Ambassador Job = Forget IT !!!
 

I fell for it, I was out of work and thought I could be a Golf Course Ambassador. Ride around on a golf cart and get paid for it. I went for the group interview, there was 32 of us there and I got interview (at Glennview), for not.

Here's the skinny;


YOU HAVE TO KNOW SOMEBODY (or somebody who knows somebody) !!

Turn over is low BUT they have over 200+ applicants on file ??

Jobs are posted internal for people already employed by GMS.

If open positions are not filled by a GMS employee one of the 200+ applicants can be hired.

Open positions will have 50+ applicants.

Bet one of the 50+ applicants for a given position know somebody !!:beer3:


So unless you have a friend/spouse, golfing/drinking buddy don't bother (this goes for all GMS positions).
It's a bigger racket than the slave labor VCDD.

I know people who have applied, interviewed and been working for GMS within 2 weeks and they had no connections. After 6 months, one of them was offered an Ambassador position.

Not hard to get a boring, minimum wage paying job...

By the way....Nice first post!

The answer is.............
 

Now that you know WHAT to do....... Go out and do it.

Get social. Make connections. Find out who can help you and cultivate them. Make friends with some present Ambassadors so you can use them for references in the future.

Don't curse the dark. Light some candles.

Great advice for anyone! :MOJE_whot:

Whining won't get it done.....................

This is absolutely 100% not true. You may consider this first hand information.

I went through that same process when I first moved here. I have 35 years experience in the golf business running my own business for many of those years. I used to hire and manage starters and rangers. I thought I be a shoe in.
But then they explained that you basically have to be available 24/7 for any shift they decide they need you. You shouldn't plan on belonging to any clubs and you shouldn't make any plans to do anything else.
I opted out but then got a letter saying that they weren't interested in me.

You know who
 

I've always said "it's not what you know, but who you know."

The OP is not correct. I applied for an ambassador job, sure, got turned down once or twice. But I was finally accepted and I have absolutely no connections with anybody at all with GMS or The Villages. Yes, they place you on a shift to begin with, but when openings turn up at other times or clubs, you have 1st dibs. You also have time for OT if you want as employees are always taking vacation time and need fill ins. Don't be so critical, no job is perfect.

sour grapes.....if you don't qualify why cry!

All of the really great guys and gals who I have met as Ambassadors have a positive and friendly and upbeat persona.

They sure know HOW to pick 'em.

i love that!

You: Oh hello this is my first post on TOTV ......too bad it is such a negative catharsis!

Me: I too have friends who became ambassadors and did not go through any such vetting.....maybe it is a new process......or

All of the GMS employees I know (and I know quite a few), got the job by going through the process. They did not know anyone or "have an in".

They have three day work schedules and it is the same every week. They do work to cover vacations but that is to make sure someone will cover them when they need some time off.

Usually starting jobs are ambassadors, the driving range, cart duty. After a while if a job opens inside or a starter job seniority rules. Same for days off.

The OP is way off base.

I didn't get it so it must be rigged! Baloney! I know some ambassadors and they went through the process.

Not in this case............see post #6.

Mulligan's post in response to OP. Mulligan knows because he is an ambassador.

It really depends on your interview. Maybe the OP wasn't at the top of his game

With the attitude shown in this original post, the employer probably sensed right away that a person just wants to "ride around on a golf cart and get paid for it". But in reality the ambassador has an important job to do diplomatically and ambitiously.

Then after admitting the desire to do nothing but ride around and get paid for it, there's a judgement made of all VCCD employment being "slave labor".

Surely this attitude did not go unnoticed!

After going through the process myself, I'm sure the personality and attitude of the OP wasn't necessarily the personality and attitude they were looking for.

My idea of retirement is not moving to The Villages and working for minimum wage.

Yep...that would be it.

One of my neighbors was an ambassador now a starter. He was surprised how much consideration was placed on an applicant's positive attitude and demeanor. Very important if you want this job or any job in the TV system.

First of all it's explained in the interviewing process that you start at "the beginning" or the bottom of the process...which means you don't get first dibs on hours etc. You have to show some flexibility. Eventually you may get the hours you like or want but in the beginning not so much. It's not quite what the OP said it is. Just chatted with someone today whose going through the process. They do have a long list of folks who apply so TV can be choosey who they will hire.

Do you think that your thought process of just "Ride around in a golf cart and get paid for it" could possibly have been a factor in not getting the ambassador position. It also sounds like you didn't even get one of those big racket "slave labor" jobs at VCDD.

I just don't understand why you are out of work.

Started my career management biz in 1973 and what you are describing is nothing new. And there's nothing wrong with the best networker winning the prize.

It's not just who you know.. but who knows you!

Where i come from the ambassadors carry guns

I applied 6 years ago and there weren't that many applicants so i had worked previously as a ranger up north so thought i had a good chance to get selected. Got the try again letter but after hearing other stories from ambassadors with when you first start you get second shift which in summer keeps you there until 8pm, i never applied again.

Seems like after they are hired some of them turn into jerks !

I have always seen polite and helpful ambassadors. Maybe what goes around comes around with perceptions.

You're 100% correct! My husband has been working for them for about 6 months or so now, took him a few months to get hired but he knew NO ONE. Started as Ambassador then very soon got one os his days in a Starter Shack, now has 2 days in Starter Shack and 1 as Ambassador. He's on a set schedule but it can be flexible when he needs time off the people are the best! Someone is always willing to switch with you and you just follow suit and fill in when someone else needs it. He loves it, best part time job ever. You get some nice discounts also!

As are some golfers also! The thing is Ambassadors if complained about can and more often than you think get fired where as you can't fire the golfers who are jerks and do not feel the rules are for them! In my opinion both are far and few in between though ;)

How many hours or days a week do they require you to work? Most folks move to TV to play not work, so I would think that any more than a day or two would definitely limit the work force pool.

I played many many rounds of golf here in The Villages over the 4 years I have lived here and have yet to come into contact with an ambassador that I would classify as "A Jerk".

They have been extremely cheerful and courteous!!!

remember the two facts of life that come into play when one retires:

you get twice as much spouse time

you get a lot less than half the pay

So some are trying to solve one or both problems:D

The max they can work is 28 hours a week also the shifts aren't always an 8 hours shift. My husband usually works depending on the season 5-7 hours. Plus sometimes during the rainy season the golf course may close early or not open, though that is rare. He has plenty of time to play but mostly he does it because he enjoys it! Trust me the work force pool is huge!

:agree:

In my 12 plus years here I can honestly say I have never met an ambassador who was not pleasant.

Usually you are scheduled for 3 half-day shifts a week that stays constant. On top of that, you can put your name in to sub for those that are sick or on vacation up to the 28 hour max as stated by a previous poster. And as also stated, the length of the shift varies according to the season and how much daylight is available.

It has been said, “I’m retired, so why would I move here and go to work for minimum wage?” I enjoy being productive and being an Ambassador isn’t a job, if anything it’s a brief interruption to my week that provides some great benefits, like discounts, activities, good friends, nice people to work with, and purpose. The only negative is that once in a while those I serve can have a bad attitude, but that’s not the norm. It’s not for everyone, but what job is. I didn’t know anyone when I got hired, but developing contacts and networking is just good business. If you’re looking for a part-time job, don’t need to make a big paycheck, and are willing to do more than just ride around in a golf cart, being an Ambassador is it.

:BigApplause: Well said, my husband loves it! He has Starter Shack twice a week and Ambassador once a week. He has made many more friends and just enjoys being out there!

Today, an ambassador pulled up and we began a little chat, waiting for the folks ahead to get out of range. Found out that he was celebrating his third year clear of lung cancer. We all agreed that it was indeed a beautiful day in The Villages.


He was just another of a long list of ambassadors who have paused with us whose courtesy and wit and just plain niceness made golf more enjoyable..