Advice for newbies of 2015 season

Everyone can use some type of advice when starting a new job. Can any of the seasoned employees give any advice for the newbies? It can be something you have not yet seen posted here or something you remember from your first season.


Park Services 2009 ❇Ready to return in 2015❇

MillenniumForceLover's avatar

Hi!
2014 was my first season. I was also a sweep! This year I'm a ride host. Pack lightly. I had so many clothes I wish I hadn't brought. Bring a lock and shower shoes. Also never trust the bus. Haha plan to go earlier so you're on time! Cedar Point is what you make it. So if you make the best of it you'll have a great time. I loved every minute of it. Your crew becomes your life and I miss mine all the time. Just stay positive and you'll have a cedarfantastic time!!! Good luck to all the newbies!!!!


Area 3 Sweep '14
Snake River Falls '15
Maverick '16
Antique Cars/Wave Swinger TL '17
Skyhawk '18

thedevariouseffect's avatar

Here's my general tips I've basically repeated a few times. Some info may be dated a little bit, it's been a few years, but generally I think you'll get the gist of it:

Pack lightly, it's a summer job conisisting of a few months with little time off. No reason to move your whole life into a room the size of two queen beds put together end to end with two other people. Bring a few days worth of regular clothes, some going out clothes, maybe a few special things here and there. But generally..clothes, food, laptop, minor important things, you're good to go.

Bring snacks/drinks/etc. to last a bit before the first check & some comfort foods. After a long day in the park, everyone will order pizza/get McDonalds/etc. It's nice to have pop tarts or something to just scarf down after an Open-Close and just go to bed.

Drive if you have a car, bus can be late, always show up 10-15 early, plan your walk and commute accordingly to get to work on time. Don't be late and cause rotations/breaks to be off, plus you can get into a small bit of trouble, more trouble the more you do it.

Take trips, enjoy time off. Sleep when you can and when you need to, but go out with the crews/departments/internationals. Learn some things, enjoy Put in Bay, take a trip to Marblehead, eat at Taco Fish, do all the stupid summer job vacation things. It's there, you don't want to be the one cooked up in a room and see/hear what everyones doing and look back with an "oh I should have done that"

Don't get involved with drama, and don't start it. Word travels fast at CP, even sometimes faster than in a High School. Say something about one person, they'll find out. Look at this year for hiring already. The person getting hired hadn't even announced their position and hired status, however everyone knew where they were working.

Find and develop friends, some may be lifelong.

Keep positive as much as possible. Sure some days weather will be ridiculously hot/humid, or downright cruddy, or seagulls ruin a freshly waxed car or clean uniform. Get over it, laugh it off, and keep the smile. People in that park pay big money to keep your paycheck and keep that park in the profit. They want to come here, spend money, and enjoy a vacation. Keep positive and upbeat, the effect is contagious.

If you want to make money and come home with as much as you can, Volunteer if you can at other rides, pick up hours or shifts, and help out people who need time off or need a small break. Don't overwork yourself, it's quite easy. But if someone needs to switch a day off, be curteous, most will easily repay the favor

Wear shower shoes, you have no clue how disgusting bathrooms can be, especially no offense, among civilians...military for sure changed me there, but still, those floors can get downright nasty. Get shower shoes, don't forget shower shoes, keep your shower shoes, and clean those shower shoes. You walk into the dorm with them, think what could be on the bottom of them if you walk on the floor barefoot on your day off...Can be quite..*squirm*

More questions or tips or whatever just ask. There's ex employees from quite awhile ago, to current lifer/gold tags here and watching. We all want to have fun and make another good year possible.


Corkscrew, Power Tower, Magnum, & Monster/ Witches Wheel Crew 2011

Excellent advice, could not have said it better.

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