Ski Jobs

Whether you are choosing to take a year off between school and Uni or just want to work in a resort for a change of scene, there are lots of jobs you can consider and lots of things to think about before you jump in with both feet! From being a Chalet Maid through to being a Ski/Snowboard Instructor or Airport Transfer driver, there are a wide range of roles available across the Alps and further afield.

Many 'Seasonaires' travel the world from Europe's ski season, down under to Australia or NZ (or increasingly South America) for their Winter season, and many of these people are on their 4th or 5th or even 10th season in a row!

"It's a compelling lifestyle where you make great friends along the way" Steve, 32 now on 7th year.

So just what do you need to think about - it's simple isn't it?

Let's walk you through the key things to consider as whilst the perfect ski job can be bliss in the mountains, the wrong choice can leave you wishing you'd never left the UK. We're not saying you won't love it, just take some time to think things through!

Step 1 - Are You 'Qualified' to Work in a Resort?

We don't necessarily mean academically or related experience here! We're thinking more of whether you are 'cut out' to work in a foreign country where you may need to work long hours and 6 days a week to fulfil your role. As you will discover with most jobs in ski resorts, it's not as glamorous as it sounds and a ski holiday it most definitely is not.

So consider whether you mind getting up at 6am some mornings (or every morning) and then working a 14 hour day for weeks on end.  Think about home comforts - do you need them? You will not be working for much money and your accommodation is likely to be, let's just put this as, basic. Lastly, how do you cope with burning the candle at both ends? If you're a regular party animal but cannot get in to gear the following day, again consider whether this job is for you.

Finally, how do you find dealing with the public and meeting people? If you are a regular grump in the morning and shy away from meeting new people, then chalet work is definitely not for you, so stick to the dishwasher or 'behind scene' roles.

Having said in the first sentence that we're not talking about academic achievements or related experience, with recent seasons seeing less skiers and boarders booking ski holidays from the UK, all the big ski tour operators have decreased their holidays, meaning less jobs to go round and therefore, some very well qualified people applying even for the more mundane jobs! So in fact, having relevant chef experience, or hotel maid experience may well stand you in good stead.

Step 2 - What Type of Jobs Are there?

Hundreds of different roles in reality! Many ski jobs focus around the accommodation in a ski resort whether it's a hotel, chalet or apartment. Jobs relating to accommodation include Chalet Host, Chalet Chef, Chalet Caretaker, Hotel Chef, Chamber Maid, Hotel Cleaner, Dishwasher and more.

For many of these roles you may not need any formal experience, but for a Chef or Chamber Maid, ski operators, chalet owners or hotels will be looking for those with experience to ensure things run smoothly.

If you're a couple, then you may find it easier to land a plum job in a chalet, especially if one of you cooks and the other doesn't mind cleaning and organising guests in the chalet (think arranging airport transfers, sorting lift passes or ski hire equipment). Some chalet companies prefer ‘chalet couples’ for hosting so bear that in mind.

Relating to accommodation (or rather the guests who book them) is childcare work. Whether you work for a separate creche/babysitting service or for a ski company that offers child care, there is increasing demand for qualified and experienced 'nannies' and child care assistants. You will of course be carefully vetted and checked for your suitability so will need extensive and a blemish-free history.

Finally, the ski job that sounds the most glamorous, Ski Instructor or Snowboard Instructor. This will require you to hold specific qualifications and increasingly, some experience. It goes without saying that you will need to be pretty competent on skis and/or a snowboard. In fact, increasingly employers of instructors require you to be competent on both skis and boards (and qualified for both) so they can use you more of the time on the slopes.

You will need to check the relevant qualifications that each country requires but you should be earning between £10 - £20 per hour teaching, which over a week means £350 - £700 as well as lots of associated benefits that come with being an instructor.

Step 3 - Choosing a Ski Resort

Can you pick and choose where you want to work? Working in Val D'Isere or Verbier or St Moritz sounds like the ideal gig, but in reality there are reasons not to head straight there - especially if this is your first year! You should look first and foremost at the job/role as the most important factor, whether that's in Chamonix, Mayrhofen or Livigno.

Competition for jobs in the big resorts actually means less wages for EXACTLY the same jobs as employers have so many people to choose from. In addition, the competition for those places means there are probably 10 or 15 people going for each role, as the number of jobs will not change.

If you head to any of the BIG resorts the other issue is that these resorts are generally more expensive to live in, meaning there's less money for you to go out on the town with! If this is your first or second year and you want to make a real go of it, heading towards the less fashionable resorts is a smart move.

Step 4 - The Positives

Where do we start? Time on the slopes. Great parties. Learn new skills. Get out of the UK. We could go on. Without stating the obvious there are a whole host of benefits open to you if you are on outgoing, responsible and fun-loving person. If you choose the right employers, then you could also carve out a great role for yourself over a number of years, especially as even when the ski season ends, there are things that need to be done in resort!

As well as the travel aspect and the time on the slopes, if you choose the right employers you may also get accommodation thrown in for a lot less than trying to find it yourself plus a cheap or even free lift pass.

Step 5 - The Things You Must Consider

Do remember that working in a ski resort will probably not make you any money! The roles we've mentioned above do not pay huge salaries and no doubt you will want to head out to the bar most evenings anyway.

Above all make sure you are willing to put in long hours and work harder than you have probably ever worked. The rewards are excellent, but they won't make up for a miserable existence during the day if this is not the sort of work for you.

Before considering any role in Europe, North America or anywhere else in the world, check out the Visa requirements carefully. If you are working in the European Union you should be ok, but if not you will probably require a full Working Visa. Do not confuse this with a holiday permit Visa as in many countries (like the USA) this will not allow you to work in any capacity.

For more information on what you can and can’t do check the relevant country embassy websites or see below for some further reading.

Step 6 - How to Apply for Ski Jobs

There's lots of places where you can apply for jobs including online, through the press and by directly contacting chalets and ski companies. A lot of companies start their recruitment in late April early May - immediately after the ski season ends basically.

It goes without saying that you need to think about your application, tailor it for each job and look for where your experience can help you. Don't bother applying for jobs where it asks for experience if you have none! Don't put all your eggs in one basket, however positive the initial contact or feedback that you have received. It's always better to have 3 offers on the table than just the one!

Increasingly, you can use the internet to scour for jobs and roles in various resorts. There really are a wide range of vacancies open to most people, but you have to be quick and watch the closing dates carefully to ensure you don't miss any jobs you really want to pursue. A lot of it is common sense.

Further Reading :

Working in North America : www.bunac.org/uk/

Chalet Chef courses - www.mountainchefs.co.uk and www.skiweekends.com

The British Association of Snowsport Instructors BASI - www.basi.org.uk

By Will Smith