To be or not to be...

OK...I have to ask all of you CP employees..is there any room for people already in their 30's to work there? Seems its all college aged people....after reading all these boards and everything I'm seriously giving thought to dumping all the responsibilities of my current life and job and running to CP for the summer just for the fun of it.
I will be 32 in May..I already know what its like to work 70-80 hour weeks...I always thought about taking a job there back when i was in college but never did it. Just want to know if all I'll be good for is beer runs and rides to/from places..And, will I have to declare bankruptcy in order to survive? lol....I place the blame for this mid-life crisis squarely on those of you who make it sound like thetime of your lives...

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From Tampa Bay to Sandusky Bay, Mm'k?

Don't know about at CP, but at PKI we have several older people (people in there late 50's+) work. Granted they can only work the slower rides like Tower and Train because they cant bend to check restraints or have enough speed.

Hey :) There is plenty of room for anyone of ANY age to work at Cedar Point. Although the majority of employees seem to be college age folks, there are also a fair amount of older employees. For the most part, everyone gets along with everybody else, no matter the age. When you work at Cedar Point, you develope an unspoken bond with all of the other workers, because even if you don't have anything else in common with them, you can empathize with them, sort of like the bonds that develope between plane crash survivors stuck together on a remote island.

Working at CP really is an awesome experience for anyone to have, so I think you would love it. As for having to declare bankrupcy...if you have a lot of expenses and bills and stuff, it might not be a good idea to quit your job (assuming that you make a lot more than $6.25 an hour). But if you're able to just pick up and leave your life behind and want to start anew, I think you would have a lot of fun. I say go for it, but not if working at CP is going to put you too deeply in debt or anything!

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Area 2 Restrooms '01

Zone 4 Sweeps '02

Area 2 Restrooms '03 - Ready to show Cedar Point no mercy!

I just turned 33 and I'm heading back..

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June 11th, 2001 - Gemini 100
VertiGo Rides - 82
Technical Services 2002
Fright Zone Screamster 2002

I am 30+ and have had 8 seasons under my belt and contemplating coming back for a ninth. I think's its nice for the park because we can cover the days when the college kids have to go back to school. Sure you maybe the oldest on your crew but someone has to be.

LOL...Cat..I never really thought of things in terms of being a part of a group of survivors from a plane crash. That tells me you have a morbid curiosity and I REALLY need to meet you if I come up there..Let me put things in these terms...right now my paycheck is about $935 every 2 weeks...if we are paid $7.25/hr.. do they pay overtime? I'm all about the extra hours and all...
And yes Cat...I am Super-the-ready to leave life as I know it behind and do something crazy..I would just come back to FL in the fall and figure it out then. I filled out my online app yesterday and they did ask questions about supervisory positions in the past..could i expect to possibly qualify for one even as a brand new hire? Tim and Red Garter Rob...what do you both do there that has kept you coming back all these years?

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From Tampa Bay to Sandusky Bay, Mm'k?

Oncoming Rider:

Since you are hired in as seasonal help, you do not receive overtime. However, the hours are available to work, and if you want to work 70 hours a week, chances are you can. So you would most likely be taking a step down in pay when you consider housing costs and food and entertainment. However, it seems like you are interested in working at CP, and the experience might make up for the lower pay. That is what drew me in. It's going to be an awesome summer.

When I talked to someone from CP on the phone, they said that they promote from within, so hiring in at a level above entry is probably not a likely situation. . .however, I do know that if you prove yourself and are a great worker, chances do arise over the season to step up.

With your willingness to come, it sounds like you would not only be a good worker, but you would have a great time, as well.

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Joey: If the Homo Sapiens were in fact 'Homo-sapien', is that why they're extinct?

Ross: Joey, Homo Sapiens are people.

Joey: Hey-hey, I'm not judging.

Yeah, you won't make as much at Cedar Point as you do now, but if you save up then you can still make a fair amount. Like Live E said, there is no overtime, but if you work 80 hours you can make a lot. When you come to Cedar Point it becomes your whole life, which is good for some people and bad for others. Like we say, Cedar Point is not a job, it's a lifestyle.

I think they actually do hire people right into supervisor positions, but you would need to know a lot about the park. No matter which position you get however, I'd vote for doing it. If you are not loving your life right now, working at Cedar Point will definetly be a change, either you will love it so much that it will become your whole life, or else you will hate it and realize how much you LOVE the life you had before. It's a win/win situation. ;-) Hopefully I'll be seeing ya out there this summer!

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Area 2 Restrooms '01

Zone 4 Sweeps '02

Area 2 Restrooms '03 - Ready to show Cedar Point no mercy!

The question is how often do they look for full time help?

I dont think they really hire fulltime/year around people very often and if they do its usually someone thats been working many seasons.

That seems to be the case at many parks.

Got you beat Rob by several years! ;)
I was hesitant about my 1st season at CP (2000) too because of my age but that passed after the 1st day. Knowing all the crew and tons of people at the park certainly helped me adjust. I went back last season and am already getting "nudged" by the '03 Raptor crew to come back again for Halloweekends again this season. I, however can not afford to dump everything to work at CP-I have a real job making real $$. I take vaca days when I work at CP, it never ceased to amaze me how I was getting paid to work at the place I loved so much! I am one of the crazy ones who work there just cause I love CP (and Raptor) so much. It's hard work but even THIS old lady can keep up with the best of them!! If you've got the determination to do it then I say do it! Like I said I was hesitant my 1st season too but it passed! Everyone will treat you like family-trust me! I will never ever regret working there EVER, it is one of my most proud memories on my life resume! :)
Will I be back this season?? We'll see!

Jo
2000/2002 Raptor Crew
Lifetime Raptor flights: 708 :)
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It's all about getting around the barrels, or over the fences, right leads, no faults, fastest time and looking pretty when done. What's so hard about that? :)

Older (and i mean greater than 21 years) crowds working at a park definatley get placed into a different catagory by the park management. If the person is inclined my experience is that they get tracked into seasonal management positions with the least amount of responsibility shown. On top of it an "older" team member can add stability and professional pride in the crews work. I wish there were more people out there who were looking for a little fun and some extra cash during the summer months.

Oh and you can pour beer!