The leisure and recreation industry is wide ranging, made up of a variety of enterprises of different sizes. As one of the fastest growing sectors of the UK economy, there is a wide range of job opportunities for people with the right skills, knowledge and personal qualities. Range of employment opportunities Seasonal work: Seasonal work is a common feature of the industry and is usually associated with tourism related sectors. So visitor attractions, countryside activities, bar work in resorts all have high levels of seasonal work, with Xmas being the peak time. Major events will also cause for these to be high.
Some people chose to move with where the most work is. For example an outdoor activity worker could either move south for winter or work as a skiing instructor. Temporary work: Temporary work is work that is offered for a fixed period of time as opposed to permanent work where the employee can always expect to work. People who are on temporary contracts often move jobs to the ones that have the most security. Long-term employment is more common in sectors not affected by the weather or tourism, such as in swimming pools or cinemas. If they have a surge of business they will tend to bring in workers from part-time staff.
Unsociable hours: Employees in the leisure industry are at work when other people are having fun. Leisure work involves unsociable hours, working at weekends, bank holidays, evenings and even early mornings. Being able to handle this is an essential part of any employee’s makeup. You also need to be flexible with the hours you work and need to be able to change if needed. Most leisure providers work rosters. These are schedules of shifts that allow the facility to be fully staffed. You may work 7 days in a row and then 3 days off. It may come however it is most busy. So you need to be flexible for your employers.
Pay: Pay in leisure is low. Overtime is becoming rare. In most areas of the industry apart from some local authorities there has been a great reduction in enhanced extra pay for working overtime or unsocial hours. You can expect to receive the same rate whenever you work. A ‘People’s business’: because your job is to ensure that the customer is happy and has an enjoyable visit, it is essential that you have good people skills. This means you have to be able to respond in a pleasant and helpful way no matter how you are feeling or how obnoxious you find the customer. Finding a job in leisure and recreation: Skills & qualifications: it is possible to work in many areas without any qualifications and work your way up. However this is going to be eroded as more qualification and training is being given.
