Lifeguard job description template
Lifeguards watch swimmers, enforce pool rules and respond to emergencies, so the right hire directly affects the safety of everyone in the water. Most small pools hire seasonally and need guards certified before the first shift. The best posts state which certification you accept, the season's start and end dates, how rotations work and whether you help pay for certification or recertification.
Lifeguard
TemporaryYour Company is hiring certified lifeguards for our pool season. You'll keep a close watch on swimmers from the stand, enforce pool rules in a friendly but firm way, and respond quickly and calmly when someone needs help. You'll also help open and close the pool, test the water and keep the deck clean and safe. If you're a strong swimmer who stays focused and takes safety seriously, we'd like to hear from you.
What you’ll do
- Scan your assigned zone continuously from the stand and rotate positions on schedule
- Enforce pool rules on running, diving, deep-end access and capacity, and explain them politely
- Perform water rescues and provide CPR, AED use and first aid until emergency responders arrive
- Carry out our emergency action plan, including clearing the pool and calling 911 when needed
- Test and record chlorine and pH levels as trained, and report readings outside our limits
- Inspect the deck, ladders, drain covers and rescue equipment at opening and report any hazards
- Complete incident reports accurately after any rescue, injury or serious rule violation
- Practice rescues and emergency scenarios during in-service trainings throughout the season
What we’re looking for
- Current American Red Cross Lifeguarding with CPR/AED and First Aid, or equivalent as required by our state
- Able to pass our in-water skills test, including a continuous swim, treading water and a timed brick retrieval
- Must meet our state's minimum age requirement for this role
- Able to stay alert and focused while watching the water for a full rotation, including in hot sun
- Comfortable enforcing rules calmly and confidently, even when swimmers push back
- Reliable for scheduled shifts through the full season, including weekends and holidays
Nice to have
- American Red Cross Water Safety Instructor certification for teaching swim lessons
- Previous lifeguarding experience at a pool, waterpark or beach
- Experience testing pool water or helping with pool maintenance
Schedule
Seasonal, typically late spring through the end of summer, with rotating day, evening and weekend shifts. We post schedules ahead of time and need guards who can commit to the full season.
What we offer
- Reimbursement for certification or recertification costs after you complete the season
- Paid in-service training throughout the season
- Free pool access on your days off
- Shift trading with other guards, with manager approval
- First chance to return as a guard next season
Add your pay, location and schedule when you post. Jobs that show pay get noticeably more applicants.
Lifeguard our company is hiring certified lifeguards for our pool season. You'll keep a close watch on swimmers from the stand, enforce pool rules in a friendly but firm way, and respond quickly and calmly when someone needs help. You'll also help open and close the pool, test the water and keep the deck clean and safe. If you're a strong swimmer who stays focused and takes safety seriously, we'd like to hear from you. What you’ll do • Scan your assigned zone continuously from the stand and rotate positions on schedule • Enforce pool rules on running, diving, deep-end access and capacity, and explain them politely • Perform water rescues and provide CPR, AED use and first aid until emergency responders arrive • Carry out our emergency action plan, including clearing the pool and calling 911 when needed • Test and record chlorine and pH levels as trained, and report readings outside our limits • Inspect the deck, ladders, drain covers and rescue equipment at opening and report any hazards • Complete incident reports accurately after any rescue, injury or serious rule violation • Practice rescues and emergency scenarios during in-service trainings throughout the season What we’re looking for • Current American Red Cross Lifeguarding with CPR/AED and First Aid, or equivalent as required by our state • Able to pass our in-water skills test, including a continuous swim, treading water and a timed brick retrieval • Must meet our state's minimum age requirement for this role • Able to stay alert and focused while watching the water for a full rotation, including in hot sun • Comfortable enforcing rules calmly and confidently, even when swimmers push back • Reliable for scheduled shifts through the full season, including weekends and holidays Nice to have • American Red Cross Water Safety Instructor certification for teaching swim lessons • Previous lifeguarding experience at a pool, waterpark or beach • Experience testing pool water or helping with pool maintenance Schedule Seasonal, typically late spring through the end of summer, with rotating day, evening and weekend shifts. We post schedules ahead of time and need guards who can commit to the full season. What we offer • Reimbursement for certification or recertification costs after you complete the season • Paid in-service training throughout the season • Free pool access on your days off • Shift trading with other guards, with manager approval • First chance to return as a guard next season
Screening questions for a lifeguard
Ask these on the application form to sort applicants quickly. They’re added automatically when you post this template.
- Do you have current lifeguard, CPR/AED and First Aid certification, or will you before the season starts?Yes / No · required
- Which dates and days of the week can you work during our season?Short answer · required
- Describe any lifeguarding, swim instruction or water rescue experience you have.Paragraph
Lifeguard interview questions
- How do you stay focused during a long, quiet rotation when nothing seems to be happening?
- You see a swimmer in the deep end bobbing upright and not moving forward. What do you do?
- A group of swimmers keeps running on the deck after two warnings. How do you handle it?
- Walk me through what happens from the moment you signal an emergency until EMS arrives.
- A parent asks you to keep an eye on their child while they step out to the parking lot. What do you say?
- How do you scan your zone, and how do you make sure you're checking the bottom of the pool?
- What do you check on the deck and in the guard room before the pool opens?
- Tell me about a time you had to enforce a rule with someone who didn't want to follow it.
Tips for hiring a lifeguard
- Hold an in-water skills check for every finalist, even certified ones. Watch a rescue and a backboarding drill, not just a lap swim.
- Copy each guard's certification cards and track the expiration dates, so no one works a shift with a lapsed certification.
- Start recruiting in late winter. Certified guards often commit early, and offering to cover recertification can help you stand out.
- Check your state and county health department rules for public pools, which may set certification and staffing requirements for lifeguards.