURITY EXPERIENCE THAT COUNTS:

Licensed Armed Security
Working for a stateside defense/security contractor
At a government facility

EXPERIENCE THAT DOESN’T COUNT:

Mall security with Paul Blart
Nightclub bouncer work
Guarding your cousin’s weed dispensary

Why Quality Armed Security Experience Matters

Once you have two years of relevant armed security experience on your resume, not just standing in a Walmart parking lot, you will do more than just meet the minimum requirements. You will far exceed them.

This puts you ahead of weaker candidates and pushes your resume closer to the top of the pile when hiring managers start sorting through applicants.

If you want to be competitive without military experience on your resume, quality experience matters.

3: SECURITY CERTIFICATIONS & TRAINING

Overseas security contractor jobs require formal security training and proof of completion or graduation.

Most job postings use vague language like:

“Must have completed a state-recognized civilian security or law enforcement academy.”

Here’s the funny thing: there is no such thing as a Civilian Security Academy. This is an example of the disconnect between the people in HR and the people on the ground that will be a recurring theme throughout your civilian security contractor career.

The good news? Any formal security training that results in a license or certification will usually meet this requirement.

The key is to stack multiple certifications and training courses to add credibility to your resume. The more relevant qualifications you have, the stronger your application will be against the competition.

WHAT TO GET:

State-required armed security guard training classes and licenses
First Aid, CPR + AED Certification
Executive Protection, Personal Security Specialist, or PSD (Personal Security Detail) Class
Certificates for completing courses in relevant subjects

Again, we do not want the bare minimum, so in Part 2 I’ll show you how you can get seven more lines of education on your resume for the least amount of cost and time. Completing courses is the best way to get certain keywords in your resume that will give you another shove upwards.

4: THE HARD-TO-GET EXTRA THAT FEW OTHER CANDIDATES WILL HAVE

Here’s where things get tricky. You don’t want to add extra steps to what is already a long and difficult journey. But there are smart ways to maximize the steps you are already taking.

This final "piggybacking" step is the icing on the cake—the move that will push your resume ahead of 99% of other candidates.

By doing this one thing, you will be able to shoehorn the job title of "Police Officer" onto your resume—without attending a police academy or applying to a department.

Using this hack, you will also avoid the worst parts of real police work, like getting stabbed with a screwdriver by a junkie.

THIS WILL TAKE A MINIMUM OF TWO YEARS

If you follow everything laid out in this guide, it will take about two years from the time you start to when you are ready to apply for overseas security contractor jobs.

But when the time comes to apply, you will get hired, even without military experience on your resume.

HOW HR SOFTWARE CHOOSES RESUMES

You need a basic understanding of how the initial hiring process works to fully grasp what we are doing here.

When you apply, your resume is scanned by HR software that searches for specific keywords. If your resume does not contain the right terms, it will never make it to a human recruiter.

THE KEYWORDS IT’S LOOKING FOR ARE A COMBINATION OF THREE THINGS:

The minimum qualifications
The preferred qualifications
Ideal candidate qualifications

IT THEN ‘WEIGHS’ YOUR RESUME

The more keywords that match your resume, the more mathematical weight it gives to your resume.
Imagine it as a scale, every time the software sees a keyword, it places another pound on the scale.
When it is done weighing your resume, it compares your resume’s weight to the other candidates’ weights, and the heaviest 30% get sent to an actual human in HR.

WELL, WE ARE GOING TO BREAK THAT SCALE!

When your resume reaches a human in HR, all they will see is:

A Secret Security Clearance
Two years of armed security experience on a federal contract
The job title "Police Officer"
A dozen verifiable courses, licenses, and certifications

A resume like that blows past their expectations so completely that they won’t even notice you are not former military.

-PART 2: THE ROADMAP TO BECOMING A DESIRABLE CANDIDATE

Coming Soon!

PART 1: HOW TO GET A PRIVATE SECURITY CONTRACTOR JOB WITHOUT MILITARY EXPERIENCE