With spring just around the corner, Magic Springs Theme and Water Park is getting ready to reopen to the public, which will require hiring a large number of seasonal employees.
The first of several job fairs to fill those positions will be held from 4-7 p.m. today at the park.
Michael Wampler, Magic Springs director of sales and marketing, said Monday the park will need around 800 employees for this season, including ride operators, lifeguards, personnel in food services, guest services, park services, admission, security, financial services and EMTs.
"There is something for everyone to do at Magic Springs," Wampler said.
Around half of the season's employees will be returning previous employees, while the rest will be new employees, he said, noting the park employs people age 16 and older. Wampler said Magic Springs is a great place for young, first-time employees.
"We pride ourselves in building character," he said, and first-time employees learn about good guest services and good manners.
However, Wampler said they are not just looking for teenagers to work at the park. Due to the proximity of the park to Hot Springs Village, he said they also employ a number of retirees. He said it is a great way for them to get out of the house, and they get to spend the day with happy families.
When people apply for the positions, they will be assigned to different jobs based on their skills. However, if an employee finds they do not like their new job, once they work that position for at least 30 days, they will have the opportunity to transfer to a different job within the park.
Two of the positions have some requirements, including the EMTs, who must be licensed, and the lifeguards, who have to take training classes.
Logan Overstreet, with the human resources department, said the lifeguards will be trained by Jeff Ellis and Associates and the park will pay for the training. To qualify, lifeguards will have to demonstrate several abilities, including swimming 200 yards, treading water and retrieving an item from the bottom of a 6-foot-deep pool.
Wampler said that last year the park received the Platinum Safety Award from Ellis and Associates for the level of safety the lifeguards provide at the park. He also noted that Jessyka Hanna, the park's assistant general manager, began her career with the park as a teenage lifeguard, showing that it is possible to rise up the ranks at the park.
It takes a special kind of person to work at a theme park, Wampler said, noting most people will either love the job or hate it, and they will know very quickly where they fall on that decision. For those who do love it though, there are many opportunities at the park, he said.
Future job fairs at the park will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 23; from 4-7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 26; from 4-7 p.m. Tuesday, March 12; from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 16; from 1-4 p.m. Thursday, March 21; and from 4-7 p.m. Thursday, March 28.
Those who are hired will work the entire season, which will run from April 16 until the Halloween season. This season, the park will extend it's Magic Screams season by adding one week to the beginning and one week to the end, making the holiday season start on Sept. 18 and end on Nov. 3.
Those who are interested in applying can sign up at https://www.magicsprings.com/jobs.php. Wampler said those who do sign up at the website will still have to attend a job fair, but they will be further along the application process if they first sign up online. Applicants should bring two forms of identification with them, including a photo ID.
Local on 02/12/2019