Although a bodyguard cannot always guarantee total protection from all sorts of threats, having a professional to watch your back when moving around could be an ideal option for your personal security. Many people often wait until something unpleasant happens to hire a bodyguard, but that is like gambling with your life. Whether you are a celebrity, business person, politician, company executive or have some level of influence, it is important to always have a bodyguard by your side. Hiring a bodyguard does not mean that he or she has to be at your back all the time but available at the time of need.

In case you need a bodyguard, it is advisable to first consult with professionals in order to get a rough idea of what the services entail and some of the things to note when hiring one or more. The following are some of the things to keep in mind when hiring a bodyguard;

• Understand your personal needs. Bodyguards can be armed or unarmed depending on the personal needs of a client. Besides, there are extra services that some bodyguards can also do. Therefore, it is advisable to always specify your reasons for a bodyguard in order to determine the best person for the job.
• Check the qualifications of the bodyguard. Today, there are many people out there claiming they can offer bodyguard protection but do not have proper qualifications. An ideal candidate should be one who has undergone training in at least one protective service course. Besides, it is advisable to find someone who has been involved in bodyguard protection before since experience also counts. It would also be a plus if you find a bodyguard with other special skills or training like driving, use of firearms and technology, first aid among others.

• Perform background checks. In most occasions, candidates will only say the positives and their accomplishments without exposing any information that could disqualify them. Through background checks, you can easily determine the history of a potential candidate to know if he or she can be trusted with protection. There are various things that you can find out about an individual through background checks including, level of competency and general behavior or character.
• Know the personality of the candidate. A bodyguard is not just someone to protect you in the event of a threat but a friend who keeps a watchful eye over you to ensure that you are safe and comfortable. He or she will be accompanying you to almost all the places including the office, meetings, social events and home.

Thus, you should always find someone whose personality complements your own in order to avoid unnecessary embarrassment and mistakes. An ideal candidate should be confident, sharp and honest. A good bodyguard should also be ready to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement, although the relationship between the two of you ought to be built on trust.

Finding a professional bodyguard that you know too well could be a great option. However, the chances for that are almost nil, hence, the first thing to do after getting the right candidate is bonding with him or her. This will enable you to familiarize with each other for smooth operations throughout the contract.