Ski season in gap year

A snowHead

Hi,

I'm currently studying for my A Levels and will be turning 18 this summer, and I was thinking of doing a ski season during my gap year, before I go to uni. I have read around a decent amount and looked at the various jobs at various companies but seemed to come to the conclusion that nobody in the mountains really employs 18 year olds. I also have no experience in hospitality or customer services.

I was looking to be a bartender or a KP (less so a chalet host as I don't want to pay for a cooking course and I don't think it's for me) as these seem to have the best ski time. I expected for these 'low stakes' jobs I wouldn't need experience, but they all seem to want it, bar experience and customer services experience. Currently focused on A Levels I haven't looked for work experience now, and come after my A Levels I fear there wouldn't be enough time to get a local job, and then apply for a season.

I was mainly wondering if there's still a possibility that I can get these jobs without such experience, or maybe if it's better to look to smaller companies. I'm also nervous of the prospect of interviews (which I don't want to be doing during A Levels) so tips/advice from anyone who has done one, and what sort of questions will be asked, would be appreciated.

Having had a recent family ski holiday with Neilson, I figured I could probably do a better job than most of the staff there, even without experience... can I get there through enthusiasm and selling myself?

And another thing... how easy is it to end up in the same resort as a friend?

Thanks and any help appreciated. Very Happy

P.S. I didn't know where to post this, sorry if it's in the wrong forum.

A snowHead

#brexit. Sadly, Boris Johnson made it a whole lot harder for young people like you to just "do a season".

Have you got EU or Irish passport?

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

Do A levels, work in UK (better money), go to the mountains, do skiing properly.

Maybe get a job if the perfect one comes along while you are there?

You need to Login to know who's really who.

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

You'll need to Register first of course.

In theory getting a work visa should be simple, but reality might not be the case. Fwiu you need to have a job lined up. Finding someone who wants to employ an 18 year old they've never met with no experience, and go through the paperwork of getting you a visa may not be so simple. Also you need to be realistic, if you don't speak reasonable local language you are limited in potential jobs.

Alternatively you could look outside Europe. Canada, Australia, and NZ all have working holiday visa options.

I'd second what @Klamm Franzer said. It's much better to be able to focus on skiing and not have to work which inevitably gets in the way. Best way to make friends and socialise is by staying in a hostel. Plus most resorts have some kind of Facebook group where you can find people to ski with and social events off the slopes.

In terms of cost I find Canada is cheaper than Europe. Some ball park figures for Canada:
£600 lift pass
£500 flights
£750 per month accomodation and food (this excludes Whistler and banff and is budget accomodation and supermarket food, want fancy digs, restaurants, and big nights out and you could be looking at way more!).

Here's the thing, if you are not working you can ski everyday. So you don't need as much total time there. Plus conditions at start and end of season tend to be less consistent. So 3 months jan-march probably get you best conditions and even with some rest days you should get 80+ days on snow. Cost from around £3500. It is a lot of money to save up. However if you get a job post a-levels and our still living at home with "favourable overheads" it's not unrealistic.

If you get a work visa and are staying a full season accomodation can be cheaper. For example in fernie there is seasonal accomodation for £400 per month but you need to sign a 6 month contract.

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

@some skier guy, You have time to get experience in hospitality, as you could easily work in pubs and resto's from June until December, so that's not a show stopper.
Also a one-day City and Guilds (or modern day equivalent) in food hygiene is useful in both UK and overseas, and shows some degree of commitment.
When we had our restaurant we employed 18 / 19 y.o. from UK, Sweden (Chef obviously), Netherlands, Brazil, S.A. and the main thing we were looking for was somebody who was keen.
French language skills were required for front of house duties.
A lot of the chalet jobs where you get a pass, board, lodging and pin money don't exist anymore.
They were illegal before Brexit, and are still illegal in France.
The curent season was difficult for employers as they did not want to commit to the newish (for UK citizens) work visa system in France, given the uncertainties of demand thrown up by the constantly evolving C19 rules. But when the doors opened, employers struggled to get staff.
For 2022-23 businesses do not have the same C19 uncertainties, and so can commit to the visa system to fulfil their staffing.
Swiss ski companies have been hiring foreign staff which required a work permit (similar to French work visa) since well before I did my first season in Switzerland in 1988, so the whole visa thing is nothing new, it just requires a bit more commitment from both parties, whereas before you might be able to get a chalet job offered to you over a Mutzig in Robbos to replace Chloe who broke her leg in the Stash earlier that week.
That's not to say that being in resort is not as important, but you should go to the resort BEFORE the season, like in the summer when the businesses are open, rather than rocking up in December and knocking on doors, as used to be the case.
Probably TLDR, so here in a nutshell:
1.Get a food hygiene certification (1 day course)
2.Get Experience
3.Brush up on foreign language
4.Visit resorts over the Summer
5.Demonstrate commitment

After all it is free

*Ski* the Net with snowHeads

if i was young, i would prefer to work as much as i can from now till almost end of November, if its possible two jobs , and then make a 4month season somewhere as boarder2020 said, only for skiing - boarding.

I dindt make a season on the mountains, but i have worked also as a season worker in Greece in summer times, and i have to admit that was not the best option to enjoy the "life at the beach".
There were many days that i preferred to sleep the whole day, instead of going to the beach , furthermore going for windsurfing. If a season als a barkeeper in eg Tignes is somewhat like those i have experienced, i doubt that i could finde the power to stay up, and go for skiing....

If you have a 5 or 6 days daytime job, and you have free only the afternoons and one or two days per Week, it will be devastating to see a big dumb, the other people having great time outside, while you have to wash the dishes or something else.

However this is a personal opinion

snowHeads are a friendly bunch.

Just to add to the comments above from recent direct family and friends experience. One with an EU passport, absoloutely no problem at all, working in Austria, Austrian chip and pin SS card, etc. Two others without EU passports has been a different experience; for France one was offered a job with a contact who owns a business there but ultimately fell foul of the paperwork and job ad requirements, so he couldn't go. The other was set up to work in Austria but in the end couldn't because of the UK being a 'third country' and has just done the season outside Europe; in fact it's looking like he has a career path outside the UK as a result.

Now this may be a case where new regulations and Covid have confounded things, so it could very well be easier for the coming season.

My advice would be to follow WindOfChange's advice, which I think is spot on.

snow reports

My take - Work and save as much as you can from the day your exams finish until mid Dec.
Decide which resort you fancy, sort a shared room via facebook, grab a cheap season pass if possible (black friday sales?)
Head out to the mountains, ride every day, enjoy Wednesday nights when everyone has a night off.
If you need a job, every employer is short after NY when folks decide its not for them.
Its far easier to get to know everyone in a resort when you're not stuck at work wink

You know it makes sense.

My son is doing this in Canada. Working holiday Visa, obtained this time last year. Flew out to Vancouver in early September with a job offer, via an agency which was required then because of Covid rules. Stayed for 3 weeks, looked at job adverts for ski resorts and as he was only 19 in February, wanted to work in Alberta as drinking age 18, not 19 as in BC. Got job as pot washer in Banff, worked evenings and was promoted to prepping for chefs. Now moved jobs as trainee chef.

Winter jobs seem to start in early October.

He's managed to be able to work evenings so skis most days, except weekends - too busy he says.

Points to note, min wage to start. Think about C$12per hour, but subsidised accommodation - $15p/n and a free breakfast at the staff canteen. Other meals were around $3

He looked on Facebook for local ski bum groups to get an idea of what to expect, who to contact etc

He had worked in a pub/restaurant before leaving, but wasn't really asked about this when interviewed.

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

I'll put in a word for working during the season, if you can get a job (which is so much more difficult now, because of Brexit). I spent some years interviewing graduates for fast stream jobs in the civil service and I was impressed by how much some people had got out of their season working in the Alps. Most had worked for chalet companies, on an extremely steep learning curve, very busy, always under-resourced. Working hard and playing hard - and always as part of a team. Many had made friends for life. Just having "done a season" was not in any way a passport to a job though - it was astonishing how very unreflective some people were about their experience, how little they appeared to have learnt about themselves, working with others, what it was like to experience good - or bad - management.

You have time to acquire some relevant experience. My 15 year old grandson works Saturdays in a pub (mostly in the kitchen but also sometimes behind the bar, which is not even legal). I'm sure you are not spending every spare minute of your week working for your A levels. Having experience now of multi-tasking - using all the hours in your day - will come in handy. And even if you are genuinely working too hard at the exams to take some time out at weekends, the exams will be over in time for you to get some months work in. Write lots of letters to relevant companies. DON'T just send them a CV full of hype. Make it personal. And make it relevant to what the firm does.

One of my sons had several gap years and, after doing the first year of a degree in Sussex, he took a further year out (with the agreement of the Uni, obviously) and did a season in the Alps and six months working in Australia. So my final point is to say that if you can't get something fixed up this year (and you are right, you are very young and inexperienced) that doesn't mean you will miss out on the experience.

A snowHead

It perplexes me why we even call it a gap year. Why does it only have to be one year? Not that that is really relevant to this thread of course but hey ho.

I like Klamm Franzer's idea. Bust your back bottom off working now then ski with no issues next season for 90 days. If you pick up a job whilst there then great, if that's what you want to do.

A snowHead

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

You need to Login to know who's really who.

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

You'll need to Register first of course.

https://www.workaseason.com/

This was shared on a social account I follow yesterday. Haven't looked at the details but hope it helps.

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

After all it is free

@nixmap where are you. we have a victim ready and willing.
OP look up this guy he could be your answer

@Mother hucker, PMSL Toofy Grin

*Ski* the Net with snowHeads

snowHeads are a friendly bunch.

snow reports

You write well, @some skier guy. Sensible letters to relevant companies will be good. I was involved in a recruitment exercise for a job in our local sailing club recently - it was intensely annoying how many candidates sent a standard CV without making any attempt to look at the (detailed) job advert and sell their skills and experience - most of them went straight in the bin. All the candidates we short-listed for interview had written covering letters showing they'd given it a bit of thought.

Advice to go out in the summer is interesting - look for a job, see what's what. A daunting prospect - would take a lot of initiative and guts to do that - but there are hostels in some places (e.g. Chamonix, which is hugely busy in summer) which could keep living costs down. Or take tent.

You know it makes sense.

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

@davidof, 75 days is good going with a full time job. My season will finish on Wednesday and I’ll have managed 41 days with a full time job.

@some skier guy, don’t just rely on the big companies. Get emails sent off to loads of independents too. Have a look at Andorra - plenty of jobs for Brits in Pas and Arinsal you will need to get residency to work here but it’s possible to get a 6 month tourist job residency. How good is your skiing? Could you do qualify as an instructor?

A snowHead

I disagree with some of the advice on here suggesting that you're better off just going out there and not working in resort.

I know somebody a similar age to you who did exactly what you're thinking of and has had a great time this season. He works as a kitchen assistant in a hotel for one of the major UK operators. Job is basically dealing with the dirty dishes and helping out in the kitchen during breakfast and dinner service. Which means he is pretty much free most days between 11 - 5pm. Flights, accommodation and food all arranged and paid for. Plus they get a discount on season lift pass and equipment hire. And the pay is actually quite good, about 1000 euro a month, so as long as you don't go silly and spend it all on alcohol you should come home with a couple of grand in your bank account which might be handy for uni or whatever you plan on doing next. If you're working for one of the large operators you will also get that support if you need it should anything go wrong. e.g. the person I know got covid while he was there and had to isolate for 10 days but they made sure food was brought to him etc and that he was generally OK. You wouldn't get that if you were just on your own. Its nice to have that extra support especially at your age.

Suggest you try to get a job in the Uk over the summer/autumn in a hotel or restaurant gaining experience and apply early if you want a choice of resort.

The only issue might be Brexit/visa. If you're lucky enough to have dual EU nationality (e.g. Irish) that would help.

A snowHead

The discipline to manage the time effectively to fit in both work and skiing will be very valuable. I mean not just "look" good on the CV, but for all future life will throw at you!

Take all the advices offered:

- Get a job in the summer and save the money. It will also be useful work experiences to put on your CV to help you land a winter job in the hospitality industry.

- Look for a winter job that will allow you to ski during the day. You have the buffer to be a bit selective as you have the money saved from your summer job to let you stay there for a while without having to work right away or work at bad hours.

- Even in the worst case you don't get a job that allow you to ski much. Go out and have some good skiing for as long as your summer savings allow. Maybe you'll get lucky and find a job after you got there so you can stay the whole winter after all.

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

@some skier guy, don’t just rely on the big companies. Get emails sent off to loads of independents too. Have a look at Andorra - plenty of jobs for Brits in Pas and Arinsal you will need to get residency to work here but it’s possible to get a 6 month tourist job residency. How good is your skiing? Could you do qualify as an instructor?[/quote]

@hammerite It's harder to find the smaller companies... do u have any suggestions?

I also happened to go on a family ski holiday to Andorra a couple of weeks ago and it had good skiing... but I felt like I wanted to go to the Alps after 6 years of not being there. Resorts in the Alps are larger and have better après I think. I'll look into it tho.

With regard to being an instructor, I'm good at skiing but not instructor level. I would need to go on a course and get a qualification... which is costly so not a probable option.

You need to Login to know who's really who.

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

Bartending is the prime job in ski resorts so no reason they are going to give it to an 18 year old first timer unless you are a pretty girl ( yes sexism still rules in some jobs).

Why not NP - you probably can't afford to be too picky if you want the best chances?

You'll need to Register first of course.

@some skier guy, pick somewhere you want to work, research all the bars and send off some emails.

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

After all it is free

@some skier guy, try pm’ing @Mollerski, I think his kid(s) work(ed) at Pub Mont Fort in Verbier and maybe able to give you the inside track on whether it’s feasible to get a bar job. I tried to order a drink there in French and the barman couldn’t speak a word of French so not sure language is an issue!

*Ski* the Net with snowHeads

Yep, many regard NP as one of the best general resort jobs - you're likely to get more hours on the snow and end with more money in your pocket than your fellow seasonares doing 'day' jobs. The flip side (and reason you tend to end up with more money in your pocket) is that you miss out on a lot of the social side - you're working while your fellow seasonares are out spending faster than they are earning.

Help!!

Ski season in gap year

snowHeads Forum Index >>> The Piste