"You Never Get A Second Opportunity To Make A First Impression"

By Kathleen M. Ellis, Director

South East Association for Special Parks and Recreation (SEASPAR)

The following is a letter addressed especially to those preparing for a career in parks and recreation:

Hello Students:

Well, you're back in school now tackling another year of course work and social life. Along with these activities, I hope you're seriously thinking about your future. Are you thinking about your internship or final field work placement? Are you thinking not only about where you'll do it and what you'll get out of it, but are you thinking, "Am I professionally prepared for my internship?" Ask yourself, "What can I contribute to the agency where I'm placed?"! When you interview for your internship or that first full-time position, how can you make a good first impression? What impresses professionals out 'in the field'?

Here are some questions you might ask yourself to determine if you'll make a good first impression.

Q.) Do I genuinely like people, whether individually, in small groups - or in a crowd? If you do, read on, if you don't, you had better re-evaluate your career choice.

Q.) Do I have a lot of experience in recreational activities? It's hard to plan for people if you haven't worked with them. It's hard to lead an activity if you haven't volunteered at one. It's hard to supervise leaders if you haven't been a leader. Think about it. Most people who are seeking interns or hiring for entry-level positions are looking for someone with a wide variety of leadership and volunteer experiences in recreation. Have you helped at a Special Olympics Meet, been a Play Ground leader, worked on a Parks maintenance crew, been a counselor at an overnight camp, planned activities for Senior Citizens, or organized a community special event? If you're in Therapeutic Recreation, how many disabilities have you worked with: blind? deaf? physically handicapped? retarded? Experience is important.

Q.) What 'Marketable' Skills do I have? Can you officiate athletic events? Do you have a current Water Safety Insructor or Red Cross Instructors card? Are you licensed to drive a bus? Can you type? All of these are important to some agencies and potential employers.

Q.) Can I lead a variety of activities? Let's face it. As an economy effort many park districts, Special Recreation Associations, hospitals, and municipal recreation departments are requiring intern students AND staff in entry-level positions to lead some activities. Do you know not only how to instruct but what to instruct? Do you know the step-by-step progression of skills to teach many sports, tennis, swimming, etc.? If you're told to lead and direct a teen center, do you know what an "ice-breaker" is, for example? More importantly, do you know where to quickly find this information?

Q.) Do I have the basic knowledge of the operations of many types of recreation agencies? Have you read the Park District Code? Do you know what the State Department of Mental Health is? What's a commissioner's role? Have you heard of Illinois Senate Bills 220 and 221? How does a Park District or recreation department join and then direct a Special Recreation Association? All of these things are important to be familiar with. Knowledge of these areas will enable you to ask impressive questions during the interviews, besides helping you to ease into an unfamiliar job setting.

Q.) Do I belong to Illinois Park & Recreation Association? Sure it costs money. But if you're a serious professional, you'll join. Conferences, workshops, seminars, the magazine, plus a basic feel for what's going on and what's available in the recreation field in Illinois are benefits of a membership in IPRA.

Q.) Do you have good 'people skills'? Remember that there are few, if any, jobs which ability alone is sufficient. Needed also are loyalty, confidence, sincerity, enthusiasm, and cooperation.

I hope that you can answer 'yes' to most of these questions. For strengths in these areas are impressive whether you're seeking an internship or an entry-level position.

In closing, one sure way to impress employers is to remember that "the person who gets ahead is the one who does more than necessary - and keeps on doing it."₂

1,2 "Economic Press, 1977"

Illinois Parks and Recreation 32 January/February, 1978