 Poster: A snowHead
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
Apparently Crystal doubled the pay this year, in some resorts at least, so it's a much more attractive option than any of the other choices.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
|
| LeFou wrote: |
| Apparently Crystal doubled the pay this year, in some resorts at least, so it's a much more attractive option than any of the other choices. |
Good for them if they did, especially as all TO winter positions are always over subscribed. My younger daughter is working with her boyfriend in a non TO chalet in the 3Vs at the mo. 75 euros a week. Their wages are given to them by their boss every Saturday directly from the honesty bar takings!
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
| sequoiaboard wrote: |
| 75 euros a week. Their wages are given to them by their boss every Saturday directly from the honesty bar takings! |
Wow, that is really low 
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
@rose123, what's your motivation? In my day it was skiing. Not so sure that's universal now.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
@rose123, we just returned from a week with Inghams. The rep said that almost all of the chalet hosts were 18 and doing a gap year. The older ones like her (she was 22!) tended to be reps.
The ones that didn't make it through the whole season tended to be those that didn't ski. As most of the young people are drawn to the job for the skiing, those that didn't ski were a bit isolated as their friends were good skiers and for the most part didn't want to go out with beginners. Most made it through the season and had a great year.
Also check out Mark Warner. They run their own chalet hotels so a bit of a different model, but all the staff are UK based young people.
Go for it. It is a great way to spend a year.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| achilles wrote: |
| and those showing the candidate had taken a gap year, should be rejected. There may have been other criteria, but those stuck in my mind. His prejudice against the gap year may be unusual, but he was very firm on it. |
This is a somewhat archaic view and speaks to me of an employer who is likely to be either inflexible to work for or who wants pliable employees I.e. get them straight off the educational treadmill then they won't have any other experience to compare this work to. I'd have thought the gumption to go out and do something away from home should still be a valued commodity.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
We look very carefully at what people have done during their Gap year @Dave of the Marmottes, working = good, traveling, volunteering at elephant sanctuaries, doing your PADI open water etc. = we regret to inform you ....
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
|
@Nadenoodlee, does ski hosting = working? Would doing your PADI open water disqualify you from applying to train as a Nrth sea diver?
I sold detergents door to door in Switzerland for a company that seems to have been a money laundering operation for a columbian cocaine ring.
Got me my first real sales job, in the City. Probably very appropriate 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@Nadenoodlee, it's lucky I wasn't penalised for my pre-university gap year*, which was mostly spent playing the piano! I applaud spending the time doing something one has a passion for, which perhaps one won't have another opportunity to do, even if it's not classic CV fodder for prospective employers. I guess the trick is to be able to argue one's case for doing it.
*again not a complete year, as I did an extra tem at school after A-levels.
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
@under a new name,
| Quote: |
does ski hosting = working?
|
Good question 
|
|
|
|
|
|
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
|
| Nadenoodlee wrote: |
| We look very carefully at what people have done during their Gap year @Dave of the Marmottes, working = good, traveling, volunteering at elephant sanctuaries, doing your PADI open water etc. = we regret to inform you .... |
Oh yes - a succession of "experiences" bankrolled by mummy + daddy not great but paying your way through work why shouldn't you travel as part of it? I know "travelling" has an image of kids growing dreadlocks and getting wasted all the time but it still takes some persistence and resilience to travel independently in places like India, China, South America, particularly on your own budget.
The very worst people I interviewed when doing grad recruitment were those who had done a specialist degree in the field and padded their summers with relevant placement type work. They failed to display anything approaching independent thought and in some cases personality.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Working in the Alps sucks.
It is basically slave labor with a bit of sun and snow.
Much better idea is to get your parents to lend you 10k and a credit card, tell them you will pay it back at some unspecified later date, and then go sliding and glugging for 150 days straight.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
| Quote: |
Much better idea is to get your parents to lend you 10k and a credit card, tell them you will pay it back at some unspecified later date, and then go sliding and glugging for 150 days straight
|
That wouldn't go down too well at most graduate employment interviews. 
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
| pam w wrote: |
| Quote: |
Much better idea is to get your parents to lend you 10k and a credit card, tell them you will pay it back at some unspecified later date, and then go sliding and glugging for 150 days straight
|
That wouldn't go down too well at most graduate employment interviews. |
You may be able to bluff it, can't say the idea would enthral this particular parent though.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
| achilles wrote: |
| Side comment. I was at dinner with an employer a week or so ago. He commented about how he got recruiters to short list candidates down to a manageable size (30) for him to interview. He was asked for rejection criteria for those who passed the requirements given in the job specification, so he advised that CVs with spelling and grammar mistakes, and those showing the candidate had taken a gap year, should be rejected. There may have been other criteria, but those stuck in my mind. His prejudice against the gap year may be unusual, but he was very firm on it. |
What industry was it in? I wouldn't be too surprised to hear similar from some of my previous employers...but then I do work in an industry that's generally behind the times anyway.
However strictly speaking a season working for a TO isn't a gap year, not in the same way as the ones you hear when someone has travelled around Asia or the like.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
| Quote: |
You may be able to bluff it
|
bluffing at interviews is a dodgy tactic. I've been on the receiving end of some pathetic attempts over the years.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
|
|
Back on topic I'd do the kitchen assistant thing and as soon as I was 18 ask for some bar shifts. Then you get cooking and customer serving with plenty of opportunity to tell anecdotes about how you handled a difficult customer or solved a problem cooking food.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
I would suggest trying to get a job in a "good" small hotel or restaurant where you could help in the kitchen and learn the rudiments of waiting at table and the niceties of "service", this will give you some rudimentary cooking preparation skills, the feel for working in a kitchen (including cleaning up) and how to look after customers from the service perspective. It will be incredibly hard work (as will working in a chalet be) but will set you in good stead, it will also help with your longer term goals as you will be able to demonstrate on any future statement to uni or further education that you plan ahead so you can work towards your goals and that you are willing to work hard to achieve them.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
workaseason.co.uk
Recruitment website for Hotelplan (Inghams, Esprit, Ski Total). As a lage TO, employment from these guys tends to suit the needs of most people who want to 'do a ski season' but if you have any particular idea of where you want to be based or what you want to get out of your winter then maybe best look at smaller independent companies. That said, they've been very good to me and have allowed me to live out here very comfortably while skiing what and pretty much when I want to.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
I would support the idea that your best chance is in a chalet hotel. I doubt you would get a role as a chalet host at 18 and frankly I think that is probably too young and carries too much stress and responsibility and would be no fun at that stage in life. Since you are thinking about this early I would try and get a job in a "good" small restaurant or hotel where you can help out in the kitchen and wait at table. This will give you both kitchen (portering, food prep and cleaning) skills and also service skills. This will set you in good stead and give you a good flavour of what you think you want to achieve. This will also set you in good stead for your future overall as you will be able to demonstrate on any future statement to support uni or further education or employment applications that you plan ahead and have taken practical steps to support an achieve your goals. You wont earn much but you will have a wonderful time provided you are sensible and realistic. As others have said do your homework, research the companies who offer large chalet/chalet hotel holidays and make sure your application is well written, grammatically correct and free from spelling mistakes and that you set out clearly why you think you can fulfill their requirements. Do your homework about the various resorts where your application companies operate. Be cheery and responsive at any interview and have a few sensible questions lined up. Think seriously and sensibly how you will answer a question like "Why do you want to do this"? All the best and have fun.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I'd also consider trying to find work that isn't in a chalet…i.e. in local bars and restaurants instead. Chalet hosts invariably work a lot more hours than contracted, are almost always paid less and are almost always in worse accommodation that those working independently.
That said, if you want to find work in a bar or suitable restaurant, you generally need very good French and previous experience, and you'll need to research the bars and restaurants opening hours to ensure you'll get sufficient ski time.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| rose123 wrote: |
| does anyone recommend any TO to work for on a gap year |
Apply to as many as you can find. You only need to worry about which TO to work for if you are offered jobs by more than one company.
Try and get any relevant experience you can eg waitressing, bar work (even if it is just as the glass collector/washer), anything that involves handling money - especially if budgeting is involved, anything that involves dealing with drunk/angry/stressed/obnoxious people (or punters, as they are known in the trade).
Oh, and avoid the word "punter" in your applications, interviews, training etc.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
|
| under a new name wrote: |
@Nadenoodlee, does ski hosting = working? Would doing your PADI open water disqualify you from applying to train as a Nrth sea diver?
: |
how many teenagers on gap years go on to apply to be North Sea Divers?
As Dave said - proving you can spend your parents cash on a 10month jolly doesn't really inspire me to pick that person. I'd rather someone who has worked part time from a younger age to support themselves/ gain experience.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I suspect that very few people apply to be North Sea Divers regardless of whether they take a gap year or not.
I think most of us would prefer to employ someone who had the initiative to earn some cash rather than live off their parents
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
|
Amen @Rabbie,
|
|
|
|
|
|
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
|
Travel can be worthwhile. But not if you're like the lad who told me that he and his mate had only spent half a day in Berlin, on their eurail journey "because there's nothing interesting there". One did rather wonder why he wanted to join the Diplomatic Service.....
I tended to ask the ones who'd paid a lot of money to "help build classrooms in Tanzania" how it made sense for rich western kids, with no building skills, to do work which could be done by young unemployed Tanzanians. There were some good answers!
As for North Sea divers, I doubt whether many of them started with a PADI course in Thailand. I do know a man who worked on oil platforms in Nigeria, but he started in the Navy.
I saw quite a few graduates who'd done various Alps-related jobs. Some could give a good account of their experience, others couldn't. I did have one girl who made much of her having run her own child-minding business in a Swiss resort. My fellow assessors were rather shocked at my prejudice when I said, as we went through the applications "What's the bet Daddy's got a chalet?" but I was right. She and her friend, in their gap year, had just done a bit of baby sitting, for beer money. I gave her every chance. Asked her at the outset if she could tell me about some of the challenges she'd faced, setting up her own business. No, she couldn't, because she hadn't faced any challenges at all. If she'd had the wit to think up something plausible.....
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@Nadenoodlee, does my peddling detergents in German (I speak no German) door to door for a Columbian drug baron impress though? I think it's somewhat unique.
If I recall the cocaine was disolved in the detergent, shipped to Europe and then extracted leaving them with thousands of gallons of a rather caustic detergent to shift.
What could possibly go wrong?
I made good money as well.
Have I possibly wandered off topic?
Back on - small hotel a good idea for experience. Bar work applicable but not so multi-faceted.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
| pam w wrote: |
| Quote: |
You may be able to bluff it
|
bluffing at interviews is a dodgy tactic. I've been on the receiving end of some pathetic attempts over the years. |
Yes, but you'll never be sure how many successful attempts got past....
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
|
I would put good money on @pam w's resistance to being bluffed.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
| Quote: |
you'll never be sure how many successful attempts got past....
|
the ones which got past me were showing good evidence of both forward thinking and an ability to make bricks without straw. Key skills.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
Everyone knows the rules for interviewing chalet women.
If you are a Plain Jane, you will need qualis, training and experience.
If you are hot, you're in
|
|
|
|
|
|
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
|
The big tour operators seem to be the best bet for eighteen year olds. Crystal is much better than Inghams /ski total/ski esprit. Son went with latter, daughter is currently out there with former. She is being paid more, she has a whole day and two half days off a week (which are sometimes together, making a second whole day), she has been given decent uniform (jacket, 2 pairs trousers, 6 polo shirts), when there are problems, or they need stuff for their chalets, it gets sorted. Son got one day off a week, his uniform (3 polo shirts) didn't arrive till over half way through season, problems never seemed to be sorted, and general organisation armed to be worse. Crystal put all the hosts in touch with each other before they went out, which was nice. Inghams insurance was better cos it covered off piste.
Both did chalet cookery courses. Son did Inghams one, which almost guaranteed him some sort of join with them. Daughter did the Abinger Cookery school and said she was really glad she'd done it even if she hadn't got a job.
Both did seasons as eighteen year olds, son got two job offers, daughter got three (ski famille, Inghams, crystal). They both started applying one they'd done their a levels, but had done lots of research before. Son got told by several companies that he needed proof he could cook.
Hosting is hard work, but you don't get much in the way of tips as a rep, and I think both children have survived entirely on their tips.
Son then did a second season booking a room in a seasonaires chalet, and paying his way via cleaning jobs and transfer day work. He got a lot more skiing that way.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
I had an interview with a well known and significant (in the 80's) ski operator.
I was asked (I'm pretty sure I'd been discounted at this point), "you are manager in a hotel with 6 staff, all of whom want to sleep with you. What do you do?"
I mean, talk about an easy question!
"Obviously," I said, after some consideration and with a very straight face,
"I'd organise a rota and have Sunday nights off."*
I still can't understand why I didn't get the job.
* totally true story. Honest. As a callow 25 year old I was somewhat gobsmacked and did my best in difficult circumstances.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
I'd have given you the job!
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
| under a new name wrote: |
"I'd organise a rota and have Sunday nights off."*
I still can't understand why I didn't get the job.
|
Think it's probably because you showed a lack of commitment by taking Sunday off
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@stuarth, two rotas would have been too complicated.
It was all a bit of a farce.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Oops, just looked at this thread on a laptop rather than a phone and realised that my long rambling comment above was a little out of context to where the thread had gone, cos when I posted the reply I was only at the bottom of page one!
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
|
|
Rambling? I thought it was very informative.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I've just had a week with Alpine Elements and they clearly employed Gap Year people who were all young, enthusiastic, pleasant and seemed very happy in their work.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
