Need a summer job? PCB Aquatic Center in need of lifeguards, about 50 open positions
PANAMA CITY BEACH — For MaryDale Moore, working at the city's Aquatic Center is the perfect summer job for a high school student.
As aquatics manager for Panama City Beach, Moore said that the center had approximately 50 open positions, ranging from lifeguards, swim instructors and recreation assistants. The center is located on the Beach at Frank Brown Park.
"This is a great summer job," Moore said. "You get to be outside. You get to be at the pool. They all swim while they're here, so they stay fit. We have a very supportive work environment."
She noted lifeguards pay rates start at $15.59 an hour, swim instructors start at $16.38 an hour and recreation assistants start at $14.84 an hour. As of Tuesday morning, the center had only 26 employees: nine lifeguards, five swim instructors and a dozen recreation assistants.
To help inspire more locals to apply for the open positions, members of the aquatic center held career fairs at four Bay County high schools this week. They visited Arnold High School on Monday, Bay High School on Tuesday and planned to visit Mosley and Rutherford high schools on Thursday and Friday.
"From a parent's perspective, (working at the aquatic center is) a much healthier environment than so many other summer jobs or high school jobs," Moore said. "It's a clean environment. It's an accountable environment. Everybody here holds everybody else accountable."
To be hired as a lifeguard at the center, applicants must complete a $150 lifeguard certification course. However, being certified is not a requirement to apply.
The center is slated to hold two more certification classes before summer begins. They will be April 27-28, with registrations closing April 19, and May 14-19, with registration closing May 8. To pass the certification class, applicants must complete a 300-meter swim, which is held in the center's pool.
Moore said the goal of the center is to put the safety of patrons first — a mission that heavily relies on having enough employees.
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She also said the experiences someone gains from working as a lifeguard go beyond the duties of the position. They also gain important life skills, such as being disciplined, on time, and a member of a team, that she believes makes them "an asset to wherever they work next."
"Lifeguarding is basically a first-responder position in an aquatic environment," she said. "It shows great responsibility and discipline. ... It looks fantastic on a college resume and college admission application, and it just shows leadership potential for anyone."
"When the local community is hiring these kids out of here, (they can see) these folks are responsible, and that they add value to the community wherever they are and whatever they're doing."
This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Panama City Beach Aquatic Center looks to fill about 50 open positions
