I was working at an outdoor center in France and was off for a week and decided to check out the industry and jobs that were around.
I found the advert on an outdoor jobs web site and thought it sounded like the next step in my career and decided to apply.
The application process was a C.V and covering letter and I was invited to an interview in Ireland which I flew and back for in one day. The company informed me by phone a week or two later that I had been successful and the whole process had taken a little over a month.
Describe a typical day?
There is not really a typical day as it depends if there is a group or groups in that day, if I am working with the group, if they are a school, private or corporate group all effect the type of activities we do, the pressure involved and the day you have.
If not I could be contacting clients who have booked to find out what they are looking for from the day, such as just a fun day out, team building, working on a specific goal such as to improve communication skills. Then I have to write the programme and book in the freelance staff who will work on the day as I am the only full time member of staff for the adventure department.
Arranging staff payments, ordering new equipment.
I could be carrying out a safety check of the equipment and the ropes course that must be carried out periodically.
New programme development to keep the activities new and fresh especially if we want repeat business.
The main challenge is trying to find the time to achieve everything in my job description. The best reward is when an event that you have been months in the planning, that could involve 2-3 meetings with the client, numerous e-mail exchanges to ensure the programme is what they want, all the staff do what is expected of them on during the event, all goes relatively to plan and the client is happy with the outcome.
What are the main tasks and responsibilities?
Event Planning and Management
New Programme Development
Maintenance of equipment
Safety checks
Hiring and management of staff for events
Purchasing of new equipment
Customer Service
What are the main challenges?
Apart from just trying to get everything done and keep on top of all aspect of the role, the thing that keeps me 'up-to-speed' is honestly to get the feedback from the client that the day you provided for them went well or exceeded their expectations and that they will come back next year.
What's cool?
We recently added a new high rope activity that we call 'The Monster Swing' that is best described as falling backwards off our 10m high tower before the ropes catch you and you swing underneath. When you do these activities all the time, finding something that gives you a rush like this activity, can be rare.
But I also enjoy training the staff in how to use the activity and seeing the same rush in them now that the tables are turned and they are no longer the one holding the rope but get to be in the clients position for a change! This can also be a valuable lesson for them as it is easy to forget what that feeling is like.
What's not so cool?
Paper work, working in all weathers, midgets biting you, difficult clients.
What particular skills do you bring to your workplace?
Passion for the type of adventure we offer here, the desire to do a good job, hard work, enjoy meeting new people and a good sense of humour.
