Women in security: roles and opportunities
A woman can work in every role in security: reception and access control, retail, hotels, events, the control room and supervision. The work licence is the same for everyone: Law 2518/1997 sets no condition that differs by sex. Before accepting a post, ask about the shift pattern, how you stay in contact when working a post alone, and the path to progression. OVIT’s openings are on our Careers page.
Updated: 4 min readSources: 3
What roles do women work in private security?
All of them. Security posts vary widely in character, from office reception to supervising teams.
- Reception and access control: in office buildings, where dealing with people is most of the job.
- Retail: loss prevention and service in store — see our guide to retail security.
- Hotels: security with a focus on hospitality and languages — see our guide to hotel security.
- Events: entry control and crowd flow.
- Control room: monitoring patrols, alarms and reports remotely, and keeping in touch with guards in the field.
- Supervision: guiding guards and dealing with the client — see the security supervisor role.
Are security licence requirements different for women in Greece?
No. The work-licence conditions in Law 2518/1997 are the same for every applicant, with no distinction by sex.
Security staff need a category A or B work licence (Law 2518/1997, article 3 §1). To get one you must meet the conditions of article 2 §1 and hold a relevant training title (article 3 §4). None of these conditions differs by sex. The licence is personal, valid for five years and renewable (article 3 §6).
The one additional condition in article 3 §4, fulfilled military obligations, applies only to staff who will carry a weapon. The full steps to a licence are in our guide on how to become a security guard in Greece.
What shifts do women security guards work?
The same as any guard: security often covers the full 24 hours, so mornings, afternoons, nights and weekends. Say what suits you from the start.
Night work (22:00–06:00) carries a 25% premium (Presidential Decree 62/2025, article 150 §1), and work on Sundays and public holidays a 75% premium (article 219 §1). For hours and rest, see our guide to security guard shifts.
- State in your application which shifts you can and can’t work.
- Ask when the rota is published and how to request a change.
- If you have family commitments, mention them early; it’s easier to match a post from the start than to change it later.
Is it safe for a woman to work a security post alone?
A lone post is safe when you always know how to call for help and someone knows where you are. That holds for every guard, and you ask about it before you take the post.
Before accepting a post where you’ll be on your own, ask:
- Who do I call if something goes wrong, and does someone answer around the clock?
- Is there regular contact with the supervisor or operations desk during the shift?
- What do the post orders say about an alarm or a threat?
- Is there lighting, a lockable room and access to a toilet?
A guard’s job is to observe, record, inform and escalate — not to face a threat alone. At OVIT, when you call the operations desk, a real person answers.
Can women progress to security supervisor?
Yes, along the same path as everyone: experience at the post, reliable reports, training and gradually more responsibility.
Progression in security runs from the post in the field to supervision, the control room or specialist areas. Our guide to the security career path sets out the steps, and our guide to the security supervisor role covers what the job involves.
Skills like communication, de-escalation and clear reporting count at every step. Tell your supervisor you want to progress; that’s how you get the chances to show it.
How do I apply for a security job at OVIT?
Through our Careers page. Give your licence status, the shifts and areas that suit you, and the kind of post you’re interested in.
OVIT works with local teams and hires through the Careers page. If a particular role interests you — reception, a hotel, the control room — say so in your application, along with the languages you speak. To prepare, see our guide to the security job interview.
At a glance
- Women work in every security role: reception, retail, hotels, events, the control room and supervision.
- The work-licence conditions in Law 2518/1997 are the same for everyone, with no distinction by sex.
- Military obligations are required only of staff who carry a weapon.
- Before taking a lone post, ask who you call and how you stay in contact during the shift.
- Progression to supervisor or the control room follows the same path for everyone.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to have done military service to work in security?
No, unless you’ll carry a weapon. Law 2518/1997 (article 3 §4) requires fulfilled military obligations only from armed staff.
Is the security licence for women the same as for men?
Yes. The category A or B work licence and its conditions are the same for every applicant; the law makes no distinction by sex.
Can I ask for morning shifts only?
You can state it in your application. Your availability decides which posts you fit, so make it clear from the start.
Sources
Every legal or pay point in this guide was checked against the official sources below.
- Ν. 2518/1997 (ΦΕΚ Α΄ 164) — κωδικοποιημένο κείμενο, Ελληνική Αστυνομία: άρθρα 2 §1, 3 §1, §4 και §6Checked
- Κώδικας Εργατικού Δικαίου (π.δ. 62/2025), άρθρο 150 §1 — προσαύξηση νυχτερινής εργασίαςChecked
- Κώδικας Εργατικού Δικαίου (π.δ. 62/2025), άρθρο 219 §1 — προσαύξηση εργασίας Κυριακών και αργιώνChecked
Want to work in security?
See the open roles and how OVIT teams work.