Yes, security work can lead to higher qualifications, but perhaps more importantly, it can lead to a much broader range of employment opportunities.

Once you are licensed and gaining experience, you can undertake additional training in areas such as cash-in-transit, armed security, control rooms, risk management, security supervision and management. You may also progress into team leader, supervisor, operations manager or security management positions. But qualifications are only part of building a successful security career.

Security providers are placed in positions of considerable trust. The fact that you hold a security licence tells prospective employers and clients that you have undergone identity, fingerprinting and criminal history checks and have satisfied government licensing requirements. Your professional reputation then becomes extremely important. Here's a few clues from more than 45 years around policing and security: keep yourself informed about current affairs – people regularly talk to security officers and current events provide common ground for conversation. Present yourself professionally, communicate well and always speak respectfully about your current and previous employers.

Most importantly, understand confidentiality. Security officers see and hear things in workplaces that are simply none of anyone else's business. Don't discuss clients, incidents, CCTV footage, workplace information or people you encounter at work on social media. It has an amazing habit of getting back to the client or employer.

Your CPP20218 qualification may get you through the door, but your reputation, professionalism, discretion and willingness to continue learning are what can turn that first security job into a long-term career.