Ski resort jobs: season 2008 / 2009
There is a massive variety of ski jobs in the Alps and resorts of the world to choose from each season. Ski resort jobs include chalet staff, chef jobs, ski guides, cooks, maintenance people, managers and ski resort hotel staff. The ski season in Europe runs roughly from December to April. For the 2008 / 2009 season the larger employers started recruiting in and around May / June in a bid to get their seasonal workforce in place before first training courses start. Smaller ski tour operators and chalet owners if they do actively recruit tend to do it a bit later to avoid too many no-shows and drop outs. Normally this is because they have already filled jobs with returning staff and word of mouth but and as a result can be left at risk of being let down at the last minute with no volume of new recruits to fall back on. All these jobs are highly prized so make sure you do your research before you go, a cookery course for chalet staff will pay dividends, and then when you get there, get your head down and work as hard as you play.
Feature: Jobs in US ski resorts for H2B Visa holders. If your current H2B visa runs until October or November 2008 you will be eligible for some great jobs through Outbreak Adventure Recruitment. The visa extension process is handled by the employer and Outbreak Adventure Recruitment, if this fits your situation click here for details. Or click here for all ski resort jobs in the USA & Canada.
Childcare positions with ski season tour operators are traditionally hard to fill
each season. One of the main reasons for this is that most employers now insist
that candidates have appropriate qualifications, where it used to be a bonus believe
it or not! This is especially true for Nanny positions, if you do have a minimum
of the basic NNEB qualification and want to work in a ski resort you are in a great
position. Try ski resort childcare jobs here.
Many companies have sprung up in the growth area of ski instructor training over
the last few years. Competition is tight and a lot of these companies also offer
peripheral products and services such as full season lets, school trips (for which
they obviously need more staff) and ski / snowboard gap year courses. We asked a
load of them some stupid questions specifically about qualifying as an instructor
and got some very interesting variations in response.
Stupid questions article
View all ski & snowboard instructor courses
At the start of most seasons working in chalets, you will need to create a menu
plan for 10 or 14 days. You will usually have to submit a menu plan on application
to a tour operator to demonstrate a basic knowledge of what's required. A course
pre-season can give that little bit of extra confidence needed for a smooth start
and will help curb the nerves on the training course. Its not rocket science and
as long as you show willing and don’t poison anyone most firms will give you extra
training in resort. Apply for chalet cookery courses here.
If you want a job in a ski chalet as a chalet rep your menu planning is one of the
very first things a prospective employer will question you on. It is also absolutely
key to your season going well for you and all your happy clients as well so best
to get it right from the start. You can do courses before you go to give you the
best possible start and one of the best in the business is SnowCrazy.
View SnowCrazy menu planning article
There are lots of companies that will rent you an apartment or chalet for the whole
season in a ski resort (costs around £2,000 per person). If you have a couple of
grand to spend you can negate the usual hassle of trying to find work and accommodation
at the same time. This might fill your head with cramped apartments full of sweaty
boots, improvised ash trays and a kitchen full of washing up but it need not be
like that. Some specialist organisations rent out big spacious chalets at a fair
price for the whole season and many people go each year to spend a few months on
the slopes. Lets face it, given the opportunity, who wouldn't?