Lifeguards usually earn a dollar more an hour then their counterparts who work in the snack bar. That extra money comes in handy during these tough economic times. It's also a skill that will carry through a life time. So how difficult is it to get a lifeguard job? Not very, with a little hard work and willingness to learn.
How to Get a Lifeguard Job
Know how to swim? And willing to take a 37 hour lifeguard certification course? That is what it takes to become a lifeguard. The American Red Cross lists classes across the country. All that's needed is to plug in a zip code. But it doesn't list every class offering. Check local rec plexes and community centers. Even local highschools sometimes offer certification courses. Requirements are that students must turn 15 by the last day or class. The instructors teach valuable skills including CPR and first aid.
How to Find a Job after Completing Certification Training
Contact community centers, country clubs, even day care centers and lifeguard hiring organizations. Be sure to emphasize other unique skills when applying. For instance, applicants who have completed lifeguard training, but also have fast food experience would make ideal candidates to fill in behind the snack bar. People who are versatile are more likely to get the job, especially at a small community pool where employees are expected to do everything.
Teach Kids that Having a Skill Will Help Them Get a Better Job
Lifeguard certification classes aren't cheap. They run around $150 and up. But teens will realize that by having that skill, they will be able to command more money per hour. And that lesson will carry into later life, when young adults realize the more they know, the better the money. And that specialization in a certain field or skill-set pays off.
By encouraging teens to apply early for summer jobs, and hone those interviewing skills, parents can help build valuable job-hunting skills. Also teens who help out with the family finances, even just a little, will feel like they are really making a difference both for themselves and their parents.
How to Handle a Lifeguard Job Interview
This is a skill that teens will need over and over again. Parents can help by role-playing an interview situation. Asking teens questions they might be asked during the actual job interview will help them feel more at ease during the application process. And once they nail the interview, the money and the job will bring them a feeling of satisfaction that is like no other.
L. Marie Dubuque - Based in St. Louis, Marie Dubuque is certified as a life coach. Her latest book, Emotional Spending: How to Break the Addiction is now ...
