Empathy is an integral part of our human nature. It is a skill ingrained in us, but it can also be learned and improved upon. Explore ways to develop your empathy and be more successful in life.

Watch a TED Talk about empathy.

Being prepared and well trained to respond to a variety of emergency situations is a huge part of a security professionals job. Learn more about how you can protect yourself and others! 

Learn more about emergency preparedness and response.

Contact the agency you're interested in and ask about ride-along programs. You'll be riding with someone working as a police officer, firefighter or paramedic to see what they do and ask questions.

Ride with a police officer, firefighter, or paramedic.

Connect with a crossing guard in your area and see if you could interview them about their job. There may even be crossing guards contracted to your school! Come prepared with questions and ask for advice.

Interview a crossing guard.

Ask your school counselor about how to find JROTC (Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps) programs that you can join. 

Learn about teamwork and leadership in JROTC.

The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.

The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.

The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.

The ability to see details at a distance.

The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.

The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.

The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.

The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.

The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).

The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).

Crossing Guards and Flaggers

Guide or control vehicular or pedestrian traffic at such places as streets, schools, railroad crossings, or construction sites.

Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, transportation, machine operation, agriculture, animal services, physical or manual labor, athletics, or protective services.

Realistic

Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or human resources.

Conventional

Work involves helping, teaching, advising, assisting, or providing service to others. Social occupations are often associated with social, health care, personal service, teaching/education, or religious activities.

Social

Work involves managing, negotiating, marketing, or selling, typically in a business setting, or leading or advising people in political and legal situations. Enterprising occupations are often associated with business initiatives, sales, marketing/advertising, finance, management/administration, professional advising, public speaking, politics, or law.

Enterprising

Work involves studying and researching non-living objects, living organisms, disease or other forms of impairment, or human behavior. Investigative occupations are often associated with physical, life, medical, or social sciences, and can be found in the fields of humanities, mathematics/statistics, information technology, or health care service.

Investigative

Work involves creating original visual artwork, performances, written works, food, or music for a variety of media, or applying artistic principles to the design of various objects and materials. Artistic occupations are often associated with visual arts, applied arts and design, performing arts, music, creative writing, media, or culinary art.

Artistic

Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed

Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.

Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, and rules of composition and grammar.

Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.

Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.

Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.

Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.

Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.

Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.

Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Actively looking for ways to help people.

Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

Crossing Guards

Miscellaneous Protective Service Workers

Protective Service Occupations

Other Protective Service Workers

Direct or escort pedestrians across streets, stopping traffic, as necessary.

Guide or control vehicular or pedestrian traffic at such places as street and railroad crossings and construction sites.

Monitor traffic flow to locate safe gaps through which pedestrians can cross streets.

Communicate traffic and crossing rules and other information to students and adults.

Direct traffic movement or warn of hazards, using signs, flags, lanterns, and hand signals.

Report unsafe behavior of children to school officials.

Record license numbers of vehicles disregarding traffic signals, and report infractions to appropriate authorities.

Distribute traffic control signs and markers at designated points.

Stop speeding vehicles to warn drivers of traffic laws.

Learn the location and purpose of street traffic signs within assigned patrol areas.

Microsoft Word

Payroll software

Visual Computer Solutions Crossing Guard Scheduling

Reflective gloves

Reflective vests

Mobile radios

Stop sign paddles

Smart phones

Computer data input scanners

Copy machines

Warning whistles

Computer laser printers

Warning flags

Digital video cameras

Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.

Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.

Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.

Performing general physical activities includes doing activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials.

Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.

Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.

Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.

Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.

Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.

Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.

How often does this job require working outdoors, exposed to all weather conditions?

Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions

Every day

Continually or almost continually

How important is it to deal with external customers (as in retail sales) or the public in general (as in police work) in this job?

Deal With External Customers or the Public in General

Extremely important

Very important

Important

How often does this job require working in very hot (above 90 F degrees) or very cold (below 32 F degrees) temperatures?

Once a week or more but not every day

Once a month or more but not every week

How often does this job require working exposed to contaminants (such as pollutants, gases, dust or odors)?

How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer?

A lot of freedom

Some freedom

Limited freedom

How often is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization?

Never

How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?

Constant contact with others

Contact with others most of the time

Occasional contact with others

To what extent does this job require the worker to perform job tasks physically close to other people?

Very close (near touching)

Moderately close (at arm's length)

I work with others but not closely (e.g., private office)

How much does this job require walking or running?

Crossing Guards and Flaggers

Overview

Career

What Crossing Guards and Flaggers Do

Other Job Titles Crossing Guards and Flaggers May Have

Tasks & Responsibilities May Include

Crossing Guards and Flaggers

Overview

Career

What Crossing Guards and Flaggers Do

Other Job Titles Crossing Guards and Flaggers May Have

Tasks & Responsibilities May Include

Education

Level of Education Attained by Crossing Guards and Flaggers

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