5 Minutes With… Harry Rashid, Security Manager, Corps Security

What is the best thing about your job?

What I enjoy most about my role is the opportunity to meet such a wide range of new people on a daily basis – my day-to-day is never the same. I’m currently based on Curzon Street in London too, and it’s a location which is in a constant state of change. Being directly opposite where the HS2 Railway Station construction is happening, we see the area undergoing huge development with new buildings going up and various businesses flooding to the area. This also gives us a great opportunity for security recruitment; we’re always taking on new staff and we’re in a great location for it.

My previous role involved a lot of travel. Now, I’m based at a particular site, yet it is incredibly dynamic, and this gives me tremendous job satisfaction. I do visit other sites though and I’m lucky enough to be able to keep core office hours as well as cycle to work, which keeps me fit and healthy!

If you were not working in security, what would you be doing?

Before moving into the security industry, I worked for six years within a branch of one of the world’s largest insurance brokers. There, my focus was underwriting policies to supply clients with income protection. If they weren’t able to work due to a medical condition or illness, we would provide their income – a sense of security in its own right. If I was not working in security now, I think I would have stayed in the health insurance industry.

Where do you hope to be in five years’ time?

I joined Corps Security almost 13 years ago to help steady the ship with a major client contract. Today we still hold that contract, thanks to our great service here on site. Although it would mean sacrificing the aspects I love about my current role, within the next five years my sights are set on progressing to a senior position within the company. I would give up the day to day base at a fixed location and my role would become traveling to different client locations around the north and south regions, but it’s an opportunity I would love to take.

If you had one piece of advice for your younger self, what would it be?

Based on a long history of work experience, my advice would be to take your time with decision making and not be too hasty. Sometimes, there’s pressure to give an answer, and naturally the expectation is that it’s the correct one. Often there’s pressure to commit to something and upon reflection, you realise fulfilling that promise may not be achievable. Alternatively, you might decline something that you later wish you could have worked on. There is always more time than we feel we have, and it’s important to use it wisely.