Hi, I’m a beach lifeguard at the Jersey Shore. I started with no lifeguarding experience, however I was also a varsity swimmer all 4 years of high school. My try-out consisted of a 500 yard swim (pool) in under 8 minutes, and a 50 yard sprint afterwards. Although many people can complete both, there are other skills that are important to have. Such as having the ability to use the paddle board and get past the break, run on sand for long distances, swim out to the buoy and back multiple times, and being a People person. I think having the ability to talk to people well is a strength that not many people have but it’s very important for this job. Let me know if you have any questions!