armed security officer

security officer

paramedic

sergeant

scheduling coordinator

Cambridge Security Services

First off, i applied in July this year, & was called the very next day for a position. It took me about 6 weeks of calling EVERY other day before i was given an interview in September! It took 2 LONG visits ( 5 hours each in total of 10 hours) before they made a copy of my IDs & gave me my uniform! (takes about half an hour tops for all this) The job interviewer was sluggish & disrespectful, made no eye contact & is only there to complete his 8 hours. My job site was their "big money" college campus in Jersey City. 4 minutes into walking into the training session, the site Supervisor almost swings at me with his fist!!! His co-supervisor asked me a question that i didn't understand due to his foreign accent, & the main tall  6 feet 2 supervisor asked me if i was drunk! I said "far from drunk Buddy, just trying to understand this gentleman" & preceded over to try to shake his hand. The supervisor jumped at me and yelled in the LOUDEST most vicious tone i have ever experienced in my life "DON'T CALL ME BUDDY!! IT'S UNPROFESSIONAL, OK OK THERE IS NOTHING FUNNY ABOUT THIS!!!!" Like he was ready to punch me in a life threatening manner! Is this a job or a visit to Riker's Island Penitentiary ? Now him asking me if was drunk & yelling from the tip of lungs because his co-worker couldn't speak proper English wasn't unprofessional?!  Let along almost dodging a punch??? He then later tried to smooth down our experience because he knew he could get fired for what just occurred. Well, my fellow trainee begged & convinced me not to make a police report over this situation as we proceeded on a LONG 1st day of training. We had to learn ALL the dynamics of over 7 buildings containing over 100 special doors & a total of 300 keys to know about within 6 hours & the company's cheap work boots they had provided me were killing my feet! Co-workers warned us left & right that employees here get fired in a daily basis & that the treatment here is hostile from the get-go. I was told that the main supervisor LOVES confrontation from the new guards & to be very careful with him! I am not a convict nor should be treated like one! Surely, i never returned back, nor did the main office care about what the supervisor did in such illegal manner. I ask please show your self some respect & try working at ANY other security company other than this garbage pail of a job! Don't let no one ever treat you like that man did to me! Spread the word of what happened to me before you foolishly waist your time with these guys! Honestly...

Having worked at Cambridge, I feel compelled to share my experience candidly. For those without prior experience in security, this job might serve as a starting point, providing basic training in work ethics such as punctuality, vehicle inspections, and client interactions. However, for individuals with a background in security, particularly from military or law enforcement, I strongly advise against applying to Cambridge.

Pros for Novices:

Basic Training: Cambridge offers fundamental training for those new to the security industry, covering essential tasks like vehicle inspections and client engagement.
Temporary Solution: If you're in need of employment while seeking better opportunities, Cambridge can provide temporary stability.

Cons for Experienced Professionals:

Lack of Respect: The management at Cambridge demonstrates a severe lack of professionalism towards experienced individuals. Despite years of service in military or law enforcement, you'll likely find yourself disregarded and devalued.
Unsupportive Environment: Rather than fostering an environment that values expertise, Cambridge operates with a culture of constant turnover. Military personnel, in particular, face unwarranted challenges, including shifts, positions, and locations changes aimed at making them uncomfortable.
Disregard for Employees: Instead of accommodating military leaves, Cambridge appears to actively discourage such commitments, making it clear that employees are expendable commodities.

Conclusion:

In summary, while Cambridge may suffice for those without prior security experience, it's imperative for seasoned professionals to steer clear. The unprofessional conduct of management and lack of respect for experienced individuals create a toxic work environment. For the sake of your mental well-being, consider alternative employment options, even if it means seeking opportunities outside the security sector altogether.

Final Advice:

If you're an experienced professional, consider seeking employment elsewhere, prioritizing your mental health and professional dignity. Companies like UPS might offer a more respectful and supportive work environment.



Paramedics perform Covid Tests and have NO HEALTH INSURANCE for 8 months. Supvr DO NOT respect your training/certs, every new direction/communication is condescending and a threat to be fired. Paramedics are nothing but a warm body with an extra license. Mgmt lies to your face about schedule, job site location. They will work you to death with NO BENEFITS and don't care. Cannot use accrued PTO you EARNED until AFTER 1 year passes. Literally NO BENEFITS. They will change your schedule without asking or caring about your availability, you're notified once schedule is posted, then it's your problem. Mgmt threatens you to work overnites and if you refuse, he will just not schedule anyone so then you're forced to stay.  Pay for Paramedics looks high (compared to amb co or hosp) until you find out that a gated community up the street is paying their Sgts the same rate that Paramedics are getting.  This co isn't worth the damage they will do to your schedule, home life, exposing you to Covid with NO HEALTH INSURANCE and not being able to use your earned PTO.  They will stick you with holding over every single shift when they are short-staffed, they make it YOUR PROBLEM, because they will NOT SCHEDULE ANY RELIEF for you and they will not answer the phone.

Becoming a most professional motivated, multi-tasking, experience security officer is what this company has done for me. As a front desk manager-security officer at 500 8th Avenue 34th Street Manhattan New York, it was extremely clear that I was responsible, efficient, in handling the morning and night shift responsibilities single handedly because I was considered to be very trustworthy with closing and opening this corporate building 5 days a week extensively for my employers.  

Most difficult task of the job, was not being able to get in touch with the Superintendent of the building on the weekends, when a physical injury to the building developed or worsened.   Otherwise, it was a quite enjoyable experience when employers had the contract.  

When it was time to rotate shift with the next security officer, if and when there was a problem, I didn't mind staying and that security officer was comfortable knowing that I wasn't upset if they were running a little late.  This is one of my most enjoyable moments because I really liked working at that location where the students and faculty were great.

Management allows clients to maneuver guards in unethical ways. Your duties as a fireguard can be restricted by the client which can lead to possible damages to property and individuals on site. All positions are minimum wage if you are not a supervisor. Supervisors are inexperienced most of the time and are constantly getting hired and fired. Managers will block you from getting the hours.you want and set.you up to fail by putting you on a shift that doesn't fit your schedule. And if you turn it down or have to call out they will "bench you" until further notice. One manager in particular will hire you, write you up over silly things and set you up to be fired. Clients get more support from upper management by the company than the guards do. They will split your check to avoid paying overtime if you are a floater. All events and most sites pay minimum wage even if they are outdoors. They will send you to a site without proper training and if something goes wrong you're fired. This is a horrible company to work for. There needs to be a change in management. Otherwise the company will fold. Definitely a temporary job.

Nightmare of a place to work( south Florida area (palm beach and fort Lauderdale)) . They want to hire prior military and law enforcement,stating the want people with a sense of chain of command and structure.... however if you Implement either of those two you are casually and passively aggressively chastised for doing such.. their site captains and site directors literally can dictate what they want to happen even if it it goes against policy. If you speak up against things or attempt to help or convert the with these people they will blame you for any issues  that arise.  Their Feild training officers will only be able to train on ABDI and do uniform Inspection, nothing else. Their site supervisors are not allowed to discipline employees. If you are a VETERN  or former Law enforcement do not work here. The work environment is verbally hostile,passive agressive and cut throat. If you do decide to work at the company document every single thing you see to CYA.

I interviewed with a manager and was told I would be working an overnight part-time temp position. When I received the second interview for processing, I was told the hours aren't set, and instead they were looking for a floater. Apart from having to literally wait HOURS to sign paperwork and take a drug test, management was completely disorganized and unprofessional. I was told to travel to a site for "orientation," and when I got there, it was another security guard who had just started THAT night. When I called to find out the issue, the manager told me to "relax" and to just watch him so I'll know what to do when I start working. When I was called for a shift, they were not the location or overnight hours I was promised during the interview. When I couldn't work a certain time window, they would hang up on me. Long story short, they never gave me hours or even bothered to call me to float for positions. This company is completely unprofessional and you have to call them in order to even get hours. I wouldn't recommend anyone to waste their time on this company.

This security company calls themselves "professionals" when in fact, they are run by inexperienced amateurs to the industry.  Most employees in the site I worked at in Jupiter, FL had less than four months of security experience.  This company has very high turn-over rates.  At least ten new employees came through the site within a two month time span due to constant turn-over.  Management violated Florida statute chapter 493.611(1)(f) on numerous occasions by allowing employees to leave their post without being properly relieved.  (THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AS OF THIS WRITING) This is the most amateur run management team I have ever encountered during my tenure in security.   The director and deputy director both resigned from the site I was working at within two months of myself being hired by the company.  This company is a sinking ship, if you are interested in working in the security industry, look for opportunities elsewhere.  I would not recommend working 
for this company to my worst enemy.

I worked for Cambridge for 6 months. In the beginning it was ok. I was working weekends and some weekdays. They asked me if I wanted to work in another building at the same site and I told them no. The next day HR calls me to inform me that they moved me to the other building, even though I rejected the offer when they asked. The new building was ok. Less coworkers and associates to deal with -- but when they promoted a fellow guard to supervisor everything went left. She talked down to everyone, was rude, unruly and lied to HR to cover herself. In October of 2012, she told HR that she didnt feel safe and everyones attitude towards her made her feel unomfortable. Cambridge then removed all the guards one by one and replaced us with new inexperienced guards, promising us new sites. Here it is mid-February of 2013 and still unemployed. When I try calling the home office, I get the run-around and countless "she'll have to call you back". Its not worth it at all.

This company is one of the worst when it comes to management. For the record, I love where I work. I love the tenants and my co-workers. However, management makes working for this company a bad experience. Most sites pay minimum wage, but you'll be doing much more than being a Security Guard. From delivering mail to packages to being the property manager's secretary. You're more like customer service than Security. When the company asks you to work overtime, they'll harass you to say yes. When the shoe is on the other foot, once it's no, it's no. A lot of the dispatchers are nice and will try to work with you. Managers are nightmares to work with. They play favoritism with particular guards.

This company offers no retirement plan, no union and they do not care about their employees. 

It's a way to start and get experience under you. Nothing else.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Armed security officer 13 salaries reported	$22.69 per hour
Security officer 3 salaries reported	$18.78 per hour
Paramedic 7 salaries reported	$29.90 per hour
Sergeant 19 salaries reported	$17.14 per hour
Scheduling coordinator 6 salaries reported	$16.83 per hour

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