1Ski Resorts Jobs in Hospitality

The fact that there are overnight and/or vacation facilities on or in close vicinity to most ski resorts means that there are positions available for different hotel/restaurant jobs. Some of these include bartending, ski shop staff, food preparation, waiting tables, janitorial work, maintenance, reservations, valet service, room service, etc. In as far as these positions are concerned, those that become available seasonally are typically of the entry level and will as such not require much past experience. To secure one of these positions, you will need to display good personal grooming, a positive personality and overall dependability.

2Ski Instructor Jobs

To secure a ski resort job in the winter as a snowboard or ski instructor you will be required to provide proof of certification from an accredited organization in addition to displaying impressive skills as a snowboarder or skier. Persons who have competent skills but lack the requisite instructor certification can also secure jobs ideally because accrediting organizations require people to have some actual work experience before they can be certified. This means that skilled non-accredited skiers can land jobs as trainers in snowboarding and ski schools but under the supervision of certified instructors.

Working as an instructor will need you to display lots of your own snow and people skills because snowboard and ski school directors are always on the lookout for trainers who can instruct and help beginners and slightly skilled skiers and snowboarders to get better with patience and the right communication skills. Many ski resort snowboard and ski schools host clinics for prospective instructors during the winter and giving a splendid job performance might see you get a proper job at the institution thereafter.

3Getting a Job as a Ski Patroller

A position as a ski patroller requires much more snow skill than is desired of an instructor. This is because the snowboarders and skiers usually get in the worst accidents when they are on difficult terrain that demands much more than the conventional skill. It is therefore only befitting that a ski patroller should be an expert skier as there is no other way that help can be availed to accident victims on such terrain. Additionally, working this job at a ski resort in the winter means you to have prior training in first aid skills since you may need to secure broken limbs, etc. All the certification guidelines for this position are provided by the National Ski Patrol.

Just like for the instructor position you can still get a job on a ski patrol team without the certification but its best to check out the requirements for the various ski resorts.

4Ski Resort Operations Jobs

Operation jobs at ski resorts are trade jobs by description and since they have liabilities, qualifying for them requires applicants to have prior training and expertise. Some of the positions under this job category include snowmaking, snow grooming, equipments and vehicle maintenance, lift operations, and in the ski tech department. Again, it is possible to secure these jobs, albeit with minimal training, just by displaying a good work ethic. A point to remember is that these ski resort jobs go on every day of the winter season despite the weather conditions so you should be prepared to brave the elements as they come day after day.

5How to Find Ski Resort Jobs

Simply put, it isn’t so difficult to secure a ski resort job in the winter provided that you are willing to work. One way to do this is by making an early application towards the end of summer or in early fall. This application, in response to a face-to-face interview offer, can be mailed or hand-delivered. You can also secure a job by being recommended by a person already in employment at a given ski resort or indeed one who has been granted the chance to return there for a job he/she did in the previous season; management is known to respond quite positively to recommendations. You can also take your chances and show up at a ski resort as the season gets underway – in this case you should be ready to start immediately with whatever is on offer, knowing full well that your range of choices will be quite limited.

6Some of the Perks You Might Enjoy

While working at a ski resort in the winter there are quite a number of perks that may come your way thus making your stay there very worthwhile. In most cases, working at these locations will see you get a snowboarding or ski pass that’ll suffice for the duration of your stay. Additionally you are sure to get:

• a work schedule that allows you sufficient time to ski or snowboard
• discounted food and beverages
• discounted lessons and equipment
• the chance to return the following season based on the quality of your work

7Housing for Ski Resort Employees

One of the most challenging aspects about these jobs is the fact that you may have to temporarily relocate to a ski town and in doing so have to find housing/accommodations for the ski season. Most ski areas host large numbers of visitors during winter - housing and feeding these people therefore serves to make employee housing limited and costly.

Some ski resorts might provide or make arrangements for accommodation but if you land one that doesn’t then you should take the cue to find your own housing. To start off you can check the local newspaper or place an ad in the same. Walking around the town and inquiring for the same from bulletin boards or better yet from the locals can give you useful answers. You can also ask the ski resort to provide you with contacts for local rental companies. One rule that holds for getting the cheapest housing is that the further accommodations are located from the ski resort the more affordable they become.

There is a big list of links to ski resort winter jobs at http://www.coolworks.com/ski-resort-jobs/ and at http://www.mountainjobs.com/.