How to hire recreation workers

Job description template

Copy it, fill in the brackets, and remove anything that does not fit your job. Keep only must-haves you would really turn someone away for.

[Job title] at [Company name]
[City, State] · [Full-time / Part-time] · [Pay range]

About the role
[Two or three sentences about your team, the work and why it matters.]

What you will do
• Administer first aid according to prescribed procedures and notify emergency medical personnel when necessary.
• Assess the needs and interests of individuals and groups and plan activities accordingly, given the available equipment or facilities.
• Complete and maintain time and attendance forms and inventory lists.
• Direct special activities or events, such as aquatics, gymnastics, or performing arts.
• Enforce rules and regulations of recreational facilities to maintain discipline and ensure safety.
• Explain principles, techniques, and safety procedures to participants in recreational activities and demonstrate use of materials and equipment.
• Manage the daily operations of recreational facilities.
• Organize, lead, and promote interest in recreational activities, such as arts, crafts, sports, games, camping, and hobbies.

What you bring
• [Required license, certification or years of experience, if any]
• [Education, only if you truly need it. Typical to start in this job: High school diploma or equivalent]
• Strong active listening, speaking, monitoring, critical thinking, active learning and learning strategies skills
• Working knowledge of English Language, public safety and security, customer and personal service and education and training
• [Anything else you would really turn someone away for]

Pay and benefits
[Pay range]. For reference, the U.S. median for this job is $17.58 an hour ($36,560 a year).
[Benefits, schedule and anything else candidates should know.]

How to apply
[Apply on JAI Bot. Every applicant hears back.]

Copy the template Check your finished job post

Interview questions for recreation workers

Ask every candidate the same questions, in the same order, and write down what they say. Questions about past work show what someone has actually done.

1. Tell me about a time you had to administer first aid according to prescribed procedures and notify emergency medical personnel when necessary. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
2. Tell me about a time you had to assess the needs and interests of individuals and groups and plan activities accordingly, given the available equipment or facilities. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
3. Tell me about a time you had to complete and maintain time and attendance forms and inventory lists. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
4. Tell me about a time you had to direct special activities or events, such as aquatics, gymnastics, or performing arts. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
5. Tell me about a time you had to understand a request or problem that was explained poorly. How did you make sure you got it right?
6. Explain something technical from your last job as you would to a new coworker.
7. How do you keep track of your own work quality during a busy shift or week? Give an example of catching a problem early.
8. Why this job, and why now? What would make you stay here for the long term?

Good answers name a real situation, what the person did themselves and what happened. Avoid questions about age, family plans, religion, health, national origin or anything else unrelated to the job.

What recreation workers do

• Administer first aid according to prescribed procedures and notify emergency medical personnel when necessary.
• Assess the needs and interests of individuals and groups and plan activities accordingly, given the available equipment or facilities.
• Complete and maintain time and attendance forms and inventory lists.
• Direct special activities or events, such as aquatics, gymnastics, or performing arts.
• Enforce rules and regulations of recreational facilities to maintain discipline and ensure safety.
• Explain principles, techniques, and safety procedures to participants in recreational activities and demonstrate use of materials and equipment.
• Manage the daily operations of recreational facilities.
• Organize, lead, and promote interest in recreational activities, such as arts, crafts, sports, games, camping, and hobbies.

Skills that matter most

Active ListeningSpeakingMonitoringCritical ThinkingActive LearningLearning StrategiesEnglish LanguagePublic Safety and SecurityCustomer and Personal ServiceEducation and Training

Education, experience and outlook for recreation workers

• Typical education to start: High school diploma or equivalent (BLS)
• Related work experience most have: 1 to 2 years (O*NET)
• Training on the job: Short-term on-the-job training (BLS)
• Job outlook: +4.3% over ten years, about as fast as average · about 67,000 openings a year (BLS)

What to pay recreation workers

Pay depends a lot on where the job is. Highest and lowest median yearly pay by state:

See recreation workers pay in every state

Related hiring guides

• Recreational Therapists
• Social and Community Service Managers
• Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling
• Rehabilitation Counselors
• Instructional Coordinators
• Social and Human Service Assistants
• First-Line Supervisors of Personal Service Workers
• Residential Advisors
• Personal Service Managers, All Other
• Training and Development Managers

Job duties and skills: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. Pay: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, May 2025. Interview questions and the job description template: JAI Bot, based on the duties and skills above.