Question about working at the Point

I've worked at King's Island back when it was owned by Paramount and was listed as a "rehire with interview" because I quit during the season (with a little over a week's notice) due to my car's engine failing. When they had enough employees to fill positions with rehires and new hires, they didn't rehire anyone with that designator, which sucked, so I never went back after my second season. This was over 5 years ago, too and I've got a very solid work history ever since then, including for the past year that I've been a full-time student and holding a job too. I've heard that Cedar Fair has wiped the slate clean for former Paramount employees and even talked to one employee who was on a no-rehire status and now works there. I really loved working there, even with all the crap you had to deal with, and reading stories of other people who work at parks makes me miss it and want to go back.

I want to work as a ride host, because merchandise from my experience (inside and outside the park business) is that it's poorly managed and overly stressful for no reason due to poor management during busy times. I've read that it's common for new employees to get onto the popular rides - I'd love to host Millennium Force or Top Thrill Dragster, as those are my two favorites in the park. I'm a very upbeat and positive person, with a lot of public relation type experience (I sold cars for 2 years and have worked in retail of one form or another for 7 years). I'm 23 now and will turn 24 halfway through next season, so I think my work history and maturity will help me towards my goal of working for the big boys.

My questions are:
-How difficult is it to get promotions inside the rides department and how long do most people work there before getting them? I'd love to be an ATL or TL at some point.
-Is the favoritism for promotions as bad as the favoritism in general? I got screwed out of a merch management position at PKI due to favoritism, even after I'd already been approved for the promotion and had a start date for it. Most favoritism I can turn a blind eye to and have dealt with in extreme forms at every job, but promotions is not one of them I take easily.
-Are there many other employees that are married and have already lived 'real life' so to speak? I've been married for 2 1/2 years, we lived on our own together for 3 years, I've worked in high-paying and high-responsibility jobs including management, but I really want to work at the Point for the experience and the enjoyment of working in a park again. Just wondering if I'll stick out like a sore thumb amongst the recent high school graduates.
-Is it common for college students to work just weekends until they are out of classes and then go full-time? I go to Ohio State so I don't get out till the 2nd week of June, I don't know if they'll have an issue with that. I don't start back to classes until after the park goes to weekends only.
-Last question is involving the grooming standards: I know women are only allowed to have 2 earrings, one in each ear, but do they specify where? I have a cartilage piercing that will seal up if I leave it out for more than a few hours, can I just wear a small stud in it (like people wear in facial piercings at my current job, they aren't obvious at all but keep it from sealing up) and nothing in my lower holes, or does it have to be lower holes only?

I think that's all! I'm looking forward to applying when they open up 2009 positions! Sorry for the huuuuuge post ... I get to typing and just don't know where to stop...

Getting a ride that is a "larger" ride is all in luck. When they hire you in, they will ask if you like kids, this is whether or not you get a kids ride or not. That is pretty much all the say you have. Moving up all depends on your current TL or ATL. Whether or not they trust you to be left in charge. If they do then you will earn in charge ours that will carry over to when the managers determines who will be a blue tag the following year.

There are a lot of people from Ohio State, Cedar Point will work around your schedule.

The ear piercings have to be in the bottom of the ear, lobes. When you go in to have your picture taken for your ID, HR will have you take it out.

Hope this helps

Thanks for your answers. I guess it's sort of up in the air on whether you get a 'good' coaster or not. If I decide to go ahead with it this year (which will largely depend on if my husband gets on with the police department he applied to) I'm definitely going to tell them up front I want to work on a coaster.

The other thing I have concerns with is that I've got back problems from a car accident about 3 years ago. If I stay in any one position (especially hunched over, such as washing dishes in the low sink at work) for too long it will cramp up painfully. I'm concerned that this will keep me out of the running for ride host if I mention it, but at the same time I wonder if I should say something and request to be put on a ride where the restraints are at a comfortable level and I wouldn't have to bend over, such as Raptor or MaxAir. Thoughts, from anyone?

I would definitely try to get a ride like Raptor or Power Tower, Wicked Twister or maXair if you will have a hard time bending over. Checking lapbars will kill you it sounds like.

I would suggest you say something, probably on the part of the app where they ask if you have any condition that would prevent you from doing your job.

Nothing is worse, as an employee, than getting stuck with someone who cannot do their job, and lied about it on the application. If you can't do the job, you can't do the job. Don't make others suffer needlessly.

Since when did Obama play for the Red Wings?

Since both he and the Wings kick ass.

Well, half that statement is correct anyway. ;)

What, you don't think the Wings kicked ass last year?

;)

Thanks again for the replies. I probably will say something. I don't think it would prevent me from checking lap bars but I'd rather not put myself into a position that could cause problems both for my health and for other employees. And I'd love to work on Raptor so that would work out good for me! :D

Out of respect for not only other employees but also guests of the park who dont want to see a ride op. in pain while working, I would change that probably into a definitly.

I've heard promotions aren't terribly hard to come by in the foods department. In other departments, what I've seen is that whoever has worked there the longest will have the leadership position, regardless of whether or not they know what they're doing. Will a married person stick out like a sore thumb? Yes, but if you're only 23 it wouldn't seem weird. Its weird when the 40 year old men are working in a childrens store making 7.00 an hour.

I take offense to that 40 year old comment thought. Foods probably is the quickest place to get promoted. Reason, they employ half the entire staff and have the positions available. I was 33 - 35 during my time at Cedar Point. Yeah, some of the staff made me feel it, but I didn’t feel like I didn’t belong. I never really went to college , so I got the experience of college life without the books. So while partying it up with my roommates, I also found time to become an Area Supervisor in little time. I still talk to some of the younger people today about anything thanks to the internet. Yeah I played Dad from time to time, but I had fun while doing it.

As far as the $7 an hour thing goes. I was getting 80 hours min. a week easy most of the time. I also made more than $7. While not much more, I wasn’t complaining. Between a taste test of food from time to time (saves me money), and most of my free time filled (can’t spend money if your working), I made probably more money there than I do now at $20 an hour. What I include in this figure is rent, bills, food, gas, ect. Money being what’s leftover. I live in the Chicago area so nothing is cheap.

People bring up the living situation, but I had little to no issue’s with it. For $120 a month , I got a bed, a closet, extended basic cable on my own TV, a computer I could use, electric, and when I needed it, AC. Plus since I could eat very cheap at work, food wasn’t that big of an expense. And I brought my own fridge and cooked on the stove all the time. Since I worked most days O - C, I didn’t spend much time in the room anyways. And even after blowing a load at Louie’s during the 1 hour a day I could be there, I still had money in my pocket. Plus did I mention I also pay child support!

While My main reason for working at Cedar Point was the experience, I also learned quickly I could make money there too. Yes, if I had a college education, maybe I could have found something better. But I’m happy I went to Sandusky and I will never forget the experience. We all can’t find $35k jobs in cheap living area‘s. I make almost that now and I barely survive. I can say I had it easier at CP.

My only advice to the original poster is quit blaming others for things you feel you were wronged and worry about yourself only. Rumors and gossip are High school stuff and you need to be above that. They are looking for leaders, not followers who will pass the buck every time something goes wrong. I found it easy to get noticed by hard work. I admit it wasn’t easy at first, but once I was noticed, promotion was easy. I admit people resented me for how quick it happened for me, but they couldn’t complain when then saw my work ethic. And in the end, I ended up friends with most of them.

Good Luck if you decide to work there Next Year!

During your interview they ask if you want a slow pased or fast pased ride. Also If you have back problems I recemend Maverick, Raptor, Mantis, Iron Dragon, Demon Drop, or Power Tower. Gemini, Magnum, Blue Streak, Mean Streak are pushing it. Corkscrew I would leave out its set up like Vortex. As for advancing 1st year employees get "bumped" up to ATL a lot it has happend the last two years at Monster alone. If you know what you are doing you could be a TL with in 3 years. Unfortunately CP is doubles as the biggest High School in the world when it comes to Drama that we should be sponcered by TNT since there motto is "We Know Drama". I hope every thing goes well, I love working at Cedar Point. If you have any more questions go ahead and ask.

On Maverick you have to bend over and check the belt where it attaches to the restraint. That probly isnt a good idea for people with back problems.

Just work at Ripcord. Best place in the park to work because you get to work a ride without putting up with all the crap people working in "regular" rides deal with. And you only need to bend/kneel when flight suiting.

^Cosign what Ralph said. Shameless self-promotion, but I love it :-D

I have two questions

#1 Are you able to ride rides when on break. I know breaks are only like 15 minutes but lets say its a slow day at the park and a ride is a walk on would you get in trouble for taking a ride. Or is it alright as long as you get back to your spot on time?

#2 I was hired to work as a Screamster this year but I had to back out at the last minute because my Grandma got sick. It talked to Peggy about it and she welcomed me back for the next year. But If I apply for Rides should I mention that or should I just leave it out.

Thank You

You can ride on your break if you get out of uniform before you do it. Riding Magnum or going for a lap around the lazy river in Soak City were my favorite break options at Ripcord. But of course, you just have to make sure you can do that and get back in time (and probably be ok with not eating anything that day). As for #2, if Peggy says it's cool than it shouldn't be an issue. I doubt they'll even ask about it, but if they do, just tell them what happened.

But if you want to be a Screamster next year, make sure you talk to Peggy or let your hiring manager know about that. So if you get locked into working rides, you don't get screwed out of being a Screamster in `09.