security officer

armed security officer

security guard

recruiter

security supervisor

Inter--con-Security-Systems

One of the WORST work experiences within my line of armed security work. 
Probably the worst company I’ve ever worked for in my life.
Enrolled in training earlier this summer and the instructors were great, very knowledgeable in tactics and shooting. However, the half of the material my class learned in training did not prepare us for our work site, as we were told many incorrect things about how things operate on contract.
It is a toxic work environment with absolutely NO type of job security what so ever with highly inconsistent policies that change often. 
They’ve recently changed their disciplinary policies from what was already harsh to even more severe. 
Many infractions that resulted in a write-up now results in suspensions or even termination.
If you’re marked as late or you call out TWICE, you’ll possibly get suspended or even terminated. 
So many new people get fired within WEEKS or quit because it’s such a terrible company.
Also, if you get terminated from this contract, they flag your clearance making it almost impossible to ever gain a clearance ever again.
You have no say in your scheduling, which obliterates your personal life/work balance. 
They send you all over the city and Virginia to meet “contract needs”. You also have absolutely no say if they schedule to work holidays as well.
They can give you only 4 hours or hold you over to work 12 hours whenever they want to, at whatever site location they want to send you to. 
Mind you, sitting or even leaning on post is prohibited.
“Accommodations” that you make to take care of your family outside of work are not honored, not to mention the policy on that was just recently thrown out. 
The policies on uniform and grooming are highly inconsistent. 
One day your supervisor is checking for your socks when you’re gearing up to see if they’re black because if they’re not you’re getting sent home. The next day, they don’t check for them. 
Employees can get reprimanded for poor hygiene, even though it’s been sergeants who reek of foul odors and have dirty uniforms. 
We were told that beards aren’t supposed to be longer than 1/2 an inch but you constantly see lieutenants, sergeants and regular guards walking around with 2-3 inch beards. 
If you miss any part of your uniform including a hat or your mic kit, you can get sent home which is an automatic write-up. Things such as wearing the company coat inside or zipping it halfway up can get you written up. Then things that you need for uniform, they never have in inventory.
The pay is good, but many guards who’ve finished their probationary period never received their pay increase or had to wait a full year after being promised to receive it after nine months.
The only pros about this company is many of the guards are highly amicable and affable people, along some of the sergeants funny enough and the DOS work site is quite a prestigious location. 
Other than that, working here is like tip-toeing through a minefield. STAY AWAY.


I worked at Inter Con for over a year, and my experience with the company was far from positive. While they offered competitive hourly pay, it became evident that the remuneration was the only positive aspect of the job. The lack of consistent hours and the constant struggle to secure even a few hours a day left me feeling disheartened and frustrated.

From day one, it was clear that the management was inefficient and lacked basic organizational skills. Getting scheduled for work felt like a constant uphill battle. Instead of a fair and predictable schedule, I found myself having to call the company repeatedly, almost begging for a few hours of work. Even after persistent efforts, I was often allotted only a meager four hours a day, barely enough to make ends meet.

Throughout my first year of employment, I was barely able to average 28 hours a week. On some occasions, they didn't schedule me at all for several weeks, making it impossible to plan my life or finances with any certainty. This inconsistency made it difficult to rely on the company as a stable source of income.

What truly added to the frustration was the company's handling of clearance paperwork. I faced numerous issues as my paperwork mysteriously "got lost" multiple times. This resulted in lengthy delays and forced me to restart the clearance process multiple times. It seemed as though the company had little regard for the importance of timely and efficient processing, leaving me uncertain about the status of my clearance for far too long.

Once the probationary period was over, the management's true colors started to show. They became increasingly unwilling to allocate sufficient hours, making it a constant battle to secure reasonable work hours. Moreover, they frequently changed my schedule without notice, making it difficult to plan anything outside of work. This lack of consideration for their employees' personal lives further exacerbated the stress and discontent.

The company's approach to its employees seemed exploitative, with a focus on hiring officers for a temporary period, hoping that they would either quit or find a reason to terminate them. Witnessing many talented and dedicated officers leave the company, even for lower hourly pay elsewhere, was a testament to the toxic environment created by the poor management.

In conclusion, my time at Inter Con was a challenging and disappointing experience, marked by poor management and a lack of HR support. Despite the attractive hourly pay, the constant struggle for hours and the company's indifference to its employees' well-being made it an unsatisfactory and disheartening place to work. I would caution anyone considering employment at this company to think twice before accepting an offer, as the stress and frustration may outweigh any financial benefits.

Where to even start with this company. To preface I didn't even get to work my first ever shift because the lack of communication was insane. Basically was hired on for a specific wage, but on the first day of training I was told I wouldn't be making that. I also was given a set schedule from the recruiter which turns out, they can't even control that and the recruiters have nothing to do with your schedule. I was promised full time then immediately told I had to pick my own schedule every week and if I didn't, it would randomly assign me schedules. The site I was originally told I was going to, the instructor bashed and explained how difficult it was making me rather nervous as I wasn't prepared for something that intense. Granted, I've been in security 4 years I understand some locations are going to be this way, but no where in the job description did it say I'd have to basically help people from overdosing and that they would die in front of me. That is simply a little too much for me to handle when I was told all we do is observe and report. When I was hired I was told I had to be 21 with 2 years of security experience but there was two 19 year olds in the class who didn't have their guard card. They are way more strict than they have you believe which was a little much, even for security. Some jobs don't allow piercings or dyed hair that is pretty normal. But Inter-Con doesn't allow dyed hair, piercings, rings, tattoos, anything other than your uniform, you are told to leave your personal phone at home and that you are monitored 24/7 by camera and will fire you if you take your phone out EVEN on breaks. I was then told if you are scheduled for a shift to be prepared to stay 4 hours afterwards in case your relief is running late/can't show up. I understand staying a little bit, but 4 hours??? Some of us have lives, children, pets and cannot stay that long after a shift especially when some of these are 12 hours and we are exhausted. You are just a number to this company and like I said, I didn't even complete my training before they were trying to assign me shifts which I COULDN'T work since I wasn't done training or knew how much money I'd be making. They hire a ton of people at once and lie to get bodies in the seats essentially. Don't work for this company if you don't want to constantly ever know your schedule, want a strict work environment, not get compensated correctly and are just treated like another cog in the machine. Literally got treated better at Securitas and that is saying something. 

Inter-Con Security Systems overworks and under pays their corporate staff. They operate like their still a mom-and-pop size organization, instead of the million dollar corporation they are. Every department is understaffed which causes a trickle effect to the contracts. The corporate staff cannot keep up with the demands of the clients that were agreed upon because frankly, there are not enough hours a day to complete the necessary work. They do not believe in properly training staff members for their positions, nor providing the tools that would allow a more efficient productivity level. IC believes in spending as little money as possible on necessary tools or equipment. The software used is extremely outdated and allows for too much operator error. If staff members make mistakes or  do not understand a task at hand, instead of coaching them or explaining what needs to be done, management labels them as incompetent. This does not mean someone needs to have their hand held through a task, but new hires should be properly taught how to complete the tasks that are required of them. 

Management does not encourage staff members to ask questions regarding any policies, as they have a tendency to change the policies as they go to suit their needs. It's definitely a 'shut up and do what your told' kind of attitude.

If you're a female, stay clear of this place unless you're satisfied with being a doormat in the workplace. Women are disrespected, considered to be insignificant and are quick to be labeled as a 'b*$&%' if they demand fair treatment/equality, or simply do not let a male in a management position walk all over them. Equality does not exist here, especially if you're a female. 

They are also terrible when it comes to handling inter-office employee disputes. Hostile work environment complaints/concerns are swept under the rug. Apparently, rude and hostile behavior from one staff member to another is allowed and in some instances, rewarded. 

This company is all about their appearance. As long as the office space looks like it's the top of the line, nothing else matters. 

The only beacon of light is the new president that took office in the fall. He does not have the same mentality as the rest of the management team, as he came from an outside company. He respects all levels of employees, whether they are "just" administrative staff or project managers. Unfortunately, I do not believe he will be able to make any drastic changes anytime in the near future.

To be honest. The only pro is the pay. They look for ways to fire you if you are on the day shift. They empathize all through training how you can be fired over micro little details. But if you keep your head down you’ll be fine. 
There is no work life balance. It’s all about work. You can be at work for 8 hours then held there for 12. And if you say no, they will suspend you or write you up. Most people are only here for the Top Secret clearance. I work night shift so it’s not horrible. But it gets to you after a while. There are some sergeants who’ve got your back. And a lot of managers who are on a power trip  and that shouldn’t be in their positions. 
If you clock in even 5 minutes early you will not be paid for that time. If you are on shift 10 mins late you will not be laid for that time. If you didn’t get a lunch break you have to make sure they pay you for it. You have to pay for parking on day shift. There is no time off for the first 9 months due to probation. And you have union fees pulled from your check. Don’t expect scheduling to help you out. If you are in school you are not guaranteed shifts to work around that. Accommodations are hard to get and you’ll have to fight for it. Even if you have a bachelors degree, military experience, and managerial experience they will treat you as if you know nothing. Past experience means very little here. 
Training doesn’t train you for the job. There’s a lot of pointless training and alot of static time. The amount of unqualified people getting hired is insane. You also have 4.5 weeks of training that you only get paid 12.9 an hour for. So heads up.  
I will say this. The recruitment office is Amazing. They know how to get you better than a military recruiter. Bonuses are brought up but it’s not in writing so don’t plan on them. 
Management is very open to how bad it can get. And they let you know they aren’t scared to fire you on the spot. Also, they make sure to let you know if you get fired here say goodbye to ever getting a contracting job anywhere else. 
I’m not trying to make this sound terrible for some this place is a great place to work. This is a great single person place to work. Lots of pay and shifts once you make it to your first post. I just want others to know what they are walking into.  
If you keep your head down. And expect nothing less than long hours and possibly no breaks then you won’t be disappointed. 

I went through a four week training during the pandemic COVID. Training / Instructors were awesome and informative with what knowledge they had.   
 Except for one instructor. I voiced my complaint to the Director and Assistant Director and they handled the situation professionally and quickly which I greatly appreciated. The instructors and Directors at the Lorton facility all cared greatly about each student and wanted them to pass and do well. You could tell they cared deeply.  I completed training (passed all requirements) and a couple days later was sent to state department.  You will not know where you will be located / your schedule and cannot make adjustments. Frustrating but the instructors inform you of this throughout training so you're not surprised.   Break rooms / locker rooms are not accommodating for the amount of officers working  each relief and was not kept clean.  My first day I did not know what to expect fully. i was informed at orientation but to an extent and was told "you'll find out more your first day" which made me feely uneasy about the job. on my first day I went to guard mount and was shown where to go by a fellow experienced officer who was very helpful, way more than the supervisors.  There was not one person who would work directly with new hires, which i feel like should be implemented reasons because the supervisors / Lieutenants / Sargents i spoke too could not fully answer the questions I had, and some people had no clue as what the answer could be.  The environment was overall stressful as a new hire.  It was very unorganized, you were left to "fend for yourself" and to "figure it out on your own".  After my first day I could tell that I would not enjoy the job like I thought I would.  I think it' inappropriate to shove a new hire into a security job after four weeks feeling not fully informed after training.  I quit due to the reasons above.  Your hire ups just care that you can fill in a spot for post/hours.  

A company that actively disregards the well-being of its employees might exhibit behaviors that reflect a toxic, exploitative culture. This type of company often focuses solely on profit margins and cost-cutting measures at the expense of its workforce. Employees are seen as expendable resources rather than valued contributors. Key characteristics might include:

	1.	Constant Rollback of Benefits: The company actively works to reduce or eliminate any perks or benefits that employees once enjoyed, such as health coverage, retirement plans, or paid time off, with little to no justification other than to boost profits or cut costs.
	2.	Unrealistic Work Demands: Employees are frequently overworked, facing excessive hours, unrealistic expectations, and unmanageable workloads. There is little concern for work-life balance, and burnout is common.
	3.	Zero Recognition or Rewards: Hard work is rarely, if ever, acknowledged. Raises, bonuses, or promotions are scarce, and there is no genuine investment in employees’ personal or professional growth.
	4.	Retaliatory Management: Any employee who speaks up or attempts to challenge unfair practices faces retaliation, ranging from being overlooked for advancement opportunities to being demoted or even terminated.
	5.	Opaque Communication: Decisions that impact employees negatively are often made without transparency or input from staff. Management may implement policy changes with no warning, leaving employees scrambling to adjust to reduced benefits or stricter conditions.
	6.	Hostile Environment: The workplace is rife with fear, intimidation, and stress. Employees feel unappreciated, unheard, and undervalued, with little to no recourse for addressing grievances or improving their conditions.
	7.	Turnover is High: People frequently leave the company, either due to burnout or in search of better opportunities. Instead of addressing the root causes of turnover, management sees it as an unavoidable aspect of business.

In such a company, employees often feel dehumanized, overworked, and underappreciated, with little incentive to stay or remain engaged.

Good part: Managers are closer to the strategic side of the security company and answerable for their teams or groups. So, they have the advantage to know the security strategy first hand or much earlier than the teams including sometimes very senior technical professionals. Managers do get to know the birds vew of various initiatives or security company plan and also get visibility to what’s coming in future. They have ownership of deliverables and responsible to ensure the well being of team/group/project/program members.

Bad part: Due to the very nature of their role, managers cannot be technically intensive in their contribution. Their technical edge gets slowly blunt over the years unless they take care to sharpen from time to time. In spite of sharpening knowledge, they would not be able to contribute individually to the extent they can claim greater technical prowess in achieeving breakthroughs themselves due to a host of their primary responsibilities such as project management, supply chain management, partner management etc. that would definitely distractions for individual contributions. Managers need to develop an attitude to know as much technology needed to manage their programs/projects and provide guidance or directions to teams/groups. If your passion is excelling in technology applications, then you are a better fit there. If you are enjoying providing leadership and be able to develop greater strategies for business success, provide governance, you must be on the management track.


If you live in the Washington D.C. area and are thinking about joining this company, unless you love how strict the military was, DON'T!  They expecrt you to be perfect.  And love to fire people. I was fired on my day off! The probationary period is a year, so do anything wrong with-in the first year and the Union has NO POWER to protect you. Get pulled over by the wrong cop and he decides to call your supervisor (the supervisor number is on your ID badge) "to see if you really work there" and you might just get fired. You have no control over your work schedule until you've been there at least a year. The schedule and your days off change every week, if you work evenings or nights! I didn't get a weekend night off until I worked there 6 months. And working day don't even think about bringing your phone, leave it in the car (not that you can find parking during the day with out pay 18 dollars plus!) You get 4 call offs a year (three for being sick and one for personal reasons), so if you have young kids or are prone to getting sick don't join this company! The supervisors also get fired. And the upper management walk around like they are superior to the officers.  You stand you're whole shift except when you are on break, and if you have an outside post you stand 4 hours in the weather and 4 hours in a both that has A/C in the summer and if you bring a portable heater, heat in the winter.  The standing and the weather didn't bother me.  How they treated their employees is why I would not recommend anyone to work their.  The only two things I liked about them was their training was excellent and their pay is among the highest for security in this area.  Although many don't make it through the training process.  I had about 40 people in the begining of my training class and I think 22 made it through the training.

Working for intercon as a security guard is very different from your ordinary job. There’s 3 different reliefs 1st, 2nd and 3rd. 1st relief is like a graveyard shift, 2nd is a normal schedule and 3rd is an evening/night schedule. There’s pros and cons to each of them. 1st and 3rd relief are pretty relaxed and the people are down to earth and look out for each other but you don’t really get any weekends off or a lot of hours if you care about that. 2nd relief you do get some weekends off and more hours as there’s more 12 hr posts but it’s a lot more strict as it should be to an extent due things being open and operational. If you work at main state good luck because that place breaks people. The annexes are where you want to be. Going to work if you’re a main state is a process depending on how far your commute is you will have to get up 3 hrs before your shift as you need to drive to D.C find parking and then be geared up and ready to go 45 mins prior to. As an officer on probationary period you’re more than likely going to be pretty unhappy  the first 9 months on contract as you’re scheduling will always be inconsistent and they people who handle scheduling won’t work with you in anyway and flat out don’t care as long as their posts are filled. Favors go unrecognized at main state so it’s best to just stick to yourself, do your job and go home. Only a handful of supervisors are helpful a lot of other supervisors and higher ups are just too arrogant and I’ll leave it at that. Other than that training is in West va so get ready to dish out money for a hotel and make little to nothing for a month before you start receiving officers pay. Lastly be sure to stay on top of your clearance investigation they love to “lose” your fingerprint and equip stuff.

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