Web Exclusive - February 2012

Recreation Careers

Drilling Down

Following up on the story on graduate assistantships in college recreation (found here), here are some keys to getting graduate assistantships in college recreation.

In the following lists, fundamental skills represent "must haves" for a competitive candidate; necessary skills make a solid resume when combined with fundamentals; and unique experiences can't stand alone, but can demonstrate a highly developed skill set.

AQUATICS SKILL REQUIREMENTS

Fundamental Skills:

• Policy & procedure development
• Special event & programming supervision
• Hiring, training, evaluating student staff
• Experience in college recreation

Necessary Skills:

• Instructor for WSI, lifeguard and CPR/AED
• Experience with incident & usage reports
• Knowledge of pool chemicals & equipment

Unique Experiences:

• In-service instruction experience
• Manage equipment inventory
• Outdoor pool work experience

FACILITIES SKILL REQUIREMENTS

Fundamental Skills:

• Marketing experience
• Facility maintenance experience
• Hiring, training, evaluating student staff
• Experience in college recreation

Necessary Skills:

• Experience with incidence reports
• Equipment requests/inventory
• Membership sales/customer service

Unique Experiences:

• Facilitate emergency action plan
• Lead student staff meetings
• CPR/First Aid certification

ADVENTURE RECREATION REQUIREMENTS

Fundamental Skills:

• Monitor and supervise adventure programs
• Equipment maintenance & inventory
• Hiring, training, evaluating student staff
• Plan/lead adventure recreation trips

Necessary Skills:

• Lead staff training sessions
• Experience with incident & trip reports
• Update & develop policies/procedures

Unique Experiences:

• Manage climbing facility
• Wilderness First Responder
• Program marketing experience

INTRAMURAL / SPORT CLUB REQUIREMENTS

Fundamental Skills:

• Marketing experience
• Plan and implement leagues/tournaments
• Hiring, training, evaluating student staff
• Experience in college recreation

Necessary Skills:

• Supervision of daily office activities
• Facilitate officials training
• Data/program assessment

Unique Experiences:

• Equipment inventory
• Extramural or special event experience
• Officiating and/or certification

FITNESS/WELLNESS SKILL REQUIREMENTS

Fundamental Skills:

• Program design & marketing experience
• Facility & equipment maintenance experience
• Hiring, training, evaluating student staff
• Experience in college recreation

Necessary Skills:

• Certification in group exercise or personal training
• Update and develop policy manuals
• Special events & program supervision

Unique Experiences:

• Lead student staff meetings
• Staff scheduling experiences
• Maintain user information databases