Allied Universal's security hiring starts online: you apply, answer a few questions about yourself and, if selected, get a link to a video interview. After that you sign and submit your application, then move on to licensing, a background check and a drug test. Allied Universal doesn't publish its interview questions, so prepare to talk about reliability, judgement and how you treat people.
The process details below come from Allied Universal's careers site at jobs.aus.com: its hiring process page and FAQs. Where Allied Universal doesn't say something, we say so. The interview questions are ones to prepare for; Allied Universal doesn't publish its questions.
The Allied Universal hiring process at a glance
| Step | What happens | What Allied Universal says about timing |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Apply | Search jobs.aus.com and click Apply Now, or apply in person at a branch for security jobs. | Not published |
| 2. Answer a few questions | Tell Allied Universal about yourself and your experience. | Not published |
| 3. Video interview | If selected, you get a video link. Allied Universal partners with HireVue. | "Available 24/7 on your schedule" |
| 4. Sign and submit | Sign your application electronically to be fully considered. | Not published |
| 5. Licence, background check, drug test | Licensing rules depend on your state and city. | Varies with the licensing process |
| 6. Orientation | New hire orientation at your local branch. | Generally 2 to 3 hours |
| Possible extra steps (order not published) | Some applicants are invited to an online assessment, a telephone screening and/or an in-person interview. | Not published |
What is the Allied Universal hiring process?
You apply online or at a branch, answer some questions, complete a video interview (plus any extra screening you're invited to), sign your application, then clear licensing, a background check and a drug test before orientation. Allied Universal lays out the online steps on its hiring process page:
- Apply. Browse security jobs and apply for one near you. You need an email address to create your profile.
- Answer a few questions. Allied Universal asks you to say who you are and what sets you apart, so it can understand your experience and skills.
- Video interview. If you're selected, you receive a video link.
- Sign and submit. After the digital interview, you sign and submit your application electronically. Allied Universal says you must do this to be fully considered, so don't skip it.
- Track your progress. Log in to your account to check your status, and watch for email or text updates.
Allied Universal warns about recruitment fraud and names jobs.aus.com as its official careers site. Apply there or at a branch, and be cautious of postings elsewhere.
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What is the Allied Universal interview process?
Allied Universal's FAQ says that after you apply you may be invited to an online assessment, a telephone screening and/or an in-person interview. Its hiring process page adds the video interview through HireVue for security professionals.
The video interview
Allied Universal describes it as a video link "to connect with a live recruiter" and also as "available 24/7 on your schedule". It doesn't publish how many questions there are, how long it lasts or whether you can retake an answer. Read the instructions in your invitation carefully. If you're asked to record answers to questions shown on screen, our guide to one-way video interviews explains how that format usually works.
What Allied Universal asks you to have ready:
- a smartphone, tablet or computer with a camera and microphone;
- a stable Wi-Fi connection;
- a quiet, comfortable spot with no distractions.
Its own tip: treat it like an in-person interview and dress professionally.
The online assessment
Allied Universal says some applicants may be invited to an online assessment. It doesn't publish what the assessment contains, how long it takes or how it's scored. If yours shows you workplace scenarios and asks what you would do, it's a situational judgement format; our guide to situational judgement tests explains how that works in general.
Do you need a security licence to apply to Allied Universal?
No. Allied Universal says you don't need a security licence up front to apply for security guard jobs. Many states license security guards, and some cities do too.
When you can start depends on where you work. In some states you may work with a provisional licence; others don't let you begin security work until your licence has cleared. The cost of a licence varies by state, city and how you apply.
Does Allied Universal do background checks and drug tests?
Yes. Allied Universal says that to be approved for a security guard licence you can expect background checks, which generally include fingerprint and criminal record checks, and that drug testing is a condition of employment. It doesn't publish the specific rules it applies to background results.
How long does the Allied Universal hiring process take?
Allied Universal doesn't publish a timeline. Its FAQ says the hiring process from start to finish can vary in length depending on the licensing process, and that new hire orientation generally lasts 2 to 3 hours at the local branch office. If your state requires a licence before you start, apply for it as early as your branch allows.
Common Allied Universal interview questions and how to answer them
These are questions to prepare for, based on the work Allied Universal describes. Allied Universal says it wants people with "a passion for being there for others", and its purpose is "There for you". Its Code of Ethics asks staff to act with integrity "even when no one is watching" and to speak up when something is wrong. Build your answers around those ideas. Use the STAR method for any "tell me about a time" question.
1. Why do you want to work in security with Allied Universal?
Link your answer to protecting people and places. Mention something specific, such as the type of site you applied for (an office, a hospital, an airport, an event) and why that work suits you.
2. What does a security officer do, in your own words?
Keep it practical: observe, deter, report, help people and follow the site's procedures. Show you understand that much of the job is paying attention and writing things down accurately.
3. Tell me about a time you dealt with an upset or difficult person.
Choose a real example from any job. Describe how you stayed calm, listened and solved the problem or passed it to the right person. Allied Universal's purpose is service, so show courtesy as well as firmness.
4. What would you do if you saw someone in an area they weren't allowed to be?
Walk through the steps: observe, approach politely if your post orders say to, ask how you can help, follow the site's procedure, call for support if needed and write it up. Say you would follow post orders and your supervisor's instructions.
5. How would you handle an emergency, such as a fire alarm or a medical incident?
Explain that you'd follow the site's emergency procedure, call emergency services or your supervisor as instructed, help people get to safety and record what happened. If you have first aid or CPR training, mention it.
6. Tell me about a time you noticed something was wrong and reported it.
Allied Universal's Code of Ethics asks people to speak up. Give an example where you spotted a problem, such as a safety hazard or an error, and raised it with the right person.
7. What would you do if a colleague asked you to cover for them or bend a rule?
Answer honestly: you'd refuse, explain why and report it if needed. This is where acting with integrity "even when no one is watching" matters most.
8. How do you stay alert on a long or quiet shift?
Give concrete habits: regular patrols, checking your surroundings, keeping logs up to date, staying hydrated. Interviewers want to know you won't switch off.
9. How do you write an incident report?
Say you record facts: who, what, when, where, what you did and who you told. Avoid opinions. If you've written reports in another job, give an example.
10. What shifts can you work?
Be honest about your availability and match it to what you put in your application.
11. Do you have, or are you willing to get, the licence this role needs?
You don't need it to apply, but show you've checked your state's rules and are ready to start the process.
12. Tell me about a time you worked as part of a team.
Allied Universal describes its workforce as built on teamwork, collaboration and mutual respect. Pick an example where you helped colleagues or handed over clearly at the end of a shift.
Our list of situational interview questions and our bank of behavioural interview questions give you more to practise with.
How to prepare for an Allied Universal interview
- Apply only on jobs.aus.com or at a branch, and check your email and texts for updates.
- Read the posting closely. Note whether the role is armed or unarmed, the site type and the shift pattern.
- Check your state's guard licence rules so you can answer questions about licensing.
- Set up for the video interview: camera and microphone working, stable Wi-Fi, a quiet spot and professional clothes.
- Prepare four or five STAR stories covering a difficult person, an emergency or safety issue, reporting a problem, teamwork and reliability.
- Practise out loud, ideally in a mock interview with someone who will give you honest feedback.
- Sign and submit your application after the video interview.
Practising realistic work tasks
Interviews reward prepared stories. Judgement on the job improves with practice on realistic tasks. Cohesyve, which publishes this guide, runs practice job simulations for your role, with a scored report on where you lost marks. It isn't affiliated with Allied Universal and doesn't use Allied Universal's interview questions or assessments.
FAQs
Can I apply to Allied Universal in person?
Yes, for security jobs. Allied Universal says you can apply in person at one of its branches.
Does Allied Universal use HireVue?
Yes. Allied Universal says it partners with HireVue for its digital interviews.
Do I need a guard card before applying to Allied Universal?
No. Allied Universal says you don't need a security licence to apply. Whether you can start before it clears depends on your state.
Does Allied Universal drug test?
Yes. Allied Universal requires drug testing as a condition of employment.
How do I check my Allied Universal application status?
Log in to your account on jobs.aus.com. Allied Universal also sends email or text updates.
How long is Allied Universal orientation?
Allied Universal says new hire orientation generally lasts 2 to 3 hours and takes place at the local branch office.
Sources
Allied Universal's own pages, checked 27 October 2026:
- jobs.aus.com: Security Professionals Hiring Process
- jobs.aus.com: FAQs
- jobs.aus.com: Our Culture
- aus.com: Our Purpose
- aus.com: Code of Ethics (2026)