When you travel by airplane anywhere in the country, the safety of every passenger and flight crewmember depends on the work of transportation security screeners. They screen passengers, baggage, and cargo to ensure compliance with federal regulations. Transportation security scanners operate basic security equipment, such as x-ray machines and hand wands, at screening checkpoints. They inspect carry-on items for contraband, and search baggage by hand when they suspect it contains prohibited items. When necessary, these workers must test for explosive materials using detection machines or chemical swab systems, and notify supervisors or other safety personnel when security breaches occur. They also confirm that passengers’ tickets are valid and often deal with large numbers of people, sometimes in stressful conditions. For passengers who trigger machine alarms or who are identified for searches, the security screener performs pat-downs or wand searches. Most transportation security screeners enter the field with a high school diploma or high school equivalency. On-the-job training brings them up to speed on procedures. Like most jobs in the security industry, a felony conviction may prohibit entering this field.
What they do:
Conduct screening of passengers, baggage, or cargo to ensure compliance with Transportation Security Administration (TSA) regulations. May operate basic security equipment such as x-ray machines and hand wands at screening checkpoints.
On the job, you would:
Inspect carry-on items, using x-ray viewing equipment, to determine whether items contain objects that warrant further investigation.
Search carry-on or checked baggage by hand when it is suspected to contain prohibited items such as weapons.
Check passengers' tickets to ensure that they are valid, and to determine whether passengers have designations that require special handling, such as providing photo identification.
Safety and Government
public safety and security
Business
customer service
Arts and Humanities
English language
Basic Skills
keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements
talking to others
Social
changing what is done based on other people's actions
understanding people's reactions
Verbal
communicate by speaking
listen and understand what people say
Attention
pay attention to something without being distracted
Ideas and Logic
notice when problems happen
make general rules or come up with answers from lots of detailed information
Visual Understanding
see hidden patterns
People interested in this work like activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions.
They do well at jobs that need:
Integrity
Dependability
Attention to Detail
Self Control
Stress Tolerance
Adaptability/Flexibility
You might use software like this on the job:
Spreadsheet software
Microsoft Excel
Electronic mail software
Email software
Computer based training software
Rapiscan Threat Image Projection
high school diploma/GED or some college usually needed
Get started on your career:
New job opportunities are less likely in the future.
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