Today's lifeguards are responsible for the safety and well-being of friends, family and neighbors alike. They hold the key to making sure everyone has a great time hanging out around the water this summer. Becoming a lifeguard brings many benefits and responsibilities.

Becoming a lifeguard requires thorough preparation. It's a hot job with cool rewards and qualified people are often looking for the same position. The best way to become the one with the job is to prepare ahead of time.

Bring a Resume
The best way to show your qualifications for a lifeguarding position is through a resume. Your education, work experience and contact information represent the qualities you have to offer an employer. Your resume should be as specific, clean and well organized as possible. More than just a piece of paper, a resume helps employers decide which applicants to interview and what questions to ask.

What To Put On a Resume
Build your resume around basic information. Include your:

• Name, address, phone number and e-mail;
• Educational background (i.e. high school or college you attended with address);
• Job experience (your best and most relevant previous employment);
• Current qualifications and certifications - such as Lifeguard Training, CPR for the Professional Rescuer and first aid;
• Awards, honors and extracurricular activities; and
• References (not a relative).

Finding a Job
Once you have a resume together, the next step is finding places that are hiring. The best way to find a job opening is to check:

• Newspaper employment ads;
• The local library;
• The Internet;
• Community bulletin boards;
• Key personal contacts, such as pool managers or lifeguards;
• School guidance counselors or occupational specialists; and
• Your local American Red Cross.

Recreation centers, swim clubs, schools, fitness clubs, apartment complexes, hotels and motels are often looking for summer lifeguards. Try calling around to local facilities. Even if they're not hiring, they may know someone who is.

Getting the Job

Getting a job requires good speaking and writing skills. You must fill out a job application, be contacted by the agency, and then interview for the position. Although you may not get the first job you apply for, you can learn from the experience and use it to help you with the next job. Keep in mind that it's normal to feel nervous the first time you apply for a job. Understanding what an employer expects from you and the best ways to present yourself will help keep those sweaty palms in check.

Job application forms vary from employer to employer, but they often ask for the same basic information. Keep a copy of your resume with you and refer to it as needed. Be certain to use a blue or black ink pen and write clearly! Fill in all of the blanks, even if you're attaching a resume. If a question does not apply to you, write "NA" for not applicable.

Along with preparing information for the interview, you need to prepare yourself, too. Making a good first impression is very important. It starts with setting up an interview and filling out the application yourself, instead of having a friend or relative do it. To give an employer the best impression, follow some general guidelines:

• Be on time for the interview;
• Dress neatly, even when dropping off an application (shorts and sandals may come with the job, but while you're still an applicant, a sharper look is better);
• Be courteous and polite;
• Maintain eye contact;
• Avoid distracting habits (such as chewing gum, playing with hair or fidgeting);
• Smile;
• Listen;
• Be honest;
• Ask questions - this is one of the best ways to show you're really interested in the job. Questions may include topics such as duties, hours, benefits and pay; and
• Follow up by sending a thank-you letter after the interview.

As with any job, preparing ahead of time is key to getting the position you want. But with the right foundation, you can become part of an elite group of professionals who hold the lives and safety of others in their hands.

Information on how to create a resume and find a lifeguarding job is taken from the American Red Cross GuardStart: Lifeguarding Tomorrow program.

Lifeguarding Brings Benefits and Responsibilities

Benefits

Your actions can save a life. Lifeguards are hired because of what they are capable of doing in an emergency. Being prepared and acting quickly can save the life of someone in need.

Develop leadership, public relations, conflict resolution and teamwork skills. Lifeguards are looked up to as authority figures around the water. As a lifeguard, you will be able to learn how to deal with conflicts between other individuals and between yourself and others. Learning how to handle tough situations and how to work as a team with other lifeguards can prepare you for how to act in other areas of your life.

Gain discipline and decision-making skills that help prepare you for your future. Dealing with the rigors of a profession will help you learn how to balance work with the other elements of your life. Disciplining yourself to arrive to work on time and prepared for the day and accepting the responsibilities of on-the-job decisions as a lifeguard develops character traits expected by many colleges and future employers both in and out of the lifeguarding profession.

Responsibilities

With all of the benefits of being a lifeguard, there come many responsibilities as well. Your responsibility as a lifeguard is to protect the lives of others as well as your own. You can do this in several ways:

• Prevent injuries by minimizing or eliminating hazardous situations or behaviors.
• Enforce facility rules and regulations and educate patrons about them, as needed.
• Recognize and respond effectively to all emergencies. This may mean using CPR, first aid, oxygen or an automated external defibrillator, if needed and only if trained.
• Work with other lifeguards or staff when you need more help or equipment.

Good Ideas to Follow

Along with basic professional responsibilities, you should also consider personal responsibilities, like keeping your own body in top condition. Some qualities and characteristics of a professional lifeguard:

• Stays healthy and fit. Emergencies often call for a burst of strenuous activity. Being fit helps you stay alert and gives you the energy needed to respond to emergencies. Exercise, eat properly and drink plenty of water to keep in top condition.
• Uses sun protection. Overexposure to the sun can cause sunburn, skin cancer, heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Preventing these conditions means using a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15 and wearing clothing, like a shirt and hat, to protect your head, face and ears. Sunglasses with UVA/UVB protection for your eyes reduce glare from both the sun and water, allowing you to survey the facility with ease.
• Avoids alcohol and drugs. As with any job, drugs and alcohol keep you from performing at your best. And when you have another person's life in your hands, you must be able to think clearly and act quickly. Using alcohol or drugs on- or off-duty can negatively affect your job performance and jeopardize the safety of others.
• Appears professional. Being a responsible lifeguard includes being well groomed and wearing your uniform only when on duty. Rescue equipment should be kept with you and positioned for a quick response at all times. Keep interactions with others short and do not let them interrupt your primary responsibilities. And stay focused on your area of surveillance at all times.

American Red Cross Lifeguarding Program