Benefits

It's not an easy job, but there are many benefits to being a lifeguard:

  • They pay you comparatively well.
  • You have a flexible schedule in an informal environment.
  • You get to hang out with interesting people and make great friends.
  • You cool off in the pool during your breaks.
  • You gain a lot of customer service experience.
  • You learn responsibility and how to anticipate potentially dangerous situations.
  • Gain valuable life-saving skills that will stay with you throughout your life, and may prove valuable even in future jobs.
benefits of being a lifeguard


When I became a lifeguard:

I became a lifeguard when I was just 15 years old, and even though I tried various other part-time jobs in high school and college, I kept coming back to lifeguarding. In fact, I got my first "real" job after college because I had been a lifeguard. I was looking for a full-time sales position at a new gym, and when I walked in for my interview, the hiring manager said, do you want to be a lifeguard or not he said, he brought me to the American lifeguard association from there I got certified and now I am a lifeguard. Do you want to be a lifeguard get our lifeguard courses like lifeguard training near me, lifeguard courses near me, lifeguard certification near me, and much more?

I was given that position and was able to share that experience in future jobs and promotions. Granted, I gained more experience and certification along the way, but I would never have been able to get such amazing positions if I hadn't had lifeguard experience.

Also, read about: What is an aquatic lifeguard or a lifeguard?

Drawbacks

As my "day in the life" scenario demonstrates, not everything about being a lifeguard is positive. It can be boring, tedious, clunky, and annoying.

There are days when customers will yell at you for no reason. There are times when you will get tired of "babysitting" all the kids in the neighborhood. There will be regular customers who are completely crazy, and there is always a lot of "group drama" to deal with between coworkers. But, from my experience, all the negatives are outweighed by the positives.

Lifeguard: not only for children

Just because life protection is a perfect part-time job for teens doesn't mean it's not the perfect job for you either. As a former aquatics manager, not only can I attest to the fact that I loved my adult employees, I can tell you why adults should flock to fill these positions:

  • Most managers value the added sense of responsibility that adult employees bring to the table, and will try to be as flexible as possible to meet scheduling requirements.
  • Pool managers have a hard time filling day shifts because high school and college students are in class. If you're looking for part-time work during the day, pools often have high availability.
  • The pay is better than many other part-time positions, and you may be able to attend free training courses in swim lesson instruction and aquatic exercise instruction, both at an even higher pay rate.
  • As leadership positions open up at their facilities, managers are more likely to fill them with adult employees, since adults have a level of stability that high school and college students typically don't.
  • If you're entertaining a full-time aquatics or recreational job, you're more likely to land a full-time position at an aquatics or recreational facility if you're already working there part-time.
  • Some facilities offer benefits that can be extended to your entire families, such as discounts on swimming center memberships or swimming lessons.

Final word:

Although I am a big supporter of lifeguard jobs, I realize that they are not for everyone. If you have an aversion to controlled chaos, constant squealing, or chemicals, this may not be a good fit for you. Also, lifeguards need to feel comfortable asserting their authority, so if you're not sure you can correct clients who break the rules, you might want to think carefully before investing your money in a class. To be more confident in your decision to become a lifeguard, check with a local aquatics center to see if there would be an opportunity to shadow a lifeguard for a day.