 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi snowheads, long time lurker here
I hope you might foster some hope and advice here. and I will also keep updating this thread about my progress!
TLDR, 41yo, limited skiing wants to spend coming winter in French Alps, have Irish passport, ideally not cooking
I have read
https://snowheads.com/ski-forum/viewtopic.php?p=5543509&highlight=season+job#5543509
https://snowheads.com/ski-forum/viewtopic.php?p=5544255&highlight=season+job#5544255
I also think my situation is a bit different (age and ski ability/desire)
I am committed to leaving job and leaving my home with a lodger for the winter. (social work, I am done, work know it is the plan). I want to be in snowy mountains, improve my skiing and have an adventure.
I am 41 woman, leaving working as an emergency social worker (lots of logistics, planning, lone working, I am the sole social worker overnight covering emergencies for childrens, adults and mental health for a local authority, so I can make decisions, plan ahead and sort out problems). I manage a couple of staff, work 16 hour shifts. I worked in mental health for ten years before this. I am suggesting I have life and job experience. And that I can get on with things.
Ive also lived out of my van for a year, and have lived in Scottish highlands and winter driving in a medium wheel base Sprinter, without winter tyres - it is slow!
I've done a carpentry course, I'm practical.
I have run mountain bike clubs for children, I have my summer mountain leader, and I am not after being an instructor! I am a new skier - which I hope someone might understand. I love being in the hills in the snow, ice axe and crampons are relatively a cheap way to get up there when based in Inverness- skiing is not. I have come to it later in life, born in London and 6 years ago my mind was blow open (biking the Highland Trail, 550 miles in the highlands, and I crept up there more and more and then moved, and then discovered more and more snow!)
I have snowboarded a few weeks but realised that skiiing is probably the way forward (touring in Scotland.... just easier/cheaper not splitboarding). Very honestly, I learned the basics at Milton Keynes, had a steep learning curve skiing at Courmayer with friends (reds are Ok enough) and have a UCPA week booked April in Tignes (I did a snowboarding week in Serre Chevalier with the before).
I think there may be options, driver or logistics?
My heart does not lie in cooking (and I dont have boatloads of cash behind me to fund a course). The plan is my home takes care of itself, and I get a job that gives me enough to get by on.
Due to my age, I would ideally like a room to myself in shared accommodation. is this bonkers to dream of?
Ah yes, and language. I have been trying to top up my basic French with some Preply lessons for about a year. I could be understood and I can understand more. So I thought France, but open to suggestions.
I am not from a skiing family, I fell in with a group of cyclists that happen to ski (who took me family homes in Courmayer and to Leinzerheide (boarding), and my Scottish pals are practical and avid outdoorists but not got the cash to go to the Alps. So I am reading what i can to find out more, and here asking for any tips, advice, things to avoid
I am keen to update here on how I get on, and what I learn getting there
Thank 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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Hey, great thread. Did seasons in Morzine and Val d'Isere and can say age is genuinely not an issue. Loads of people doing their first season later in life, especially in roles like logistics, driving, and resort ops where life experience is actually an advantage over an 18 year old. In Morzine had a lovely rep in his 40s who fancied a change from landscape design for the winter.
With your background in social work and managing people, chalet hosting for a smaller independent company could work really well. You wouldn't necessarily be cooking (they often have a separate chef) but you'd be running the chalet, managing guests, and potentially doing airport transfers. Your van life and carpentry skills are a bonus too.
Driver roles are definitely out there, especially airport transfer companies (they're very spenny so always kinda assumed you might be able to make more just self advertising these). Basic French is enough for most resort jobs (I didn't even have that).
For finding roles, great you're already signed up on PeakWave (peakwave.co) with your availability and the kinds of roles you're interested in. Employers can find you directly rather than you having to trawl through postings. That said, the other means to find work are to apply directly to the larger operators (like total ski, crystal, inghams...) or click on job postings on natives or the individual resort job pages. Facebook groups for each resort are also really active.
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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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Great, thanks for the positive response and great to hear that reality is similar to what I optimistically inferred from the internet.
I've got a bit of internet work and profile writing to do 
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Sounds great. I'd probably employ you on that CV if I had any capacity to offer jobs with work permits.
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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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@meegle, You seem to be on the right track and recognise that this is a lifestyle choice and not a money making opportunity. Most seasonal roles will cover your living costs but not much more, especially if they come with accommodation. Companies almost always seek more mature candidates for their Resort Reps. The UK companies that operate in our area are mainly staffed by ladies with a similar demograpic. I'd probably choose to avoid driving jobs as the hours can be really tiring (think of those god awful early starts in the dark). I seem to recall that some of the UK companies always advertise for Handymen/women/whatever most years too. Your timing is spot on, its about now that the UK companies begin to advertise for next season, with interviews/training around May.
Have a look at Colletts. Nothing up for next season yet, but they might be worth approaching with your CV. https://www.colletts.co.uk/work/
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@meegle, I haven't got any useful advice, because my decision to take a similar career break was too long ago (and my skill set was different from - and a lot less comprehensive than! - yours). Just wanted to say, absolutely go for it! I didn't become a good skier during my season, but the bug was irrevocably lodged in my system!
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@meegle, I took a sabbatical when I was 40 and worked a season in a chalet -now 20 years ago (eek!). I was, and still am, a family lawyer specialising in care proceedings so I have a keen understanding of what you have to put up with professionally!
Driving jobs- yes- I know of at least local chalet company here in St Martin who has drivers- so that’s definitely an option.
Have you considered bar work? Again I can think of at least one bar here, run by Brits, who need about 3 staff each season..and limited French skills wouldn’t be a problem given the general demographic of their customers.
Whether you would get a room of your own is probably a matter of luck. I’d hazard that businesses who want more mature staff may be more likely to offer it,but sourcing staff accommodation is a nightmare for local businesses in the winter.
Feel free to PM message me about any of the above.
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Do they have such things as resort reps these days? That's what I did, which meant that I was intermittently busy, but not doing cooking or cleaning, unless standing in for sick chalet staff. And I couldn't ski at all on transfer day, as I was doing the airport run. Although I had fluent French, just about the only time I used my French (in a resort much favoured by the English) was chatting to my coach drivers on transfer day.
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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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| Quote: |
Do they have such things as resort reps these days?
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Sorry, I see that
@RedandWhiteFlachau answered that question above.
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@meegle,
Given the threads you've looked at you'll (presumably) have read the post I did for the Aussies on working in the European ski resorts.
Room to yourself would be difficult, but not impossible, if working for a UK tour operator - it would depend on how much they wanted you. But the EU passport is a big advantage.
Don't worry about your age, everyone doing a season is '21 & single' (not!). But I'd advise initially looking at the higher end TOs, and those that run large chalets or chalet-hotels, to avoid jobs involving cooking. There are plenty of jobs such as receptionist, bar staff, waiting staff, room cleaner, dish washer etc. I'd advise avoiding jobs such as resort rep/manager or transfer rep for your 1st season - too much stress & too little time on the mountains! 
And you are in Tignes next month - plenty of jobs in bars, restaurants & ski hire shops there if you go around & sell yourself for next season (use the free buses to get around the villages). But finding season long accommodation can be a problem if it doesn't come with the job. Ask on the Tignes thread in the Snow Reports forum for job & accommodation leads!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Oof, I can see I wrote that post in-between night shifts - I'm glad between the typos it was intelligible!
@Dave of the Marmottes, - I've got an EU passport... any more thoughts?
@RedandWhiteFlachau, thanks for this, Collets looks good too
@KSH, EXACTLY this, not one person has said they regret it. And I can't get worse, surely!
@Perty, thanks, that is all very interesting. And that do you do that from St Martin?? Sadly my council system won't work from abroad!
I did do bar work many years ago…. I'll PM you this week when I'm off nights and the cogs will turn more smoothly
@Kenzie, thats great specific advice about the higher end and what to target and to get out and have a look in Tignes. And perhaps my first time in a big resort. A few years ago I mountain biked from Chamonix to Nice, and riding via Val d’Isere… thinking how different it would be in Winter
Much of this suggests piecing together job and accommodation, rather than an all-inclusive job/bed/pass.
I'd be interested in thoughts around that - does it still exist, are they the minority, or do those jobs own more of you? tbh I'm quite expecting to have quite a lot of work to cover, especially the learning at the start
And wherever someone said you don't do drive jobs, that's also handy as I had considered getting my D licence (as handy for outdoors instructing too) but I think I’ll save that cash for a ski pass potentially!
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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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@meegle, think about what you really want from a season, and why you need a break.
If you want to get away from 'people and their problems', then chalet / rep jobs are not the way to go - but if you love people and are just fed-up with the social work aspects then they may be.
How much do you want to ski? Every (fine) day, or is it just to be in the mountains? And downhill / cross-country / touring? Some jobs are mainly early morning/ evening, leaving your free time during the day; others more the opposite. Some countries / resorts are better for different types of skiing.
Do you want to live IN a resort, so you wake up to snowy mountains every day? Or be happy with cheaper accommodation in say a valley town and drive up to a resort every day? (Would you plan to even take a car?)
These sort of questions will help narrow down what you will be happy with.
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@meegle, you sound like you have the right mindset... suspect you'll enjoy whatever you end up doing. Probably worth talking to the bigger TO's (Crystal, Inghams), see what they're offering,(esp wrt accomodation, job type etc) and what they want... (actual hours, responsibilities)... I think they'd be very keen to sign you up. If you're ok to be a 'mother hen' to some of the younger seasonnaires, you'd walk it!
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You know it makes sense.
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@hamilton, agreed
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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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@meegle,
Some further thoughts - some TOs that I believe to still run chalet-hotels:- Ski Miquel, YSE, Mark Warner no doubt there are others. Le Ski also have a role of Resort Support, which may suit your needs.
If you are looking to work for a resort based business Tignes is a good place to start, having plenty of British owned bars and bar-restaurants - but be aware some owners have more than one, so no need to be dropping off your CV & covering letter multiple times with them. Try to pass them to the owner & have a chat with same over what you are looking for work & accommodation wise. Make sure they are aware you are looking for season 26/27! A request for advice/information to the Tignes based snowheads re bars and ownership?
Check out Tignes Spirit in Lavachete - a British owned hire shop who employ people for admin type roles - and tignes.co.uk for season long apartment rentals
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Poster: A snowHead
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One of the reasons I chose a resort, apart from a language I turned out scarcely to need, was its relative proximity to the airport - I don't like endless coach rides.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@meegle, Teacher here, after weathering several residential trips I reckon I could road manage rock bands… With your CV, you’ll be bombproof!
There’s a Morzine Crew Facebook page that people seem to use to put the feelers out about jobs & accommodation, could be worth a look.
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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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| MotownJunk wrote: |
| @meegle, Teacher here, after weathering several residential trips I reckon I could road manage rock bands… |
Until you transfer rep a snowmagedon.
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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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@Kenzie  Yeah, that’s when you need to level up
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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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Ha, oof I'm not jealous of teachers - I always think they have to do everything, teacher, parent and social worker!! Give me a mental health crisis any day!
This is all very handy and questions to ponder. I chose and stayed in my current role to have a hugely beneficial work/life balance. So I think the ability to get out regularly/be in resort is a thing for me. At the moment piste is plenty for me.
Also after years of working in the public sector, working for a big tour operator company with accommodation, maybe a pass, maybe some food, numerous colleagues and potentially option to cheap rentals - that inclusivity and financial inclusivity appeals.
Also kit? I think boots are on the list for me (to get a fit soonish but likely buy off season) - and work out skis/season rental when I'm there - any thoughts on that
Off to Milton Keynes tomorrow! for a top up before Tignes in a few weeks. Thanks all (I have forgotten how to tag people) for the facebook, SH and face to face suggestions, things to get on with too
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@meegle, with regards to kit, I would wait until you have secured a post somewhere, as in a lot of cases (with T/O’s anyway) kit hire for the season is included, I found this out to my cost donkeys years ago when I bought new boots and skis just before heading out for my seasons.
Boots I used, but skis stayed wrapped up for a season while I used the hire ones, especially at start and end of a season, when you may need “rock hoppers”
Plus they were serviced regularly free of charge
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great to know thanks Terry
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FAQ
