Lifeguard Resume Sample, Skills, Job Description & More

 

Employers know anyone can sit near a pool. To get hired, your resume needs to get attention like an air horn.

Ready? Let’s swim it to the wall with an AAOx3 lifeguard resume sample

In this guide:

• A lifeguard resume sample better than most.
• How to write a lifeguard resume that gets interviews.
• How to commit your lifeguard job description to the job.
• Why you can’t just list lifeguard skills (and what to do instead).

 

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Lifeguard Resume Sample You Can Copy and Use

Lifeguards ensure the safety of people at swimming pools, beaches, water parks, and other aquatic facilities. They respond to emergencies, preventing accidents and providing assistance when needed. Lifeguards maintain a secure environment for swimmers and promote water safety. 

Here’s how to write a lifeguard resume that works like a cigarette boat:

1. Use the Right Lifeguard Resume Format

A lifeguard resume with shady resume formatting will go under fast. Use these formatting tips to stay afloat:

Lifeguard Resume Format

• Start with a resume font like 11–14pt Goudy Old Style or Didot.
• Create a one–page resume for lifeguard jobs.
• List previous roles in reverse-chronological resume order.
• Leave white space to add breathing room.
• Write resume sections for Heading, Summary, Experience, Education, and Skills.

Expert Hint: PDF resumes are your best bet. They look trim and clear on all display types. Plus, ATS hiring software reads them just fine.

2. Write a Lifeguard Resume Objective or Summary

Sink or swim time. Most hiring teams go through stacks of resumes like water. They spend extra time with resumes for lifeguards that catch their eye.

Give your resume staying power with a career objective or career summary. Add:

1. An adjective (physically fit, observant, certified)
2. “Lifeguard”
3. Years of experience (1+, 3+)
4. What you’ll do for whom (deliver safety excellence at Lee Lanes Pool...)
5. Best resume accomplishments(treated 7 cases of hypothermia...)

See these lifeguard resume examples:

Lifeguard Resume Summary—Example

Physically fit, observant lifeguard with 1 year of experience in basic life support and water rescue. Eager to deliver safety excellence at Lee Lanes Pool. At LaFayette Public Pool, spotted and prevented 2 dry-drownings and treated 7 cases of hypothermia.

Experienced lifeguard, skilled in basic life support and water rescue. Expert at treating hypothermia and identifying dry-drownings in progress. Good at enforcing rules and ensuring safety in swimming areas.

Both lifeguard resume samples promise skills. But the first does more. It shows 1 year of experience, 2 dry-drownings stopped, and 7 cases of hypothermia treated.

“Hey, hang on! Who’s that, David Hasselhoff? I’m a newbie lifeguard!” No problem. See these entry-level resume samples for lifeguard jobs:

Entry-Level Lifeguard Resume Objective

Entry-level lifeguard with experience in basic life support and water safety. Eager to provide supervision at LaFayette Public Pool. As swimming instructor at Lake Obsoquami, provided lifeguarding to classes of 12+ students and enforced swimming rules.

Entry-level lifeguard with skills in monitoring swimming areas and basic life support. Haven’t yet worked a lifeguard job, but I’m a quick study and excited to learn on the job.

Entry-level lifeguard resume examples won’t float without at least a few achievements.

3. Target Your Lifeguard Job Description and Skills

What skills do you need in a resume for lifeguard jobs? See these sample skills to put on a resume:

Lifeguard Resume Skills

Hard Skills	Soft Skills
Enforcing Pool Rules	Interpersonal Skills
Basic Life Support	Decision Making
10-20 System	Physical Fitness
Rescue Buoys	Work Ethic
Swimmer Identification	Risk Assessment
Spine Immobilization	Attention to Detail
Beach Patrol	Problem Solving
Weather Monitoring	Communication
Rescue Cans and Boards	Time Management
EMS Communication	Teamwork

Don’t oversaturate your resume for lifeguard jobs with skills. Customize your resume for best effect with the resume keywords in the job listing. These lifeguard resume samples show how:

For a job that wants skills in enforcing rules, swimmer identification, and communicating with EMS:

Lifeguard Job Description for a Resume [Sample]

Experience

Lifeguard

LaFayette Public Pool

2019–2020

• Served as lifeguard in busy pool. Provided monitoring, rule enforcement, rescue, and customer service to users and birthday parties.
• Enforced pool rules for adults and minors with no complaints. Commended by supervisor for interpersonal skills.
• Identified 7 hypothermic children, removed them from the pool, and provided basic life support, averting serious incidents.
• Identified 2 dry drownings in process and delivered life support.
• Communicated 5 serious issues to EMS.

Key Achievement:

• Raised pool rules compliance to 99% through suggestion and implementation of new, easier to read signage, strategically placed.

The first of those lifeguarding resume examples answers the listed needs. The last one doesn’t. It could also use some numbers like 7, 2, 5, and 99%.

Is your lifeguard experience barely treading water? In a resume for entry-level applicants, just strut the best stuff you have. See these entry-level lifeguard resume examples. The job needs skills in basic life support, enforcing rules, and teamwork.

Beginner Lifeguard Resume Job Description [Sample]

Swimming Instructor

Lake Obsoquami County Swimming Area

May–Sept 2018

• Provided lifeguarding and basic life support services to groups of 12+ students.
• Ensured swimming area rules were followed.
• Recognized by supervisor for teamwork skills.

Team Member

The Curious Cat Restaurant

20119–2020

• Served food in a busy restaurant.
• Restocked napkins, plates, and cups.
• Commended by manager for teamwork.

The first of those school lifeguard resume samples is afloat. But even the second scores a point with teamwork skills.

Expert Hint: Research by the CDC shows 1% of rescues made by lifeguards save lives. Showing past rescues on a resume for lifeguard jobs is a great way to prove your value.

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4. Write a Buoyant Education Section

You don’t need education in a resume for lifeguard jobs. But if you’ve got it, show it the right way.

Show school accomplishments that matter for lifeguards (if you have some). See this lifeguard resume sample:

Lifeguard Resume Example—Education

Education

Springfield High School

2014–2018

• Captain of swim team, 2017 & 2018.
• Led team in stretches and organized meet lineups.
• Taught swimming to children’s class, providing lifeguarding.

That adds key swimming skills to your resume. If you’re in college, list that too, with “expected completion date.”

5. Add “Bonus” Sections to Your Lifeguard Resume

What’s the burning question on the hiring manager’s mind? “Can she do the job or not?”

Your work experience goes a long way toward an answer. But your lifeguard duties resume needs as many “wins” as possible. Add material like:

• Certifications (Red Cross, ALA, etc.)
• Associations (ALA, etc.)
• Volunteer work
• Freelance work
• Awards or honors
• Additional activities
• Languages you speak
• Exercise

See these lifeguard resume examples:

Lifeguard Resume—Other Sections

Certification

2019 – Lifeguard Certification, American Red Cross

Additional Activities

Competition Swimmer, 2019

• Participate in 2x 50-mile swims per year.
• 4th runner-up in the Missouri Water Marathon 2019.

Leader, Springfield Swimming Club

• Organize group of 15+ swimmers in weekly workouts.
• Manage 5 competition swimming events per year.
• Created and run annual Springfield Water Fling with 400+ participants. 

Lifesaving & Swimming Merit Badges, BSA

Additional Activities

• Swimming for fitness
• Running

The first of those lifeguard resume samples is Mark-Spitz-level. It proves you care about your work.

Expert Hint: Add a cover letter to your resume for lifeguard jobs. Show enthusiasm for the job, and your top two or three lifeguarding achievements. Here's a guide on how to write a cover letter that works.

Double your impact with a matching resume and cover letter combo. Use our cover letter generator and make your application documents pop out.

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Want to try a different look? There's 21 more. A single click will give your document a total makeover. Pick a cover letter template here.

Key Points

Here’s how to write a lifeguard resume:

• Use a lifeguard resume template. Breathe life into it with your best lifeguard accomplishments.
• Add lifeguard skills like basic life support and water rescue. Add numbers where possible for scale.
• Write a lifeguard resume objective that gives a view into your resume’s greatest hits.
• Add other sections for your lifeguard certifications or fitness pursuits.

Got questions on how to write good resumes for lifeguard jobs? Not sure how to describe lifeguard on a resume? Leave a comment. We’ll be happy to reply!

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