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.

Knowing how to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation is invaluable in many emergency situations. Contact a Red Cross in your area and inquire about official certification or try this free online course!

Learn CPR.

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 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 communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.

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

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 or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.

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).

Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers

Monitor recreational areas, such as pools, beaches, or ski slopes, to provide assistance and protection to participants.

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

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 the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.

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 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 the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.

Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.

Knowledge of the structure and content of a foreign (non-English) language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar, and pronunciation.

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

Talking to others to convey information effectively.

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

Actively looking for ways to help people.

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.

Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.

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

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.

Miscellaneous Protective Service Workers

Protective Service Occupations

Other Protective Service Workers

Patrol or monitor recreational areas, such as trails, slopes, or swimming areas, on foot, in vehicles, or from towers.

Rescue distressed persons, using rescue techniques and equipment.

Contact emergency medical personnel in case of serious injury.

Examine injured persons and administer first aid or cardiopulmonary resuscitation, if necessary, using training and medical supplies and equipment.

Warn recreational participants of inclement weather, unsafe areas, or illegal conduct.

Maintain quality of pool water by testing chemical levels.

Complete and maintain records of weather and beach conditions, emergency medical treatments performed, and other relevant incident information.

Instruct participants in skiing, swimming, or other recreational activities and provide safety precaution information.

Inspect recreational equipment, such as rope tows, T-bars, J-bars, or chair lifts, for safety hazards and damage or wear.

Inspect recreational facilities for cleanliness.

Microsoft Excel

GroupMe

Microsoft Outlook

Microsoft Publisher

Microsoft Word

Microsoft PowerPoint

Chair lifts

Tow lines

Rescue buoys

Rescue rings

Emergency first aid kits

Automated external defibrillators AED

Navigational compasses

Rescue toboggans

Snow skis

Snowshoes

Mechanical stethoscopes

Mercury sphygmomanometers

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

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.

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

Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.

Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.

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

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

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

Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

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

How important is it to work with or contribute to a work group or team in this job?

Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team

Extremely important

Very important

How frequently does your job require face-to-face discussions with individuals and within teams?

Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams

Every day

Once a month or more but not every week

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

Contact with others about half the time

How much responsibility is there for the health and safety of others in this job?

How frequently does your job require you to use E-mail?

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?

Once a week or more but not every day

How serious would the result usually be if the worker made a mistake that was not easily correctable?

Extremely serious

Very serious

Not serious at all

What results do your decisions usually have on other people or the image or reputation or financial resources of your employer?

Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results

Very important results

Important results

Moderate results

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)

Slightly close (e.g., shared office)

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

Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers

Overview

Career

What Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers Do

Other Job Titles Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers May Have

Tasks & Responsibilities May Include

Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers

Overview

Career

What Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers Do

Other Job Titles Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers May Have

Tasks & Responsibilities May Include

Education

Level of Education Attained by Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers

Majors Related to Career

Related Leaders