Security Job and Housing?

I applied for security and have an interview coming up this weekend. I wanted to know before-hand what the hours are like and pay rate for people who work security? Also, what are the job duties? This would be really helpful considering I have a possible job at home for 8.50/hr and 40 hrs a week!

Another thing, HOUSING.
What is it like? I would like to stay in Bayside, but I don't believe any rooms will be open there. What would you consider being the best place to live? I would prefer a building with a kitchen at least, because I would prefer to cook than eat out. Do any of the dorms come with a refrigerator? Or do we all have to bring our own? Please help!! :)

I worked for the police department last season as a non-bonded officer. To answer your question about housing, you'll be required to live in Bayside with coworkers from your shift. The apartments in Bayside, although not very nice, do have a full kitchen including oven, stove, and refrigerator and freezer. Last season, starting pay was $8.10 per hour, and I received between 40 and 48 hours a week. Your duties will vary by shift. First and second shift work mostly in the park. I work third shift, so I never worked a day in the park. I was responsible for patrolling resort properties and the employee housing areas. A lot of the issues that you'll deal with are not necessarily violations of the law, but rather violations of company policy, whether by guests or employees. I had a lot of fun, but it's long hours. Third shift is especially interesting, because you deal a lot with enforcing policies with employees. Employees like first and second shift, because they're the ones that help them out and come take care of problem guests. Third shift on the other hand, isn't looked that favorably upon Because he ruin all their fun on bar nights. If you have any questions, let me know. I hope this helps.

My general rule is if you have a job at home in your chosen field and a job at CP that applies to your chosen field, go with the one at home. Fo starters, you have roots there and may be considered for a full time career, which almost never happens in Sandusky for point employees, regardless of what the propaganda says.

Secondly, as the previous poster states, enforcing "company policy" at a place like CP will not likely have quite the cache as working in "real" law enforcement. Third, at home you will likely be treated like an adult rather than just some Pavlovian flunkie snitch who prowls upon line jumpers and smokers. If your only offer in your field is at CP, by all means, give it a shot, but if you're looking to become a professional, home will start looking pretty good by mid June. Hear me now, and thank me later!

[url][url]Thanks both of you for the input! I really appreciate it. 210erb, I will talk to you if I have any questions. What do you mean by Bayside isn't very nice? What about it is unacceptable?

cptedsdisciple2, my job at home isn't necessarily for my chosen career field, but I would be working for my city and I am already enrolled in OPERS because of that. I just need at least some sort of security experience for the future!

That's a tough call. Generally, I have found that people who work at Cedar Point to gain a "professional" advantage (to gain experience in their career field) are disappointed or become disillusioned in a hurry and tend to bail out while there still is the potential of having a productive summer elsewhere.

Security is a comparitively sought-after position. However, CP is notorious for its rigidity, and as a non-bonded security guard you will be able to charge into situations involving fights, drunks, thefts, line jumpers and/or policy scofflaws and immediately and heroically utilize your radio to call for help from someone the Point trusts not to get them sued, thereby passing the buck to your superior. You will be disappointed with Bayside, although the poor schlubs in Cedars would gladly trade you, and you will largely be treated like a hyperactive middle-schooler on juvenile probation. On the other hand, if you've got PERS employment at home, it seems likely that you at least have your foot in the door and have an "in" there worth exploiting.

I guess it comes down to this: If you have your heart set on working at the point anyway (because of the beach, rides, girls, different environment,etc.) and you can live with the third world housing issues and being subject to 40 thousand random policies, then it may be tolerable. If you'd be just as happy selling sno-cones on the midway then by all means go for it. If you truly want experience to get ahead, look elsewhere.
Not to be a buzzkill, just being 100 honest here...

Bayside just isn't very nice. I wouldn't say anything about it is unacceptable. There is no AC. If you want air conditioning, you need to purchase the unit yourself, and pay a fee for a CP carpenter to have it installed. Then they increase your housing costs to cover the electricity. And there is a space for a unit in the living room and one of the three bedrooms. Additionally, you'll have one, maybe 2, bathrooms for up to 9 people. The furniture, carpet, interior is just old looking. At $42/week, its the most expensive too. I totally would have lived in commons if I could, having seen the conditions of those rooms.

cptedsdisciple2 said:
as a non-bonded security guard you will be able to charge into situations involving fights, drunks, thefts, line jumpers and/or policy scofflaws and immediately and heroically utilize your radio to call for help from someone the Point trusts not to get them sued

This isn't necessarily true. Many of the non-bonded officers are experienced and professional and able to handle situations on their own. Some are even sworn officers in other states. In many cases, I, and other non-bonded officers handled policy violation issues independently. If the situation turned violent or had the potential to, or there was a violation of the law, then calling a supervisor or bonded officer was necessary. When that happened, it was nice to be able to use your radio to call for assistance and have someone show up as soon as possible. Whats nice is that the person who comes to help you is someone who is your coworker, knows you, and supports you. Its better than having to call the police like most security jobs, because the people you work with are also sworn police officers.