“What do you want to be when you grow up?” No doubt, it’s a question that brings back lots of memories! Maybe you wanted to be a doctor, an artist, or even a fire truck (we’re not sure exactly how that last one works, but you have to commend kids for their imagination!). When well-meaning Aunties and Uncles asked you what you wanted to be when you grew up, you probably had it all figured out. But as an adult, sometimes it doesn’t feel so easy anymore.
Choosing a career, or making a move to another industry can be a daunting process, but it’s all worth it for the right job! If you want a job where you get to spend time in the water, have fun every day, teach Kiwi kids valuable life skills, and even learn from them along the way, then you should consider becoming a swimming teacher.
How To Become a Swimming Teacher
If you’re someone who enjoys working with children, has oodles of patience, is a great communicator, and you have a genuine love of helping others learn, then you could be a brilliant swimming teacher!
At Fulton Swim School, we’re rapidly expanding so that we can share our knowledge of swimming, and teach Kiwis how to stay safe in and around the water! This means that we’re always on the lookout for talented and motivated people to join our family!
Teaching water safety to our young Kiwis is essential. Over the warmer months, playing in the water is a treasured pastime for families all over the country! Because of this, New Zealand needs more swimming teachers. So if you think you’d like to become a swimming teacher, here are a few steps to get in the game (or the pool, as the case may be)!
How to get started
When you become a swimming teacher, no two days are the same, it sounds cliché, we know! But it’s true! Teaching swimming is a rewarding job that can be a fulfilling, life-long career.
It’s worth noting that some swim schools may require you to have certain certifications to work for them, so it’s best to check wherever you are applying.
If you have relevant qualifications, we see that as a nice bonus, but it’s more important to us that you have a passion for swimming, enjoy helping young New Zealanders to learn valuable life skills, and you fit in well with our team. If you have relevant experience, like sports coaching, or teaching early childhood or primary school classes, that’s awesome too - you’ll have lots of transferable skills!
Which swim school is best for you?
You might be looking for a position at a school within walking distance of your home. You may want flexible hours, learning opportunities and career progression, or to teach swimmers in a specific age range. The good news is, there are so many swim schools out there, specialising in different areas, and there is a demand for excellent swimming teachers like you! So, explore your options, and see which swim school ticks the right boxes.
Just remember, every swim school has different values, so it’s important to find the swim school that best suits you! At Fulton Swim School, it’s important to us to build relationships between our teachers, students and parents - we don’t want anyone to feel like a number, we want everyone to feel like a valued member of the Fulton family.
We know that learning to swim can be scary for little ones! So, we’re also really big on celebrating success and acknowledging progression. We see it as vitally important to reward and encourage our children to swim and to try their best. We place a huge emphasis on celebrating all our students’ achievements, and we also want to celebrate all of our swimming teachers’ achievements too!
FAQs
If you’re new to the industry, you might have some questions about working as a swimming teacher, so let’s see if we can answer them:
What hours do swimming teachers work? This varies depending on the swimming school. At Fulton Swim School, we offer classes at various times, seven days a week. As part of the application process, we’ll get you to let us know when you’re available, and when you’re not.
Do I need prior swimming teaching experience? Teaching experience is a great bonus! But it’s not necessary. If you have experience coaching sports, or teaching in another capacity, that’s a great start, but we also have opportunities for on-the-job learning, so please do still apply if you’re new to the world of teaching!
Is teaching swimming a seasonal job? No! It certainly doesn’t have to be. If seasonal work suits your schedule, there are plenty of seasonal opportunities, but we think it’s important for children to keep practising year-round, so we need swimming teachers on a permanent basis to work in our indoor, heated swimming pools.
What’s next?
If you think you’d make a good swimming teacher, this is your sign to start applying for teaching positions!
Don’t be disheartened if you apply for a role and you don’t get it - maybe it wasn’t the right swim school for you, but there are plenty of other fish in the sea, so get back out there and keep applying! Your dream job is sure to be out there.
Becoming a swimming teacher is a rewarding career for anyone who is passionate about water safety and teaching the next generation of Kiwis to be safe in the water. It’s a career that will teach you a lot about living your life to the fullest, and you’ll likely make lasting friendships and memories you’ll treasure forever.
If you’re over the age of 16 and you enjoy spending time in the water - we would love to chat with you! We have swim schools all over the North Island, so what are you waiting for? Apply to work with us or reach out to your local Fulton Swim School if you’d like to know more about joining our team!
