International employees

Pete makes the contextual point that I think gets lost when it comes to seasonal jobs at Cedar Point: They're seasonal. If you're looking to make a career out of a summer job, I think you're doing it wrong.

^^True, however it's also one of the only ways to make it in the industry. Work your way up. I know quite a few people who started as seasonals at GL and worked their way up and now are full-time throughout the chain and other chains. That is the exception though and not the rule.

Interesting how many people believe in the free market and the laws of supply & demand--until it comes to labor.

If there is a shortage of labor it is not "artificial" it is a natural consequence--just like Disney raising prices. Stop bitching about having to pay people more and adjust to the market!

What WolfBobs said. Based on admittedly anecdotal evidence from my summer working there, back when I had my youth and my looks*, for most seasonals it was a summer to work, yes, and to play and party.

But for someone focused on working in the industry, a seasonal position would provide an opportunity to talk to managers, network, request quick meetings with executives and so on.

It's true of many industries. A recent (or the current?) CEO of McDonald's started flipping burgers and worked his way up the ranks, for example. Drive and ambition can make opportunities.

Digression: if I recall correctly, members of ACE can attend IAAPA, which would be a great networking opportunity.

* Back when FDR was President.... :-)

Referencing back to the first 3 posts of this thread,I'm curious about the seasonal employees.

what percentage are local/Sandusky area ?

what percentage are from Ohio,Michigan,Indiana,Pennsylvania ?

what percentage are from other states ?

what percentage are from out of US ?

Interesting question, and I'm curious as to the numbers as well.

If I were a betting man, and I'm probably not since I only play the penny slots when I'm in a casino, I'd bet the majority come from the four states mentioned. I was a Michigander when I worked a summer at the Point.

I'd guess that most locals prefer to have year round jobs at Kroger or a local factory or whatever than several months of work at the Point.

Gosh, one thing I learned early on was that discussing religion and politics (both being fact-irrelevant belief systems) was a fast way to lose friends you want and gain friends you don't. At the end everyone folds their arms and goes "harrumph". Because, even in the presence of empirical evidence, few are open to the notion to change their position. I don't discuss it amongst my friends, except extremely rarely, and I never discuss it amongst co-workers or acquaintances.

If we agree, huzzah! And I still don't want to go to the bar with you because of it.

If we disagree, you are unlikely to convince me, despite any evidence, that I should side with you. And I still don't want to go to the bar with you because of it.

Lets go the bar because the drinks/sunset/persons of desire/food/hammocks is good...

You would do well generally in life to ignore the urge to chime in when the occasion arises.

Captain Hawkeye said:
If there is a shortage of labor it is not "artificial" it is a natural consequence--just like Disney raising prices. Stop bitching about having to pay people more and adjust to the market!

Except in this case the shortage of labor isn't a result of the free market. The labor shortage is artificially created via unnecessary regulation.

1000 years of force said:

You would do well generally in life to ignore the urge to chime in when the occasion arises.

You would do well in life if you followed you're own advice. Whatever that rant was you just posted was the only thing on this thread that was pointless. Amusing though, I'll give you that.

Everyone keep your junk in your pants. No one is interested in reading a pissing match.

As a local who worked at the park briefly in college, most Erie/Ottawa county youths don't work at Cedar Point. Exceptions being 15 year olds who can't find a lot of other options elsewhere and youths whose parents work full time. The main reason why is the sheer amount of crap one must go through to work at the point with comparitively little reward.
The majority of us used to work at restaurants, bars, stores or other feeder businesses on Route 250 or Perkins. The money was better, there was less stress, hours were more flexible and you didn't need to put up with the "one size fits all" management structure and archaic policies and procedures. Now, in my limited experience working at the park, the J Visas were your best friends. They are there to work, have little to concern themselves with in their spare time and are looking to take American greenbacks home. They would always take your unwanted hours.

I guess it works both ways. The park would gladly replace seasonals with Animatronics if they would smile, show up and not use drugs or grow facial hair. The locals truthfully appreciate not having to lower themselves to that level and kind of resent those who do. Management doesn't want to change and the locals don't enjoy the stigma, so the Alien workers are a boon to both sides.

This conversation has taken a completely different route, but it's worth noting that most seasonal amusement parks do not use the H2B visa anymore. Most use the J1 visa, which has not had any changes under the new administration.

You can see the companies that used a H2B visa in 2016 here:
http://www.myvisajobs.com/H2/H2BVisaSearch.aspx?JT=Amusement&Y=2016