Yes. Casual employment is very common in the security industry, particularly in crowd control, events, hospitality and other areas where the amount of available work changes from week to week. In fact, the problem we sometimes see with newly licensed BARS students isn't finding enough work – it's accepting too much of it. It is not unusual for a graduate to contact us a few months after becoming licensed and proudly tell us they are working 70 or 80 hours a week across several security employers and making great money. T

hat's fantastic financially, but our next question is usually: how are your health, happiness and family life going? After more than 45 years around policing, security and shift work, I can tell you that continually working excessive hours, particularly nights, weekends and irregular shifts, can take its toll. Going from unemployment or limited working hours straight into a 70 or 80-hour working week is a massive lifestyle change. Fatigue also matters in security. Your employer and the public rely on you to remain alert, communicate properly, assess risks and make sensible decisions, sometimes under considerable pressure.

So yes, casual security work can provide tremendous flexibility. You may work for more than one security employer and choose opportunities that suit your availability and lifestyle, subject of course to your employment arrangements. Just remember to pace yourself. Building a successful security career isn't simply about accepting every available shift or earning as much money as possible.

Look after yourself, your relationships and the things that matter outside work as well. There is more to quality of life than the size of your next pay packet.