Getting a Theme Park or Amusement Park Job

Theme Park Job Outlook

The good news is that most seasonal theme park jobs require little or no previous experience, and many parks go short handed in the summer, so your

prospects of landing a job are excellent. However, any kind of special skills (CPR, foreign languages, life-saving certification, or performing talent) can really help if you’re looking for that “choice” position. Employers universally look for people with smiling, friendly, outgoing personalities and a clean-cut appearance, so keep this in mind at your interview. Some parks also recruit on campuses for the benefit of students living far from the park, so make sure to check with your college placement office for dates and times.

Job Fairs

Another popular method of hiring at many theme parks is by holding job fairs, where parks can personally interview and hire many applicants in a short space of time. Most large parks will host a job fair in the spring at the park itself. The fairs usually take place during one or two weekends in the spring, making it fairly easy for applicants living out of the area to appear in person. These fairs are a great opportunity to get a personal interview without any complicated arrangements; usually getting an interview entails simply showing up with a resume in hand. Some parks conduct a large percentage (if not all) of their hiring at these fairs, so it’s a good idea not to miss them.

Selecting an Amusement Park

We recommend finding a region that interests you and applying to several parks in that region. Most amusement and theme parks require a personal interview, and sticking to one region allows you to schedule several personal interviews in one trip. When selecting parks, keep in mind that the jobs they offer usually require being outdoors in sometimes very hot summer weather (espeically in the Southeast and Midwest), and they pay can be fairly low, though usually above minimum wage. On the plus side, many parks offer employee housing, free passes (sometimes to other area parks), recreational activities, and employee parties, as well as an opportunity to meet visitors and fellow employees from all over the country and world. Employers also usually stress having fun and are accommodating to students who need to start late or leave early because of varying school calendars.

Internships and Entertainment Jobs

For those interested in the hospitality industry or resort management as a career, many parks also offer these opportunities and many offer internships. There are usually special auditions for performers and entertainers. Make sure you check with the personnel or show departments for locations and times of auditions.