By: Jon (Residence Advisor — Mackenzie)
Lifeguarding: what’s not to love about it? Sure, the people you have to deal with sometimes aren’t the greatest (I don’t know who your child is, lady!) and we get a lot of flak (No, it’s not my fault the hot tub is broken, please stop getting mad at me), but it’s the little things about the job that I love.
For instance, working outdoors on a non-Raincouver day is just awesome. Being out in the sun for an entire shift is quite relaxing, especially when it’s a quiet day at the pool. Teaching, although not a favourite of most, is something that I enjoy and find an extremely rewarding experience, especially when you work with someone for so long and they finally do it right! I also love turning those “I don’t know how” moments into “This is so much fun” moments! Sometimes it’s fun to just be mean and do the distance swim all class.
Either way, there’s always something that somebody finds great about being an instructor, and that’s all AWSI and WSI really are—finding the style that effectively fits you. When it comes to the actual guard courses, however, there’s not much to them. Take them seriously though; imagine that all the simulations are real. You don’t want to be stuck out on deck with something happening and have no idea what to do.
What you need (Some courses may be bundled together, check with the pools!):
o Swim Kids 10 or Equivalent (All pools offer an adult equivalent if you don’t have it. Make sure to check with them if it’s the one for AWSI)
o Bronze Medallion
o Bronze Cross
o Assistant Water Safety Instructor (AWSI)
o Water Safety Instructor (WSI) [Recertified every two years]
o AWSI and WSI are Red Cross and are meant to be the same internationally
o Standard First Aid [Recertified every two years] and CPR-C [Recertified yearly]
o National Lifeguard Service (NLS) Pool Option [Recertified every two years]
o NLS Waterpark [Recertified every two years] (Optional, depending on city)
o Lifesaving Instructor (LSI) [Recertified every two years] (Optional, depending on city)
So you’ve taken all those courses, now you’re looking for a job. Good! UBC Aquatic Centre is almost always accepting resumes, so make sure to keep asking the front desk! Also, keep an eye on city website job postings around February—that’s when applications are typically being accepted by cities—and, like always, make sure your resume is up-to-date, cleaned up, and ready for submission (I missed out on 1.5 years of guarding because I forgot to put First Aid on my resume…).
The application process typically revolves around these steps: 1) Resumes submitted, 2) Candidates are contacted for skill screening (strut your stuff), and 3) A formal-ish, dry interview. None of these are very stressful if you go in with a good attitude and try to have a good time.
Remember, everything is a learning experience! If you want to get a chance to network with the aquatics community, during the summer, Lifeguard Competitions are a fun way to get involved in the community, so keep an eye out! It’s the best and most fun way to meet your future supervisors.
Good luck everybody and happy hunting! Any questions? Come find me in Mack 110 and I’ll be glad to answer them!
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