Tips on Recruiting Lifeguards Lifeguard recruitment can be particularly challenging, so to help, we have created some tips and ideas for recruiting for roles that you have available. Free marketing resources to promote your courses To support you with promoting your NPLQ courses for lifeguard recruitment, FREE #BeALifesaver marketing resources are available in your RLSS UK Account. These include digital marketing assets, leaflets, posters, and a suggested step-by-step marketing plan. It is important to remember to promote the benefits of the role in all your advertising. Promote roles on social media Promoting roles on social media can often be dismissed as considered expensive, but it doesn't have to be. An operator's or swimming pool's social media is likely to have its most supportive clients or advocates as followers. These people are most likely to share these opportunities with their followers or tag people they think might be interested. It is also worth investigating free advertising opportunities on social media. LinkedIn allows you to advertise one role for free, and Facebook often has local 'jobs wanted/available' pages that are free to post job vacancies on. There can be many people within these groups looking for opportunities. If you decide social media advertising is the best course of action to find new talent, when you set up your campaign, you can select the location, daily budget, and interests - targeting who sees the adverts and setting how much you are willing to spend. You could test the market with a small budget and increase it if it proves successful. Use your venue Leisure centres, gyms, and swimming pools have high footfall every week, and the flexibility of lifeguarding as a career means you might find your next lifeguard from anybody over 16 years old who enters your building. Display posters on communal noticeboards, entrance doors, changing room doors, and staff break-out areas - as they might have friends looking for a similar job. Refer a friend From our annual Lifeguard Survey, we know that many lifeguards find out about the job from a friend; why not offer a 'refer a friend' scheme with your employees? Offer an incentive, and if they refer someone who remains employed for over three months, they get extra leave or some extra money. “92%of lifeguards have already recommended a job as a lifeguard to others.” QuoteReferenceRLSS UK Lifeguard Survey 2023 (n=2,456) Contact local educational establishments Contact local universities to see if they can advertise the opportunity to fresher students. You can also reach out to local sixth forms or colleges so their students can earn some income alongside their studies. Remember to mention that the NPLQ provides students with 8 UCAS points for those looking to apply for university. Attending career days or outreach opportunities with educational establishments ensures that your venues are at the forefront of teachers' minds, and they could suggest the opportunity to any of their students who show an interest. Retain student lifeguards We had 4,129 complete responses to our 2023 Lifeguard Survey, including 3,862 NPLQ holders, 221 OWL and 157 NVBLQ holders. We've seen opportunities to retain student lifeguards within leisure as they move to university/college. 68% of the lifeguards we spoke to are students. 57% intend to go away to university or college in the next two years. 96% are considering working as a lifeguard while at university. “96% of lifeguards intending to go away to university/college in the next two years are interested in working as a lifeguard whilst at university.” QuoteReferenceRLSS UK Lifeguard Survey 2023 (n=1,034) Contact your local Jobcentre Plus Your local Jobcentre Plus is looking for opportunities for the unemployed and may also have funding available for those out of work to complete the NPLQ. Use RLSS UK Job Finder All RLSS UK Approved Training Centres (ATCs) and Approved Training Providers (ATPs) have free access to add roles to the RLSS UK Job Finder. You can find more information and guidance on using this tool by clicking here. Inspire people to want to become a lifeguard You may have followers whose ultimate career dream is working in the emergency services or medicine - they could also want to be a Lawyer, Social Media Content Creator, MP, Actor or Television Presenter, Prison Officer or even a Director of RLSS UK! But they miss seeing how starting their career as a lifeguard can help them with that. Our #IStartedAsALifeguard webpage is full of inspirational stories (about people who began their careers as lifeguards) that you can share on your social media channels. Agencies Recruitment agencies can help, especially if you require lifeguards urgently or temporarily. We work with one of the biggest specialist recruitment agencies for the leisure industry - 4LeisureRecruitment, which has a network of fully qualified lifeguards on its books. LoanALifeguard is another excellent organisation that can help provide lifeguards in the short term. Share course testimonials "Great course and qualification to have, would definitely recommend to others." "Amazing course that teaches essential skills." "Great course, an amazing opportunity to meet new people and learn new skills which will help me improve and further myself in the world of work." Share blogs Top five reasons to be a lifeguard What do lifeguards really think of the job? How do I get into lifeguarding? Over 50's: your pool needs you! Remember to inform applicants of ALL the benefits Becoming a lifeguard gives someone invaluable life skills; they will not only know how to treat most first aid conditions but also provide CPR and choking; it's a great skill to have for your family and friends. Shout about it if you offer staff benefits, such as gym membership or product discounts! Working as a lifeguard also provides transferrable skills that are useful throughout an individual's career. In our 2023 Lifeguard Survey, respondents told us that through their work as a lifeguard, 93% enhanced their communication skills, 92% improved their teamwork skills, and 89% increased their self-confidence. (n=2,456) Other benefits include: It is an excellent starting point for any career Opportunity for career progression as most leisure managers start as lifeguards Varied working hours Work within a team The NPLQ is recognised around the world, so there's the potential to work and travel. In our 2023 Lifeguard Survey, we found that 1 in 3 lifeguards (35%) were planning to work or travel abroad in the next 2 years (n=2,456) An excellent way for students to fund studies Please share best practices If you have used a recruitment technique that has worked and needs to be included here, please email [email protected], and we'll share best practices. Together, we can overcome the challenges with lifeguard recruitment and ensure the general public can continue to enjoy water safely. 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