What It's Like Working at The Rec

Ever wondered what it’s like to work at The Rec?

Read firsthand experience and quick descriptions of each department here!

Aquatics

The lifeguard position emphasizes the safety of our members using the pool by preventing and responding to incidents. A CPR/First Aid/AED certification is required. Duties involve constantly surveilling pool users, responding to emergencies, coordinating evacuation procedures, enforcing pool rules, and maintaining cleanliness. Additionally, lifeguards assist with special events and report maintenance issues.

Rachel, a lifeguard said, “My time in the aquatics department at the Rec has been the best student involvement I could have chosen to participate in while in college. The environment and people I work with have shown me how wonderful the spirit of Auburn is.”

Auburn Outdoors

A role within Auburn Outdoors has many different responsibilities with an emphasis on ensuring a safe and enjoyable experience for all members. This includes providing guidance on equipment usage and safety, greeting members, overseeing sales and memberships via Fusion, and upkeeping equipment and facilities. Additionally, the position can involve adventure planning, effectively communicating rental details and associated risks, managing reservations and fees, and organizing contracts and sales. Preparation for outdoor excursions, enforcing climbing wall policies, and instructing members in climbing techniques are also integral aspects. Furthermore, responsibilities extend to conducting skills verifications, safely belaying members, maintaining cleanliness in the climbing facility, and conducting thorough daily equipment inventory checks.

Haley, an employee with AO, says, “My job at Auburn Outdoors has been one of my greatest joys during my time here as a student! Working with people that share your love for nature and outdoor recreation is such a gift. As a climbing wall supervisor, I get to ensure climbers’ safety, create new top rope routes and boulder problems, and assist in teaching about climbing. I am also a trip leader, and I get to plan and lead unique multi-day camping and backpacking trips for Auburn students. It is a blessing that work schedules at the Rec can be very flexible around your classes. One thing that I really love about Auburn Outdoors is friends becoming family and everything being done for the love of the outdoors and for the enrichment of students’ lives!”

Competitive Sports

A position in Competitive Sports involves overseeing pre-game procedures such as captains' meetings and participant eligibility checks, enforcing policies regarding inactive participants, and mediating conflicts during games. Responsibilities include submitting scorecards, providing feedback to officials, ensuring compliance with policies during club activities, and maintaining field and equipment readiness. Additionally, the role entails officiating games independently or as part of a crew, enforcing game rules, ensuring safety and proper attire, resolving disputes, and submitting necessary paperwork. Feedback from evaluations is utilized for continual improvement.

Facilities

A role within facilities involves ensuring member safety and well-being, utilizing Fusion software for facility management tasks, adhering to designated work zone rotations, and ensuring cleanliness and sanitation of equipment and facilities. Additionally, responsibilities include greeting members, acting as a first responder for emergencies, educating members on The Rec’s policies, completing delegated cleaning and inventory tasks, and effectively communicating work availability. Time-management skills are essential, along with punctuality and attendance at mandatory in-services and training, in compliance with departmental and university policies outlined in the employee handbook.

A current facility employee, Sydney, says, “My time at the Rec has been exceptional! The people, environment, and job are better than any other place I’ve been. The hours work around your class schedule, which makes it super easy to get in work hours and classes. As facility supervisor, I am in charge of making sure everything is clean and kept working properly. Many diverse shifts have allowed me to make many friends within the facilities department. I couldn’t ask for a better place to work.”

Group Fitness

The Group Fitness Instructor role involves leading safe and engaging workout classes, following certification guidelines, and maintaining CPR certification. Instructors aim to establish connections with participants to foster long-term engagement. They promote events through various channels, participate in marketing campaigns, and utilize appropriate equipment while emphasizing safe practices. Instructors serve as role models for health and fitness and utilize technology for class setup and check-in. Preparing lesson plans, playlists, and choreography, they continually develop and deliver new content and may mentor other instructors after gaining experience.

Carson, a current instructor, says, “Becoming a Group Fitness instructor has been one of the greatest opportunities I’ve had here at Auburn. This program is beyond special, and the best part is that you can join with zero teaching experience. The Group Fitness team guides you through a semester of training that teaches you how to instruct your class. I’m in my third year with the program and have obtained training in five different fitness formats. I teach around four classes weekly each semester, and I love every second of it! As a student instructor, schedules and hours are based on our class schedule. Sharing my enthusiasm and passion for fitness while instructing makes it the most rewarding job. Working as a Group Fitness Instructor is something I never imagined myself doing before Auburn, and now I can’t imagine my life without it!”

Marketing

A position in marketing involves a wide range of content creation. This includes social media posts, promotional copy, scripts, news releases, and blog posts. Some responsibilities include designing digital artwork for flyers, signage, social media, apparel, and promotional items. The role also encompasses photographing and editing photos for various purposes, such as social media, print, and web, and producing and editing videography. Furthermore, the position involves curating and scheduling social media posts across multiple platforms and creating engaging experiences through games, activities, freebies, and events to promote each program and their services. Lydia, member of team marketing, says “A day in the life of a team marketing employee differs from day to day. I have thoroughly enjoyed working in Marketing at The Rec and will be sad to leave in May. I have learned so much and gained valuable marketing skills and experience. Additionally, I have made great friendships with my co-workers. Our team truly works together seamlessly. If you are considering applying, I encourage you to. You will not regret it!”

Membership

A position with Membership revolves mainly around greeting members, providing facilities tours, and addressing any access issues. Duties also include facilitating one-time access for members who have forgotten their IDs, handling sales transactions for guest passes and services, and rotating through various positions as directed by Membership Supervisors. Additionally, responsibilities include maintaining cleanliness, guiding member traffic at turnstile areas, restocking supplies, managing lost and found items, and helping with locker cleanout processes on a semesterly basis.

Sophia, a current employee, says, “Working in the Membership Department is more like working with some of your closest friends! Getting to know everyone and working with such kind people is so fun! I’ve been on many shifts where it’s nonstop laughter! The hours range from ten to fourteen each week, and a normal shift is two hours long, which makes it easy to plan around a busy class schedule. Giving tours to incoming students and alumni is one of the best parts because it’s so fun hearing their stories from when they went here or where else the student is looking at going to college.”

Personal Training Olympic/Powerlifting

A role with OPL involves monitoring members in the Olympic lifting and Powerlifting area to ensure their safety and well-being, as well as maintaining the cleanliness and sanitation of the facility and equipment. Additionally, responsibilities include educating members on center policies and utilizing Fusion software for reservations and check-ins. The position also requires following established procedures for opening and closing, coordinating emergency procedures, and acting as a first responder during health or weather-related emergencies. A role with personal training entails offering personalized wellness programs tailored to clients' fitness objectives and adjusting workout plans based on progress assessments. Additionally, physiological assessments and functional movement screenings are conducted as necessary. Appointment scheduling and package tracking are managed using Appointment Plus software, with prompt responses to client inquiries and updates. Efforts are directed towards enhancing client satisfaction and loyalty through dedicated service and promotional activities to boost retention rates.

Turf and Landscaping

A role with turf and landscaping involves maintaining landscape areas within The Rec. The position requires preparing playing venues and equipment, coordinating emergency procedures, performing routine field care, and assisting with event setup and takedown. Flexibility in working hours, including early mornings, evenings, weekdays, and weekends, is also necessary.

If you are interested in working in any of these departments check out our website here and head to RECxpo on March 18 in the Mac gym from 4-5:30 p.m.

See you soon and…

Be Well, Auburn.