Working a summer season - what to expect

Getting Started

This period is usually the making of the rest of the season in terms of team morale and the relationships that will shape your experience for the season. It's important to try not to get into cliques and keep an open mind towards your colleagues who will often be from different backgrounds and nations. Setting up is quite often the first real work that younger staff have ever done.

Be prepared to do anything needed

Most of the time the early season is tough. Resorts and centres need to be prepared to accept clients and deliver what they expect to get in return for their hard earned cash. This can quite often mean that specialist staff have to get involved in toilet cleaning and menial set up duties.

This period is usually the makings of the rest of the season in terms of team morale and the relationships that will shape your experience for the season. Setting up is quite often the first real work that younger staff have ever done.

Work Hard

The importance of working hard and showing a bit of grit at this stage cannot be stressed enough. It always gets easier and you will be glad that you fought through it and did yourself proud. Being willing and enthusiastic will normally carry you through whatever your experience and ability.

Watch and Learn

Be willing to learn from your more experienced colleagues and do your best to be indispensable to the team. If you see something that needs doing, it is usually appreciated if you just do it rather than wait to be told. Walking around like you mean business rather than sauntering between jobs will keep you engaged in the task in hand and be a lot more use to your boss.

Remember, the set up period is the hardest time for everyone, don't be worried if you are struggling a bit at first - everyone does. The test is in how you handle these early stages, handle it well and you will get a lot more out of the rest of the season.