 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi- Eldest son has just graduated from Uni and is waiting to complete selection for various proper jobs. Meanwhile he wants to do a ski season. Thanks to the gullibility of his father he's done a lot of skiing and is a very good telemarker, i.e has competed in a FIS World Cup. He has good language skills including French (spent a year of his engineering degree in France) also some Russian and a bit of Japanese, he's about to go to Japan to cycle for three months. Thanks to his grandmother he has UK and Irish citizenship. He wants to mostly ski tour.
Just about to have interviews with Crystal, Nielson (Europe) and Club Med (Japan).
He has no idea what jobs might suit him best. Nor where to go. I'd think Japan with Club Med would be amazing- but do the staff there get much free time / skiing. It seems that they have to help entertain the guests at night (no- not like that), but he also believes that the staff eat with the guests and he likes his grub.
Do the likes of Crystal etc give you a choice of where to go- he'd not be that happy with a really small place / out of the way, limited options to tour.
Like everyone he wants to know 'what's the best job to get the most skiing for the least work'? My suggestion was for him to do online tutoring for A-level students in the evenings! I think he'd make a fortune.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@ed123, he doesn't have to just apply for big companies. If I tries to come up with a location he fancies, then find bars etc in the village, look for facebook groups, and he'll find a job no problem.
Best job for skiing is to not work! 2nd best job would be in a bar from 4pm onwards sort of set up.
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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?
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@ed123, Jnr instructs so manages to ski and get paid all season. His mates who seem to work and ski a lot nearly all work in bars - daytime skiing/evening working. His other mates in resort don’t seem to get much time for skiing although he doesn’t work anywhere where there are tour operator chalet staff, only reps.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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I've PMd you but will answer here as well
Does he want to put his skiing skills to use? Does he have qualifications?
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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@ed123,
Good French. EU passport.
Choose a French resort & apply to British owned businesses there.
Jobs with plenty of mountain time:- nightclub staff. Bar/restaurant staff where place opens 3/4 pm. Weekend staff at kit hire shop.
Go for a resort with a long season to increase mountain time (some resorts can have a surprisingly short season).
Put himself on Facebook groups eg Tignes Seasonnaires 2024.
With a large UK tour operator the chances of choosing a country, never mind a resort, are slim for your 1st season. Avoid Club Med - too much of his time will be interacting with punters. Far better to have minimum punter facetime- by the end of the season he'll hate punters, no matter which TO he works for. 
What relevant work skills does he have?
Last edited by Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do. on Fri 26-07-24 20:17; edited 1 time in total
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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With an eu passport one is laughing all the way to the ski lift these days if one wants to work a season.
Some of the tour ops still run chalets or need reps... both jobs with plenty of ski time... great way to do a first season as everything is taken care of ... flights, accom, work, colleagues.... but you might not get a resort you want, especially first season, not to say that not going to a big well known resort is the end of the world... the smaller ones can also be great if you happen to meet the right people, but as someone else mentioned some places are getting shorter seasons.
Else pick a resort and find a job there, many do this in the popular resorts.... best job imo... evening dishy in a restaurant... ski all day and still time for a beer after work !
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@Kenzie, ‘relevant work skills’. Hummmm.
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The key is the EU passport which means he can work anywhere in the Alps, and with language skills as well employers will be biting his hand off.
My advice is to stay well away from the British Tour Operators, who will squeeze every ounce of energy from him for very little reward. As others have already said, the ideal jobs are the afternoon/evening jobs - server, dishpig, barman etc. working something like 4pm until midnight - so if he gets himself out of bed he can ski for most of the day. He should also be able to get staff accommodation. If he also speaks some German, most hotel and bar jobs in Austria come with decent staff accommodation and good wages.
Or he could instruct - take the Austrian Anwarter course on Kitzsteinhorn in early December and spend the rest of the season on skis. Apart from Christmas/New Year and February half-term, both of which are insanely busy, there is usually time in January and March for a few days off each week to go and do your own thing.
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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.
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@ed123, "It seems that they have to help entertain the guests at night (no- not like that)"
Hmmm, when I did my seasons, yes, it was exactly like that 
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| ed123 wrote: |
| @Kenzie, ‘relevant work skills’. Hummmm. |
One feature of working ski seasons is that one of the (if not THE) busiest periods is early - Xmas & NY. For some jobs Xmas week can actually be the first week with guests. Therefore little or no time to learn on the job.
What type of roles is he applying for with the TOs?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@ed123, If he is offered a role at all, be thankfull. There are always way more applicants than vacancies so if he is offered. he's doing well & don't be 'picky'
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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.
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Send him over to Nz. Easy to do a season on a working holiday visa if he’s under 30. Best bit is it’s in Uk summer, so can do back to back or get euro winter off or whatever
Instructor quals would make it easy, but hospitality or admin work is also easy with good English and half a brain.
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You know it makes sense.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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@ed123, What kind of engineering is his degree in and does he want to use it longer term?
There are small and medium firms all along the Arve valley, I think davidof will know the job situation for Grenoble and maybe Lyon.
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Poster: A snowHead
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@ed123,
Season jobs can broadly be split into two types:-
1) UK tour operator. These roles usually provide some or all of:- transfer to & from resort, accommodation, food, insurance, lift pass, kit hire, staff uniform and some money.
2) Local business. The money would be much better, but the other things above would probably not be part of the package, though it depends on the role & employer.
With an EU passport and ability in French he should concentrate on tour operators who specialize in French resorts, as not needing a working visa would be a huge advantage in their eyes.
If going down the local business route he should be aware that finding accommodation (if not offered with the job) can be a major problem.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Last season I know one restaurant in Cham was offering €1,600net+accom+3square meals for a plongeur.
Long late hours mind you.
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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?
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@rjs, the engineering job market is a bit tighter than just after covid but it should still be possible to find work. Linkedin is probably the best bet.
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The popular Goasstall Bar in Hinterglemm is offering €2,000 net per month, plus accommodation and food and a share of the tips, for an "Abwasher" - i.e. plongeur/washer-up. The rate for experienced bar and kitchen staff is €2,300 - €2,400 net plus the extras. Health insurance is also included. Resort staff pay a reduced rate for a season ski pass. No need to rent skis etc. - over a season it's cheaper to buy (and a friendly shop might well sell a full set of last season's ex-rental kit for less than €300).
So that just leaves the flights and transfer (£200-ish?) and winter sports insurance (£50 with Austrian Alpine Club) to fund.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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| under a new name wrote: |
Last season I know one restaurant in Cham was offering €1,600net+accom+3square meals for a plongeur.
Long late hours mind you. |
Christ
Where do I sign up?
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@Mike Pow, desperate shortage of seasonal staff.
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| under a new name wrote: |
| @Mike Pow, desperate shortage of seasonal staff. |
EU right of work though?
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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.
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That's an unbelievable piece of work
Chapeau
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@Mike Pow, yeah. I know one uk based girl who got a bar job with a visa but many employers can't be bothered with the admin.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| quinton wrote: |
The popular Goasstall Bar in Hinterglemm is offering €2,000 net per month, plus accommodation and food and a share of the tips, for an "Abwasher" - i.e. plongeur/washer-up. The rate for experienced bar and kitchen staff is €2,300 - €2,400 net plus the extras. Health insurance is also included. Resort staff pay a reduced rate for a season ski pass. No need to rent skis etc. - over a season it's cheaper to buy (and a friendly shop might well sell a full set of last season's ex-rental kit for less than €300).
So that just leaves the flights and transfer (£200-ish?) and winter sports insurance (£50 with Austrian Alpine Club) to fund. |
Wow, they really are! https://www.goasstall.com
That's a great deal for anyone who can speak good enough German. By the time you factor the value of everything in that's probably around €5k netto/month, but even the base rate is significantly more than most of the ski instructors will be earning there. I think it was around ~€1k/month when I was instructing in Saalbach, though admittedly that was 10 years ago now.
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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.
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| swskier wrote: |
https://www.tignes-spirit.com/news/story/379?fbclid=IwY2xjawESAsxleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHaMc7ipY1z_Vxu6lS5Tp6WlKrcqGyNN-Yg7EQs8C1XI14yQxuOhgdU2FZA_aem_vAFgN62gl40o89HshuOK-Q
Here's an example of a role they could look at |
Saw this today on Facebook group page - see accommodation is still the problem:-
"Hey guys, I’m looking for accom in Lavachet for next season.
I’ll be working at Tignes Spirit.
I’m 24 and am keen to keep the place in decent nick, so would be good to live with people similar in that regard.
Let me know if you or anyone you know might be looking for flatmates/have space."
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@clarky999, The evahotel on the main street in Saalbach is advertising for an Abwascher for the winter season. OK, it's a full-time job so not too much time for skiing, but the advertised wage .... "2.489,62 EUR brutto pro Monat auf Basis Vollzeitbeschäftigung" (plus room and meals and extra payment for overtime).
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You know it makes sense.
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@clarky999, instructing isn't much more than that now! In Mayrhofen I was offered €16 p/h brutto to do some weekend work as a L2. The OH worked with some instructors during Snowbombing who were taking home around the €1200 per month.
In the restaurant the OH was in it was c.€1900 netto plus tips, so probably around the €2500 mark most months.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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| quinton wrote: |
| @clarky999, The evahotel on the main street in Saalbach is advertising for an Abwascher for the winter season. OK, it's a full-time job so not too much time for skiing, but the advertised wage .... "2.489,62 EUR brutto pro Monat auf Basis Vollzeitbeschäftigung" (plus room and meals and extra payment for overtime). |
That's €1856 netto, so definitely better off going up the valley to the Goassstall!
swskier yeah didn't think the instructing rate would have changed too much haha! Cool uniforms though 
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Poster: A snowHead
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@rjs, aerospace / nuclear. He's applying to join the forces mind you.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| under a new name wrote: |
@ed123, "It seems that they have to help entertain the guests at night (no- not like that)"
Hmmm, when I did my seasons, yes, it was exactly like that |
naughty boy
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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?
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| quinton wrote: |
So that just leaves the flights and transfer (£200-ish?) and winter sports insurance (£50 with Austrian Alpine Club) to fund. |
I think AAC insurance only covers trips of 8 weeks or less- although is it diffreent in Austria?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Apparently Club Med also have a job as a sommelier.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@ed123,
Should have added, if he tries the 'choose a resort(s) he fancies & apply to local (especially Brit owned, pimping that EU passport) businesses' then his asking on the revelant resort threads in the Snow Reports forum may get him leads.
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@swskier, Your local ski school was pulling your leg. Job ads for the coming season are offering new Anwarters €1,600 - €1,700 a month (gross) or €20 an hour. L2/Landes 1 and above can command more, as can the experienced and popular instructors who return year after year.
@ed123, Membership of the local AAC branch (in Austria) is annual cover for alpine activities. Alternatively, for about the same fee the local ski club membership also provides winter sports cover.
Anyone with an EU passport, language skills and half a brain should be able to get a better job, more skiing time and earn much more than they would if they worked for a UK Tour Operator - although the TOs have also been forced to up their game in terms of accommodation, wages and conditions since Brexit. The available pool of labour has shrunk considerably (e.g. Inghams are stating that ALL their European jobs require an EU passport or the right to work in the EU) so the days of TOs paying gap-yah reps £80 a week plus a shitty shared room seem thankfully to have gone.
@Kenzie, wrote their guide for an Australian website. Ironically, young Australians can get a Working Holiday Visa to work in Austria - so they are better placed to find work in Austria than young Brits are.
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@quinton, a L2 is recognised as an Anwärter no? Anyway, I didn't do the work as it happens due to visa restrictions, but still, a lot more money to be made on the mountain not teaching. From what i've heard from locals I race trained with last season there's no increase in pay from Landeslehrer to Diplomskilehrer.
Anyway, kind of besides the point for the OP, albeit interesting to know.
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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.
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| quinton wrote: |
The available pool of labour has shrunk considerably (e.g. Inghams are stating that ALL their European jobs require an EU passport or the right to work in the EU) so the days of TOs paying gap-yah reps £80 a week plus a shitty shared room seem thankfully to have gone.
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So one of the many Brexit benefits, I'll get on the phone to Nigel, Jacob and Gerry immediately. I see a letter to The Telegraph.
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| quinton wrote: |
so the days of TOs paying gap-yah reps £80 a week plus a shitty shared room seem thankfully to have gone.
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I had 2 fantastic seasons on £40 a week (plus tips) although I had my own room. Tips not insignificant, had a ball, bought new boots twice and skis once, cme home with more money than I went out with. (it was late 80s early 90s though). But it was not necessarily a hideous employment model.
I skied 5-6 days a week (albeit usually 5 days with guests, but most were a lot of fun and quite a few could ski pretty well)
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FAQ
