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Lifeguards are some of the most important people on our beaches and in our pools. Trained to save people’s lives at any moment, they need a variety of essential skills ranging from physical fitness to the ability to work under pressure. But if you’re applying for your next lifeguard role, summing up the true impact of your job on a CV can be tricky.
At myPerfectCV, we’re here to help. We have top tips from UK recruiters, a professional lifeguard CV sample, and a proven CV builder tool to help you dive into the process of writing your application.
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Make a splash with our top tips for writing your lifeguard CV
Does writing your lifeguard cover letter and CV make you feel like you’re in over your head? Don’t worry – with our top recruiter tips, you can write a professional application that really holds water.
Impress them with the metrics
It can be tricky to sum up the emotional impact of your role as a lifeguard, so to help your recruiter quantify your success, always mention key metrics from your previous positions. Whether you reduced the number of water-related incidents by 20% or coached a record number of lifeguard trainees, facts and figures will show off the impact of your experience.
Use keywords from the lifeguard job description
From leisure centres to pleasure beaches, lifeguards can work in a variety of settings – so if the job description is asking for specific experience, make sure to target your CV to the role. The best way to do this is by including a range of keywords and phrases from the advert.
Show some personality
For a role as demanding as that of a lifeguard, it’s important to have the right personal qualities. As well as physical fitness and full lifeguard training, don’t forget to mention the attributes that make you well-suited to the role. These could be your resilience, adaptability, or ability to work as part of a team.
Highlight your qualifications
Your recruiter will be looking for applicants with the best lifeguard qualifications, so make sure yours are clearly visible on your CV. That includes a National Pool Lifeguard Qualification (NPLQ) along with CPR, first aid and automated external defibrillator (AED) training. Because they’re so important, include your relevant qualifications in your personal statement as well as in your dedicated skills section.
Include a range of your lifeguard duties
Although lifeguards must always be ready to rescue swimmers in distress, their role encompasses far more than this on a daily basis. If you took on additional administrative duties such as training other members of staff or giving swimming lessons, make sure to mention these on your CV.
What skills should you include on your lifeguard CV?
The key lifeguard skills range from rule enforcement to decision making. Discover what else recruiters want to see on your CV by reading our checklist below.
Must-have skills for your lifeguard CV
- Water safety with NPLQ qualification
- First aid, CPR and AED training
- Communication
- Decision making
- Ability to work under pressure
- Teamwork
Additional skills for your lifeguard CV
- Physical fitness
- Administration
- Leadership
- Rule enforcement
- Medical knowledge
Make waves with a winning personal statement for your lifeguard CV
When a recruiter receives your lifeguard CV, the first thing they read is your personal statement – a short paragraph that sits at the top of your application and outlines your professional background. In 2-3 sentences, you’ll need to grab their attention and show them why you’re a strong candidate for the role.
As well as your current position, you should mention your most valuable skills, key personality traits, and short-term career objectives. This is also the best place to specify your official lifeguard training qualifications.
Top FAQs about your lifeguard CV
How to write a lifeguard CV
To write a lifeguard CV, you’ll need to include the following sections on your application:
- A personal statement that briefly outlines your current role, your lifeguarding experience, and your short-term career objectives.
- An experience section contains your professional history, with 3-6 bullet points per job to describe your key lifeguard responsibilities and achievements.
- An education section that outlines your educational and professional qualifications.
- A bullet point list of your most important hard and soft skills.
What should a lifeguard put on a resume?
When writing your lifeguard resume, don’t just list your day-to-day duties. You should also put down facts that demonstrate the impact of your work – for example, if you improved company efficiency or reduced the number of water-related accidents. This will help your application stand out from the pool of other applications.
What are the skills of a lifeguard?
To become a lifeguard, you’ll need a unique combination of hard and soft skills. These include physical abilities such as swimming, strength, and endurance, as well as communication, teamwork, impressive reactions, and the ability to work well under pressure. That’s backed by NPLQ lifeguard training and certifications for CPR, first aid and AED use.
How do you write a cover letter for a lifeguard?
If you’re writing a cover letter for your next lifeguard role, it’s crucial to tailor your letter to each new position. Include a range of keywords and phrases from the job description in both your lifeguard cover letter and CV, and make sure to refer to the company by name. This will show your recruiter that you’re genuinely interested in the role and haven’t sent the same documents out to hundreds of different positions.
How much money does a lifeguard earn in the UK?
According to the National Careers Service, a lifeguard could earn anything between £13,000 and £29,000 a year. It’s worth bearing in mind that you might have to work non-standard hours, such as evenings and weekends, depending on where you work.
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Create your lifeguard CV with myPerfectCV
For a lifeguard CV that swims (not sinks), you can trust myPerfectCV. Here, you’ll find tips, tricks, and a professional lifeguard CV example. Discover what goes into making a great application, then create your own with our proven CV builder today.
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