Why You Aren't Working.

And It's Not Your Resume!

Author

Circuit Magazine
October 29, 2022

Unless you're one of the fortunate few who have secured themselves a long-term permanent contract, then you'll recognise the importance of building your professional brand. If we eliminate the marketing jargon, that essentially means building a reputation and keeping it in good standing. Simple, right?

A lot will depend on where you find yourself in your career trajectory and the different challenges you face. Inexperience, naivety, and complacency are the enemies of your professional reputation and your ability to stay working in the top tier of the industry.

This week On the Circuit, we're sharing advice on how you can amplify how you're professionally perceived and guard against reputational damage.

Let's dive in to find out!

The Circuit Magazine Podcast

Is your Principal leaking data? Even if it is not intentional? Many EP teams are unaware of the wealth of Open Source Information (OSINT) they are emitting even on covert operations.

This week we welcome Sandra Stibbards, CEO of Camelot Investigations to address:

  • How would a protector know why and when to investigate their online footprint?

  • What are the parameters of 'open source' intelligence?

  • How are the Principal's family causing potential problems for your operations and how can you help?

  • To what extent are online vulnerability assessments part of 'cyber' security or the wider 'corporate security' framework?

  • What is the extent of the details adversaries can find out about your clients?

If you enjoy listening to the Circuit Podcast and can spare a minute, please rate/review us. Your rating will help us to rank higher making it easier for others to find the podcast.

The Need to Know

The suspect used a hammer in the attack, according to a law enforcement official. The assailant, who was taken into custody, was seeking out House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), who was in Washington during the early morning attack.

Russia has accused Ukraine of planning to detonate a dirty bomb on its territory to frame Russia — something Kyiv and the West have strongly rejected.

The United States, Japan and South Korea warned on Wednesday that an "unparalleled" scale of response would be warranted if North Korea conducts a seventh nuclear bomb test.

Judge Ralph Porzio said the ‘arbitrary and capricious’ order had violated the rights of city workers ‘who showed up to work, at great risk to themselves’ during the pandemic

A pair of U.S. Air Force F-16 fighter jets intercepted two long-range Russian bombers near Alaska on Monday.

All British former service personnel, who have accepted jobs to train Chinese military pilots, "are almost certainly enhancing China's military knowledge and capability," an official has said.

New York City will increase police presence, security cameras, and mental health interventions on the MTA subway system.

For more timely global updates like this, get the Circuit Daily Briefing delivered to your inbox... daily! Get on the list >

From the Pages of the Circuit Magazine

In protective services, the hours are often long, and the breaks are often few. No one wants to be around negative energy all day long. Once you start questioning the approach of the existing detail or shift leader you put the execution of the task at risk and weaken the overall morale and esprit de corps of the team.

Many naïve self-promoting agents will try and question the team strategy in front of the clients, to try and demonstrate their knowledge and enhance their own position. They fail to realise that clients see right through this and also understand that if someone will breach the trust of their team, how can they then trust you with their family, business and other assets?

In this article, Mark James warns that staffing a team is often about fit as much as it is about function. Can you let go of your ego to fill another role on the team, which may not be detail or shift leader?

If you enjoyed this article and want more great content from across the industry then subscribe to the Circuit Magazine >

Latest Issue of the Circuit Magazine

Circuit Magazine - Issue 63 - Get Your Copy

In the latest edition of the Circuit Magazine, we hear how the fear of Artificial Intelligence Impersonating Humans is no longer science fiction. From election rigging to affecting the course of war, it's a real threat being played out on the world stage right now.

"This is the best magazine bar none. I have written three articles and the wealth of knowledge you receive from Circuit is like an encyclopaedia for bodyguards. If you are not a subscriber, you are missing out on life-saving advice."

- Fernando Figueroa

Geopolitical Analysis by RANE

The recent use of tear gas on protesters demanding police reforms underscores the threat of state violence to political participation ahead of next year’s ballot.

Police fired tear gas to disperse protesters who had gathered at the Lekki toll gate in Lagos on Oct. 20 to commemorate the second anniversary of security forces' bloody crackdown on peaceful demonstrations against police brutality, known as the #EndSARS protests.

Police fired into a crowd of protesters demanding an end to police brutality and the disbandment of the Nigerian police's Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), killing at least 12 and wounding many others. At the time, SARS had repeatedly been accused of extrajudicial killings, extortion and kidnapping, among other crimes.

Despite SARS being disbanded following the 2020 massacre, citizens and human rights groups have since reported former SARS officers in plainclothes patrolling the streets, arresting, extorting and torturing citizens.

As Nigeria prepares for general elections in February 2023, police violence and clashes with demonstrators are likely to become more frequent, potentially hampering voter turnout in certain localities.

In the meantime, resistance to the central government among Nigerians outside of those groups will likely harden, further reducing the legitimacy of the state.

Special Offer for On the Circuit Readers

From the Community

This rock climber faced off against a bear while climbing Mount Futago in Japan. Regardless of the outcome, could keep your composure to prevail in such a situation?

Your desire to live has to be stronger than what wants to take your life. - M. Baker

Ask questions, get advice, and find industry resources from an active and thriving community of professional, working operators:

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Meanwhile...

A Chinese military contractor unveiled a Chinese military drone capable of dropping off a robot attack dog featuring an automatic weapon mounted to its back.

According to a report from WarZone, the weapon mounted on the robot dog is possibly a Chinese QBB-97 light machine gun, which is capable of firing 650 rounds per minute at an effective range of 400 meters.

The total number varies depending on where you look. CyberSeek says there are more than 714,000 cybersecurity job openings. Cybersecurity Ventures estimates that number could be in the millions in just a few short years. The (ISC)2 2021 Cyber Workforce Report says it’s already there, with more than 2 million unfilled positions that need workers with cybersecurity skills.

The security talent crisis isn’t going away. There will continue to be unfilled jobs in the industry, and organizations will struggle to keep up. Is now the time to consider a cybersecurity pathway?

Elsewhere on the Circuit

The RCMP's close protection unit is running short of the officers it needs to protect elected officials, undermining its ability to respond to federal ministers' growing demands for security services.

The labour shortage is depressing morale among protection officers struggling to balance their work and family lives. Several sources said they fear that the number of hours worked by team members exceeds acceptable standards.

The RCMP also is exploring the possibility of speeding up training of new protection officers. Right now, the protection officers are all regular service members who have undergone six months of training in Saskatchewan.

The RCMP believes it would be useful to offer a shorter course to people with relevant experience, such as former military personnel or former police officers from other organizations, sources said.

Russia is accusing Ukraine of planning to detonate a “dirty bomb.” Here's what that means and why it matters.

The term “dirty bomb” describes a weapon that uses conventional explosives to disperse radioactive material over a broad area, said Alex Wellerstein an expert on the history of nuclear weapons. The lethality of such weapons depends on the type of radioactive material and how far it is spread.

“The attraction of a dirty bomb, presumably, is that it would create fear, perhaps fear beyond what is strictly rational given the actual hazards,” Wellerstein said.

As things stand currently, it does not appear that Russia is planning to carry out a false flag operation by detonating a dirty bomb and blaming it on the Ukrainians. it is mostly intended to slow or suspend western military aid and possibly weaken NATO through scaremongering,”

Given how often Russian government officials and propagandists have claimed that Ukraine or its allies in the West would launch a radiological or nuclear attack, it is likely that Russian President Putin and his advisers are preparing the Russian population for an eventual nuclear attack on Ukraine, said Olga Lautman, an expert on Russia and Ukraine.

Final Thoughts with Sean Colsey

Why You Aren't Working - Attitude and Professionalism

Today, I received 2 phone calls.

One explaining that they had been offered a longer term contract than we had offered, asking my advice on taking that and letting us down. I thanked them for their honesty, told them to take the other contract and that their professionalism meant that we would keep them on our database and wished them well.

The other was that the dates we had given, conflicted with a commitment made to another company and although we were offering a higher rate, they would like to keep the previous commitments. Again a positive response from me.

Operators like this will always find work with good companies I’m sure.

It makes a difference from:

  • I don’t work weekends

  • I don’t travel more than 50 miles

  • I only work day shifts

  • I only do PPO roles

  • I don’t have transport to get back and forth

  • I can only work some of the dates you gave me; can you get another to work around me?

  • sorry - family issues

  • sorry - car issues

  • and many many more…….

Operators sell themselves by their attitude, behaviour and professionalism.

Until next week...

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