Potential Magazine april/may 2013 | Page 25

LIFEGUARD Lifeguarding requires teens go through American Red Cross and CPR certification, meaning they have the ability to save another person’s life. This puts teens on an entirely new level of responsibility and equips them to step up to the plate. Jayme Creamer, director of the Bell Road YMCA in Montgomery, believes the discipline required for becoming a lifeguard and self-control during work hours are a good foundation for any career. “It teaches teens to have a professional image by staying away from inappropriate behaviors such as discussing personal relationships at work, talking on cell phones, or being disrespectful to patrons.,” said Creamer. Working as a lifeguard allows teens to work with their peers in a relaxed environment, but requires they put work before fun as maintaining order is a huge part of the job. Summer Sun, Cool Pool, Work Experience – All In One! Bell Road YMCA is now hiring for summer lifeguards ages 15 and older.  Lifeguard certifications are required and can be completed during training classes beginning in April. Contact Jayme Creamer at 334-271-4343. LAWN CARE Most jobs in this field require continuous hard labor that teaches the value of hard work. It also doubles as a great workout, sometimes without even realizing it. One of the greatest benefits of this job is the satisfaction of seeing the results of all the hours put into a job. EVENT VENUE Working at an event venue teaches teens to interact with a multitude of people, to work as a team and exposes them to the world outside their “bubble.” It is typically an exciting, social atmosphere, which means a fastpaced work environment. Those working in this field realize the importance of being personable and patient, especially with difficult customers. NOW JOB APPLICATION TIPS Don’t leave anything blank. If it’s not an application you can type or fill out online and print, make sure it’s filled out legibly in blue or black ink. Check thoroughly for spelling/grammatical errors. Then check it again. And again. For references, teens may be able to use one of their teachers, coaches, youth ministers, or leaders of another organization they’re involved with. Try to find references who have seen your teen in various settings where they exercise different skills, such as working with peers, problem solving, motivating others, leading an organization, etc. Whether a cover letter and resume is required should be clearly stated. However, when in doubt, include both. Help your teen create a basic cover letter and resume that they can adapt for different purposes. Keep them simple, yet thorough and make sure they are properly formatted. Poor formatting or lengthy, repetitive resumes, cover letters and applications are an almo