SeaWorld is chain of marine mammal parks, theme parks, oceanariums, and rehabilitation centers based in the United States owned by SeaWorld Entertainment. The parks feature sea lion and dolphin shows (they used to have killer whale shows, but they have been discontinued), and zoological displays featuring all kinds of marine creatures.
SeaWorld first opened in 1964 as a project by college friends Milton C. Shedd, David Demott, George Millay, and Ken Norris. At first, the four originally planned SeaWorld to be an underwater restaurant and marine show. However, when they found that the underwater restaurant concept was unfeasible, they decided to open up a theme park instead.
There are three SeaWorld theme parks currently in operation in the United States: Orlando, Florida; San Antonio, Texas; and San Diego, California. There are plans for a SeaWorld to open in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, which will be the first SeaWorld to operate outside the U.S. Currently, there are 5,000 full-time employees, and around 13,000 seasonal employees (during the peak season) employed by SeaWorld.
Full time employees enjoy different benefits such as five weeks paid vacation, health insurance (vision and dental included), and the company also makes it a point to match employees’ 401k contributions. SeaWorld also reimburses the tuition fees of employees who seek further education.
The culture in the company is great. SeaWorld fosters growth and personal development in its employees. The company actually encourages employees to enroll in continuing education. Employees who put in the effort, take responsibility for their actions, and display the intent to grow in the company are given fair chance to do so.
How old do you have to be to work at SeaWorld?
Students and senior citizens alike are encouraged to apply for any of the job vacancies. For some jobs, the applicant must at least be 16 years of age. However, for some park locations, the minimum age to be considered for employment is 18 years old.
SeaWorld Careers
There are different job designations in the SeaWorld theme parks, and certain positions are only seasonal, meaning they are only available during the peak seasons. Here are some of the jobs that you can apply for in SeaWorld:
Scenic Craftsperson I: This position is responsible for fabricating, installing, and maintaining props, decorations, and scenic elements for the shows, exhibits, pathways, and others. This position will also be responsible for training other on proper power tool and hand tool use.
Sales Clerk: The sales clerk is responsible for enthusiastically interacting with park guests with the intent of initiating a meaningful connection. The clerk will also be tasked with stocking the shelves, counters, and tables with park merchandise. He/she is also responsible for placing accurate price tags on the merchandise.
Diver: The diver conducts regular day or night general underwater cleaning and maintenance work on the saltwater and freshwater pools and aquariums. He/she is also responsible for performing routine checkups on his/her diving gear.
Cook: The primary responsibilities of the cook include preparing food according to provided recipes, in key restaurant locations inside the parks. Cooks might also be tasked to work in the dining room, man the beverage stand, and operate the cash register (if needed). The cook must be able to work well on his/her own, and with a team when the need arises.
Performer I-III: Performers are required to act in their assigned areas and according to their show schedules. They are responsible for properly warming up before performances to prevent injuries, and they also need to develop the skills/knowledge they need to maintain the excellent quality of the live shows. The performers are also responsible for maintaining their personal appearance by meeting the requirements for costume and make-up. Besides performing, the performers are also tasked with assisting in the general cleaning of their respective areas.
Food Service Attendant I-II: This position involves working behind the hot or cold food line. Additional responsibilities include, but are not limited to, ensuring that proper food preparation, appearance, and quality are available to all guests. The food attendant is also tasked with preparing food ingredients, which includes cutting up vegetables, fruits, and meats.
Ride Operator I: The ride operator ensures the safe and efficient operation of the roller coasters, water rides, and other attractions in the theme parks. The ride operator also reminds the guests about and enforces the rules per ride to prevent accidents from happening.
Stage Manager: The stage manager assists in the installation/remounting of new or existing performance props and backdrops, while maintaining clear and open lines of communication with the internal and external departments in charge of the live shows. The stage manager also works with the performers and crew of the live shows in order to uphold the high standards set by the park. The manager may also need to learn how to operate the machines used in the live shows in case they need to step up to the task.
Costume Tech I-III: The costume technician assists the SeaWorld costume shop with the deployment of the costumes used by the park performers. The costume tech is also responsible for the daily inspection, maintenance and repair of the performers’ costumes, equipment, and other hardware.
Resident Camp Counselor – Summer: The camp counselor is responsible for the overall safety and well-being of the campers in the park, whether they are staying overnight or if they are on off-site trips. The counselor will also be teaching the assigned curriculum of the summer camp in an efficient and timely manner. Basically, the counselor provides guidance to the campers during their tasks and making sure that they behave properly.
SeaWorld Application
Applying for a job at SeaWorld is pretty easy and straightforward. You just need to visit the Careers page in the official SeaWorld website, browse the available job openings and click on Apply. Before you proceed, you need to have a SeaWorld user account, which you can get for free by registering on the same website.
Online applications are preferred. However, some parks do entertain walk-in applicants for most of the part-time and seasonal job openings. You just need to inform the gate attendants that you are interested in applying for a job, and that you are not a guest of the park.
When filling up your application form, you need to make sure that all of the information you provide are accurate and contains no misspelled words. You won’t have a chance to correct yourself once you submit your application form, so make it count.
In your resume, you should only provide information that is pertinent to the job you are applying for. For instance, if you’re applying to become a Diver, provide your diving certifications and how many hours of dive time you have accumulated.
If the HR Department thinks that you are a good fit for the company, they will send you an email informing you of your interview schedule. Be sure to dress up nicely for your interview, and speak clearly when you are asked questions. The entire interview process usually takes just 20 minutes.
Things To Know About SeaWorld
The culture in SeaWorld is quite friendly and energetic. The employees are all quite nice and they work well together.
Following the backlash of the “Blackfish” documentary, SeaWorld has promised to end its captive breeding program of killer whales. This means that the whales that the parks have right now are the last generation to be bred in SeaWorld. They are still in the park, but they are no longer doing shows, and they are still receiving the best veterinary care.
SeaWorld is known for its marine animal shows, but that is not the only thing that the company does. The parks also have an oceanarium exhibit that aims to educate the guests about the sea and the creatures living within it.
SeaWorld is doing its best to protect the animals all over the world through the SeaWorld and Busch Gardens Conservation Fund. So far, the Fund has disseminated more than $13 million to more than a thousand conservation projects in more than 60 countries worldwide
Application Links
Company: https://seaworldparks.com/
Careers: https://careers.seaworldparks.com
Application: https://careers.seaworldparks.com