Ski Season Jobs: Where to Start
So, you fancy doing a ski season? But, how do you go about spending a winter in the mountains? This guide explains the ski season jobs available in order to help you find the best one for you. It will also explain your options on where to spend 6 months surrounded by snow.
Unfortunately, the mountains are a pretty expensive place to spend a week, let alone five months, so ideally you’ll need to get a job. You may think that your only option is to become a “chalet girl/guy”, but there’s actually plenty of choices for jobs. Keep reading for a few ideas.
I did my first ski season three years ago in a tiny village called Ardent, (hmm rings a bell, aye?) in the centre of the Portes du Soleil resort, France.
While all my other friends were three months into their first year of university, I was off to the Alps. Alone. It was the best thing I ever did! The next five months flew by and before I knew it I was on my way back to Blighty!
Following a mini-break trying other avenues, I returned to the environment that I love – It was something I just had to do again. This time I headed to Meribel, in the centre of the Three Valleys, France.
I would encourage anyone to do a winter ski season, even if you’ve never skied before. You make lifelong friends, learn new skills and get to spend five months surrounded by the mountains. What more could you want?
Ski Season Resort Jobs
Chalet Host
The Ultimate Multitasker
With so many chalets to fill, this is definitely the most common job in the resort. You’re up before everyone else and the last to finish, but it means that the middle part of the day is yours to ski to your heart’s content. It’s just up to you to get moving in the morning.
The guests are your main concern as you’re the face of the company and you’re their first port of call for anything they might need during their week’s stay. You can make or break the guest’s holiday – no pressure. But, by the end of the ski season, you’ll be a dinner party pro.
Great for: Organised, chatty souls, who are flexible when dietaries or mixed up ski hire are thrown into the mix last minute.
Driver
The Logistical Master
This usually involves shuttling guests to and from the slopes, deliveries between chalets and a fair bit of snow clearing. Transfer day can either mean a day out at the airport or moving stuff around resort; crucial in getting the old guests out and the new ones in. This job has varying shift patterns, so no day is the same and there’s lots of interactions with the guests. You will need a clean, full driving licence and at least three years of driving under your belt.
Great for: Charismatic people who enjoy driving and don’t mind a bit of heavy lifting.
Childcare/ Nanny
The Baby Whisperer
While the parents play, the baby stays. Your shift is often during the ski lift’s opening hours, which unfortunately means less ski time for you. But with varying ages of children week to week, there’s an opportunity to get on the slopes when the children are at ski school. Plus, there’s hot chocolate trips, play dates, hours of creative mess and snow playing to certainly keep it interesting. This job requires some previous experience and qualifications (usually NNEB, CACHE, NVQ level 2/3 or equivalent).
Great for: Those still young at heart and skilled in the art of entertainment.
Resort Assistant
The Odd Jobber
Working closely with the Resort Manager, you’ll flit between job roles, filling the gaps and aiding the team where necessary. Crucial in keeping the smooth ship sailing.
Great for: Flexible, easy-going individuals.
Resort Manager
The Boss
You’re ultimately responsible for pretty much everything. From keeping the guests happy and ensuring they return, to supporting the team and boosting morale, along with liaising between suppliers. You have to be good at decision making and communication as there’s always a problem to solve or someone to talk to. There’s also chalet checks to complete, accounts to manage and budgets to stick to (very important). Previous management experience is invaluable.
Great for: Strong characters who like a challenge.
Ski season chalet companies
VIP SKI – They tend to hire post-university-aged staff and operate in 10 resorts across the Alps, providing a VIP experience for all their guests.
Family Ski Company – They provide family holidays in niche parts of larger resorts. It’s a small team that will employ dedicated young staff.
Having worked for both VIP SKI and Family Ski Company, I would highly recommend them and would advise you to check them out.
Other companies to consider include; Bramble Ski, Scott Dunn, Crystal, Neilson, Iglu, Tui, Esprit, Inghams, and Le Ski.
Bartender
The Night Owl
Working in a bar all season is a great way to meet the locals and other seasonaires in resort. It’s sociable, fun and by the end you’ll be a cocktail connoisseur. But, it comes at a cost of late nights. If you’re that eager person who wants to catch first lifts, it’s doable but this might not be the right job for you. Some companies include accommodation and other perks but sometimes you might have to organise this yourself, which is worth considering when you’re researching.
Great for: Outgoing people who love a party.
Ski/Snowboard Instructor
The Pro
The mountains are the ultimate aim. Whether it’s teaching beginners how to snowplough or taking the more advanced off-piste or in the park, you’re on the slopes from the minute the lifts open to well past their closing time. Experience and qualifications are definitely needed, but there are plenty of courses to get you started. I did my CSIA Level 1 & 2 with training from Alltracks Academy. Read my full rundown on what doing a ski instructor course is like here.
Great for: Those who can never say goodbye to the mountains.
Where to spend your ski season
Now that you’ve got an idea of the range of ski season jobs available, you also need to work out where you want to spend your winter. You’ve got four main options; the Alps, Canada, New Zealand, and Japan.
The Alps
It’s the closest option to the UK, which is a great place to do your first ski season, particularly if it’s your first time away from home. Being slightly lower in altitude to the other options means potentially less snow is on offer. But, with so many resorts to choose from, there’s always somewhere to explore.
Canada
A stunning country and incredible slopes with lots of ski instructor courses available too. The main difficulty is getting a work visa because there’s a limited amount and they go quickly! I spent 8 weeks in Whistler while achieving my CSIA Level 1 & 2 with Alltracks Academy – for my full guide on Whistler life read my blog post: The Ultimate Guide to Whistler.
New Zealand
Being on the other side of the world definitely means you have to be committed. But, as their winter is our summer, you can have back-to-back seasons. The ski areas are not as large compared to the Alps, but it would be a pretty cool place to spend five months.
Japan
Home of the powder. Enough said.
Ski season tips
The winter season typically runs from mid-November to the beginning of May. This is ideal for missing the classic, wet, English weather. However, it does mean that companies are already recruiting as the current ski season comes to a close. Therefore, you’ll ideally need to start applying for jobs as early as May, in order to get the job role and resort of your choice.
Ski companies will continue to recruit throughout the summer and roughly up until November. So, if you do decide later in the year that you fancy a go at a winter surrounded by snow, do not fear! Spaces also often become available due to people dropping out or injuring themselves – you just need to keep your eyes peeled!
If you have any questions about what it’s like doing a ski season or working for VIP SKI or Family Ski Company, or life in Whistler / doing a course with Alltracks just send me a message.
Good luck!
Els x
To curb that mountain crush follow @ellielwilliams_ on Insta.
