The Season Workers Guide: Types of Ski Job
Reps in any holiday business are the main point of contact in resort for paying clients. You will be expected to troubleshoot problems, deal with difficult requests and usually sell ‘in resort extras’ like après ski events, which you will normally have to organise and run as well. Day to day duties will include running airport transfers on change over days (can be a very very long day), organise ski and board hire, and ensure that chalet staff have everything they need. This is not the job for people who want a job to simply facilitate a season on the slopes, even less so if you go for a management position.
Worked in a ski resort and ready for a step up? Many long and successful careers in the tourism industry involve a season or two in field based management.
There is a lot to be said for getting a job in a ski chalet. Once you have is cracked you will get plenty of time out to yourself (except changeover and shopping days). Chalets can vary in size from individually run chalets for 7 or 8 people to big 30 or 40 person chalets. The staff required obviously varies, the small chalets can be individually managed, and the larger ones will employ a permanent manager, chefs and assistants.
There are recognised qualifications and courses on offer from a wide variety of
training organisations that will suit budding ski and snowboarding instructors. If you want to instruct professionally make sure your chosen course delivers an
internationally recognised qualification as in most countries, notably France, it is still very difficult for none nationals to get instructor work. Season Workers has a dedicated winter courses section where you can search and apply on line.
Experienced and qualified beauty therapists successfully find jobs in ski resorts each season. Some work for in-resort services and travel around different holiday companies properties, others choose to work as part of an in-house ski operator service.
Some tour operators contract the services of coach companies to manage this for them, other companies buy space from them on a sub contract basis and other visitors arrange thier own transfer. Either way, all this needs to be planned, organised and executed without forgetting leaving a single person stranded or sent to the wrong resort. Easier said than done!