Chances are if you love Cedar Point, or any of the sister parks across North America, you either spent a summer working at the parks or know someone who did. Those that did work at the Cedar Fair parks gained some valuable skills that will last them long into their careers, wherever that may take them.

We reached out to Alex C., from My Own CP, who spent the summer working at Cedar Point, and in particular on the Top Thrill Dragster (TTD). Those that followed him along his journey either personally met him while operating TTD or saw some of his photos and insights on social media.

So lets take a minute to learn the Top 4 Skills Gained While Working at a Cedar Fair Park.

The 2015 summer season at Cedar Point is over, which means my first year as an associate is done as well. It was a fun filled six and a half months of riding rides, meeting great people, and providing the best summer ever to millions of guests and their families. I did not know what I was getting myself into when I applied back in February and to my surprise the job taught me a lot. Yes, it is a fun place to work but there is a LOT that most people do not realize, or do not see that goes into running the world’s greatest attractions around.

• Teamwork– The biggest thing that I learned while working at the park is how to work together as a team. Guests see all of the associates at every ride they experience, but every single person on those rides have to work together to make sure that every person is safe before the ride is dispatched. For example, Top Thrill Dragster has 13 positions, and each person at each position plays a key role in properly operating the worlds original strata coaster.
• Safety– Seems simple right? The guest sits down, you check their seat belts and restraints, but that is not even the beginning of it. These high powered thrill rides are specifically designed and must be maintained in order to ensure every guests is 1000% safe. This includes making sure that every person passing you is within the rider requirement policy; height, behavior, etc. Learning these safety procedures can be useful in any kind of workplace because it makes you think about how your actions will affect your fellow associates. One slip up from you can affect someone else down the line.
• People Skills– On any given day a ride at Cedar Point can see anywhere from 8,000 to 14,000 riders. Our number one goal is to give the best day ever to every rider, every time, every day. You want to make sure they are having as much fun as you are. Over time you begin to feel more comfortable talking to random people you have never met and it becomes almost second nature to you by the end. People skills are important in everyday life because we all have to deal with people in some way. At work, at home, walking down the street. Having a friendly attitude can make anyone’s day that much better.
• Self-Confidence– This is one of the biggest things I had to work on. I have always been with people, one on one, but when it came to projecting out to a major crowd over and over again I knew it was going to be difficult. Each ride has a position called spiels. You know, the person with the headset microphone telling you to remain seated with arms and legs inside the ride at all time.

  A lot of our training week was spent talking to ourselves trying to prepare us for having to turn that mic on for the first time and to give our regulated safety speeches. Trying to memorize the spiels did not work because you are also trying to focus on everything else while you are working.

  The first time I put that mic on all of this fear and worry went away. Practicing can help but there is nothing better than just putting on that headset and saying “oncoming riders.” After a while you can play around and have a little bit of fun with it while you become more comfortable with hearing your own voice for hours at a time.

  The self-confidence I acquired was also a great way to make people laugh, or make someone more comfortable with riding a ride for the first time.

Working at Americas Roller Coast was definitely the most interesting job I have ever had, and I cannot wait to return for the 2016 summer season. See you then ride warriors!

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