Employers

Loss prevention managers usually work for large retail corporations. Employers include such companies as Amazon, JCPenney, Kmart Corporation, Kohl's, Lowe's, Macy's, Target, Wal-Mart, among many others. Smaller retail businesses as well as malls, outlet centers, and large warehouses may also employ loss prevention managers. There are 462,840 managers, all other, employed in the United States, according to the Department of Labor. 

Starting Out

Loss prevention managers usually start in trainee or associate positions. They spend a required amount of time shadowing experienced loss prevention specialists and learning while on the job. They may get their start through an internship or part-time job in a security firm or loss prevention department of a retail corporation. Ask your school's career services office for help finding internship and job listings. Another way to find jobs is through employment Web sites such as LP Jobs, https://www2.lpjobs.com.

Loss prevention managers start as associates, training while on the job. They may work their way up the career ladder through retail management positions with more responsibilities added to their jobs with each promotion. Those that start on the security side, working onsite in retail stores, may advance to management positions in corporate offices. Managers with years of experience in loss prevention may become division or department heads, overseeing teams that work for stores in specific geographic areas. They may become instructors and teachers in colleges and vocational schools. They may also go back to school for an advanced degree or get certification.

Attend industry events to meet loss prevention professionals and learn about career opportunities. The National Retail Federation, for example, offers the annual networking event NRF Protect for those who work in loss prevention, asset protection, and IT and cybersecurity: https://nrfprotect.nrf.com.

Read publications on loss prevention, such as LPM Insider (https://losspreventionmedia.com), to keep up with news and trends in the field. 

Conduct informational interviews with loss prevention managers for advice on how to prepare for this job. Ask your school's career services office for assistance in finding managers who are interested in shedding light on this field.

Read news and stories, and find useful advice on planning for a career in loss prevention, by visiting the National Retail Federation's Web site, https://nrf.com/tag/loss-prevention.