By David Ramlagan, Training Coordinator, Aviation Security
I have met many employees within our organization with tremendous talent and who may not be working in a position to meet their fullest potential.
ASP is a growing company and with growth comes opportunity. Promoting from within is preferred, but the challenge is identifying the right candidate. Below are a few tips on how to get noticed for the purpose of career advancement.
Start with the Basics Basic qualities like punctuality and deportment may not seem like something an employer would focus on when it comes to escalated positions. But these are deal breaking factors that set a strong impression and stay in an employer’s mind for quite a while. No matter how skilled you are, management will have little confidence in your capability if you can’t do the basics.
Take Ownership Would you do your job any differently if you actually owned ASP? Because an owner is more invested in the success of the company, they tend to go the extra mile – for example, creating a process to make things easier or even just cleaning out a locker that has months of old documents in it. Some workers take the initiative, while some others just turn a blind eye and have the “not my problem” mentality. It is easy for employers to see which workers have taken ownership of their job.
Impress with Reports Managers and clients tend to look at incident reports very closely. If you are involved in an incident and are requested to complete a report, remember that you now have a captive audience of people in a position who can contribute to your promotion. Be sure to include the 5 W’s and all relevant detail. You have an even greater opportunity to impress if you are involved in electronic reporting since these tend to get read by high-ranking individuals more often. Several ASP employees who excelled in reporting have moved over to GTAA Security.
Keep in the Know There have been several coordinator, management and administration positions recently, with very few internal applications. You may not receive a notification when an opportunity within ASP arises, so it’s important to regularly check the careers section of the ASP Website. Salaried and non-salaried positions are found on the careers section of the website, while the hourly positions can be found by clicking on the “Internal Opportunities” link.
By Petra Nash
Does Social Media Boost Employee Engagement? Social media has become a great tool for companies to use in order to promote employee engagement. Many employees are not actively engaged at work, and, as a result, many employers are turning to digital tools to help them with employee engagement.
Given the prevalence of social media sites, the use of the digital space to create more employee engagement makes sense. Using platforms such as Facebook or Instagram makes it easier to post longer articles or updates on the company, whereas Twitter can provide up-to-date news within the company. Providing your employees with multiple channels to engage with the organization helps them feel more connected. This improves engagement over time.
One way to boost employee engagement via social media is through recognition. Many individuals feel disengaged with the company they work for because they do no receive feedback or recognition on a job well done. Social media makes recognition a simple, streamlined, and achievable task for managers and supervisors.
Social media can also be used for posting current internal and
external career opportunities within the company. Utilizing your following can
draw more attention to roles you are looking to fill. This may, in turn, result
in employee recognition for referrals.
Social media has become a great source to utilize for company updates, career postings, job fairs as well as updates on company events. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to get the latest updates.
Facebook:A.S.P. Incorporated
Instagram: @asp_security
Twitter: ASPSecurity
By Petra Nash
With a fantastic season, the Toronto Raptors went into the playoffs with one goal, which was to win, and they did just that! The Toronto Raptors are the 2019 NBA Champions.
With 24 years of hard work, the team utilized their skills and performed better than ever. Seeing the development of the players, team as well as the coaches has been wonderful.
By Darren Scott, Resource Coordinator
As an employee of ASP and due to the nature of our business, you may find yourself facing the media.
If you are in front of the media during an event or a crisis and appear rude, unsympathetic and insecure, that can damage the reputation of ASP and our clients. If you come across as calm and collected or even apologetic, you can enhance ASP and our client’s reputations.
How can we get it right? Prepare, because media likes controversy and may take advantage of individuals who seem unsure and unprepared. Preparing is having a strategy in mind when dealing with a crisis and media may be present. If you are in a situation, small or large, and the media is present, you can follow these tips to help ASP as a brand and uphold our client’s reputation.
Stay calm and professional.
Talking to a reporter can be difficult. Keep your responses light;
don’t make jokes as you may be quoted out of context. Remember the reporter is
looking to make news from what you say.
Stick to confirmed facts and don’t offer more information than required. Most importantly, act normal and relax to avoid sounding insincere or unsympathetic. Offer reassurance to all people involved whether it be the media, staff or coworkers. First impressions matter, so speak clearly and confidently.
2. Never say anything you wouldn’t want published.
There is no such thing as ‘off-the-record’
when talking with a reporter. Anything you say can be used without permission
to publish online or print. Be accurate and truthful in everything you say. If
you are unsure, decline to respond. Example: “I do not have that information”.
The importance of office ergonomics is often overlooked until someone experiences discomfort or sustains an injury, such as carpal tunnel or a repetitive strain injury.
By implementing the following simple changes in the setup of your workspace, you can help prevent these injuries from occurring in the first place.
Chair: Adjust the height of your chair so that your feet rest flat on the floor and your knees are bent at a 90-degree angle. Your forearms should be parallel to the floor while your hands are resting on your keyboard and your wrists should not be bent. Pay attention to your posture and avoid slouching while seated.
Computer Monitor: Your monitor should be positioned at or slightly below eye level. Adjust the brightness of your monitor and take frequent eye breaks to reduce the likelihood of eye strain. The Canadian Association of Optometrists recommends that you follow the 20-20-20 rule for eye breaks: Every 20 minutes, take a 20-second break, and focus your eyes on something at least 20 feet away.
Desk: Ensure that frequently used items on your desk are placed within easy reach, eliminating the need to stretch unnecessarily. Remove items from under your desk that may be preventing you from having proper foot placement. Move or tie up loose cables that could pose a tripping hazard.
By following these tips, you are taking the first steps to having a safe and comfortable workspace. This will enhance your productivity and help you avoid future pain and discomfort. It can sometimes be difficult to see the value in spending time to set up an ergonomic workspace, but these minor changes could prevent a major injury.
By Debbie Ciccotelli, Director, Strategic Initiatives
Motivation is the force that drives us to do things – the inspiration behind our behaviour and our actions. It is what gets us up in the morning and keeps us going through the day.
I had the pleasure of conversing with a young man recently. He had just completed his basic training and started work as an airport security guard. The passion this young man had for his new role was evident in his facial expressions, body language and tone of voice as well as the words which he spoke. He told me about his love for aviation and how this job fulfilled this passion. He embraced the recruitment and training process and was so proud to put on his uniform and begin work. His trainer informed me that he had never seen a new employee with such passion, energy and excitement. This young man’s positive mindset, passion and energy will be a source of motivation and energy for others.
Observing someone who is beginning their career with a true awareness of their passion and self- motivation is truly inspiring. It forces you to take a step back and ask yourself – what is my motivation? As time goes by, our motivations will change, therefore it is important we self-assess and identify those things in life that really motivate and inspire us to be the best we can be. Self-motivation is a life skill, which we should build upon and nurture throughout our entire life. It is behind our success in all areas of life and in everything we do.
Motivated and passionate employees are more resilient and energetic
about their work, have a stronger sense of wellbeing and provide a positive
source of energy for others around them.
By Petra Nash, Executive Assistant
On June 27th, 2019, ASP Security Services and Airfield Access Inc. got together for the 5th annual Client Appreciation Golf Tournament.
The charity chosen this year to sponsor was Reach Out Centre for Kids.
ROCK™
was designated by the Ministry of Child and Youth
Services (MCYS) as the child and youth mental health Lead Agency for Halton in
August 2014. With programs and services that run out of 11
sites and three main offices, ROCK™ is committed to being inclusive, client-centred and family-centred. With over 40 years of service in Halton, we are dedicated to building strong people, strong families and strong communities. ROCK™ promotes and achieves optimal mental health in kids and families.
The golf tournament was a phenomenal success.
Clients and employees gathered together to help support a good
cause. Raffles, putting contests and silent auction items had guests donating
to a great cause. The total value raised $2,675!
Thank you to all our clients, sponsors and employees for their continued hard work, and a big thank you also goes out to Reach Out Centre for Kids for the ongoing support they provide to the community.
By Cliff Sampogna, Regional Manager
Within the security industry, there is always room for growth and new opportunities with new business and sites.
I wanted to take this opportunity to congratulate the ASP family for the growth within the Residential and Commercial division again.
Sample ASP School Crossing Guard Equipment
In June, we were advised that we were awarded a new contract with the City of Toronto. This contract was awarded for two of the four School Crossing Guard zones. This contract brings with it about 320-340 new employees. This was a big win for us, as we can showcase our high level of service in a specialized area that we would like to grow in. We will be starting this contract on September 3, 2019.
This contract was awarded to us due to our reputation and hard work
that our field staff have done over the last several years at our sites. This
is a testament of how important it is to always maintain a professional image
and attitude.
This contract has provided us with another unique vertical market,
as we will be providing crossing guard services at the client’s school cross
walks in the North and West parts of GTA.
I wanted to welcome all the incumbent and new staff as we transition
this contract and bring a large amount of intellectual capital on board through
the highly experienced crossing guards. The team’s support and willingness to
help has been a big part of the successes we are currently having early in this
contract and transition.
We have several
projects in the works and I am looking forward to the continued growth within
our ASP family and
They protect us from threats at public events, airports, government agencies and they're man's best friend. Let's pay homage to the K9 who sniffs for safety.
Sniffing for Safety: K9 Fast Facts and Statistics
Here’s a fun fact about k9 security dogs: Babylonians, Greeks, and Assyrians were the first to have guard dogs. In their ancient cultures, guard dogs were used to protect treasures and tombs. Similarly, k9 security is used in the modern day to protect us from so much.
Security services using canines for protection know that these dogs are very extraordinary. They can detect drugs, explosives and have a lot of interesting things about them. Learn more about k9 security and how much of a service these beautiful creatures are!
K9 Are Scent Detectives
Primarily known as detection dogs, a k9 is trained to pick up on targeted scents and raise the alarm if they do. Those scents can be from a vast selection of things from drugs to firearms. And thanks to a k9 security’s keen sense of smell, they can detect these scents almost immediately.
Some of the main scents k9’s are trained to identify include:
Drugs
Firearms
Explosives
Cash
Criminal evidence
Miscellaneous contraband
Nothing Gets By Their Noses
Aside from detecting and alerting others about smells, k9 security dogs are able to point out scents that are being masked by odors. Dogs can smell in layers and use this to their advantage when trained to be a k9. They are taught to discern between an organic scent and a scent that is either hidden, buried, or otherwise masked.
They are also capable of telling the difference between multiple smells or multiple ingredients. Their nose will pick up on even the faintest chemical and can call it out immediately. This makes them the most thorough for sniffing out targeted scents in large arenas or busy locations.
They Make The Best Security
You would be surprised at how amazing a dog’s nose really is. Their sense of smell is far sharper than other animals or even humans. Their superior scent detection means they can also search areas much faster than humans too.
Their accuracy makes them very effective bomb detectors. Tons of research goes into the development of multiple security methods, including security companies in Toronto. But nothing has proven more effective than k9 security services.
Their Breeds Are Made For The Job
Plenty of breeds are perfect for the role of a k9. A few include Labradors and Spaniels but the official breed for k9 security are German Shepards. They were the first breed police officers used in World War 1, World War 2 and the Vietnam War.
This is likely due to their undeniable intelligence and ability to be trained to obey commands. German Shepards are notorious for their incredible work ethic. They are also known to display the following qualities:
Sociability — K9’s are sociable enough to be handled by people with ease. But they should not be so sociable that it distracts them from tasks. The presence of people should not throw them off.
Environmental Stability — K9’s won’t nervousness or hesitation around loud or strange noises. They show physical rigor regardless of working in very hot or very cold environments. They are also bold and capable of walking or climbing onto strange surfaces.
Desire to Earn Rewards — K9’s are driven to earn a reward for all of their hard work. They have to want that reward more than anything else. Food is not usually used as a reward since it is hard for handlers to carry and having too much food could confuse the dog.
Hunting Ability — K9’s have an intense drive and are motivated to continue hunting regardless if they find something. They must be trained not to show frustration or give any false alerts.
More Than Just Security Dogs
Nowadays, k9 dogs are specifically trained to become more than security. Given their incredible ability to not be distracted during searches, they make amazing seeing dogs. Using their keen sense of smell, they can alert their owners of what’s ahead of them.
K9 security dogs, however, provide a unique sense of security by simply being there. People, criminals included, can normally sense what k9s are capable too. Making it easier for k9 security to focus on any job that is in front of them.
A k9 has a different process to identify people, however, still relying on their sense of smell. They start by using their nose to test their surroundings. Then they move on to voice recognition and then to people’s silhouettes.
A k9 security dog can even tell the difference between identical twins. The go along the same process of identifying who is who and can always sniff out the difference.
You Can Trust K9 Security
Some of the best security guard companies in Toronto house and train the best k9 dogs around. They focus on matching dogs with the right handlers based on personality and lifestyle traits. These dogs are trained for six to eight weeks for initial training and certification.
Once deployed, k9 security can finally begin. The k9 dogs are trained throughout their careers on a regular basis with their handlers. They are also tested from time to time to maintain their certifications.
Good k9 security is driven by protecting others from harm. You can find out more about detection dogs or canine patrol services and have any of your questions answered by a professional security company. To have a deeper understanding of the training process for k9 dogs or how to secure your surroundings through their services, check out our website today!
Written by Cliff Sampogna
Within the security industry, there is always room for growth and new opportunities with new business and sites.
I wanted to take
this opportunity to congratulate the ASP family for the growth within the Residential
and Commercial division again.
In June, we were advised that we were awarded a new contract with the City of Toronto. This contract was awarded for two of the four Crossing Guard zones within the city of Toronto. This contract brings with it about 320-340 new employees. This was a big win for us as we can showcase our high level of service in a specialized area that we would like to grow in. We will be starting this contract on September 3, 2019.
This contract
was awarded to us due to our reputation and hard work that our field staff have
done over the last several years at our sites. This is a testament of how
important it is to always maintain a professional image and attitude.
This contract
has provided us with another unique vertical market as we will be providing
security at the client’s cross walks in the North and West parts of GTA.
I wanted to welcome
all the incumbent and new staff as we transition this contract and bring a
large amount of intellectual capital on board through the highly experienced
crossing guards. The teams support and willingness to help has been a big part
of the successes we are currently having had early in this contract and
transition.
We have several
projects in the works and I am looking forward to the continued growth within
our ASP family and to see where we can take this in the future.