Freya Solly

Working as an outdoor water lifeguard enhanced my skills in many areas such as: communication, safety, teamwork and problem solving in high pressure scenarios.

• Communication was a vital aspect of my role, which ensured guests received clear instructions in order to establish safety whilst out on the park.
• Safety techniques were a fundamental component of the role. I administered first aid whilst under pressure regularly and when necessary carried out rescue skills. These actions demonstrated often my ability to decision make under pressure.
• Teamwork was crucial in the every day running of the aqua park, to allow for sessions to run smoothly and subsequently increase guest satisfaction. This taught me the importance of leadership, collaboration and active listening.
• I learnt to problem solve under high pressure situations, due to sudden changes in weather desicions had to be made efficiently to ensure customer safety. Frequently dealt with unexpected situations such as lost children calmly and effectively.

The skills I demonstrated throughout my time as a lifeguard taught me invaluable lessons in responsibility, the importance of effective decision making and the cruciality of teamwork.

Throughout my time in hospitality I gained invaluable experience in interpersonal situations, sales and product knowledge, organisation and time management and collaboration:

• interpersonal situations such as greeting guests, taking orders and creating a positive dining experiences, taught me the importance of effective communication.
• sales skills and product knowledge allowed me to upsell products to guests which therefore increased revenue for the business. Product knowledge also ensured allergen guests safety as i was able to effectively communicate which dishes from the menu were safe to eat.
• organisation and time management were important skills in the efficient running of a dinner service so that guest satisfaction was the highest possible.
• collaboration with the kitchen was vital in order to ensure smooth service during busy periods.

During my time as a receptionist I gained valuable skills in organisation & administration, knowledge & engagement and also patience:

• Organisation was deeply important when managing bookings and group visits to make certain of their day running to schedule
• Administration skills proved crucial when scheduling logging visitor numbers.
• I engaged with children and their families in an approachable way and provided them with effective guidance and information about the farm and the activities available.
• patience proved to be an invaluable skill when dealing with stressed parents and also their enthusiastic children.

These skills can be retained and used further into my career and would be important in multiple roles but especially in lab and research situations.