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Type of Company: 1 I work for a private health club as its swim coach, and for my local high school as the assistant swim coach. I also work for the local police department.
Education: BA, Sociology & Law Enforcement, Framingham State (Framingham, MA)
Previous Experience: I worked as a police dispatcher at another police station for 12 years. And I have been involved with swimming for many many years.
Job Tasks: For my swim coach job, I have varied responsibilities. At the private club, I am the head coach and must oversee not only the swimmers but the other coaches. I plan the meets and determine who will swim what, and what will benefit the swimmers individually as well as the team as a whole. At the high school, I focus on training the less-experienced swimmers, preparing them for competition. Since we are a non-cut sport, this can be harder than it sounds.
In my job as a police dispatcher, I have to answer the phone and talk to walk-ins and send the officers on calls with as much information as possible. I am also the dispatcher for the local Fire Department, a very stressful job during major conflagrations. I have to keep my cool no matter what, and make sure that the personnel who are needed in a given emergency are the ones who get the call. Both jobs require training, good communication skills, and level-headedness.
Best and Worst Parts of the Job: Swim coach: the best part is my relationship with the swimmers -- watching them progress and develop into wonderful young athletes/adults. Worst: the parents who are oh-SO demanding.
Police Dispatcher: the part I like best is assisting officers so they're safe when responding to calls, and also helping people in the community. The worst? Dealing with a certain type of person involved with police work, but also, sometimes, the shifts you need to work.
Job Tips: Swim Coach: Accept all levels of age and ability. Since parents can be so demanding, stay true to your beliefs, and do what you feel is right. Be up front and honest with parents about their children's abilities and provide any guidance you can give.
Police Dispatcher: This is not for everyone. You must be able to answer the phone, and you never know what you may hear. Calls can range from the trivial -- "Is there school today?" -- to the tragic -- "I just found my husband hanging in the basement." This is an honest assessment, and it a limited group that can deal with this.
Additional Thoughts: Swim Coach: It's wonderful to see swimmers progress from a young age, and follow them through high school. You need to be supportive, but not their best friend. Teach them respect for themselves and others, accountability and responsibility.
Police Dispatcher: It is shocking how difficult the situations are that you're confronted with. Be level-headed, rely on your training, and realize you are an extremely important part of a critical response team.
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