 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi everyone,
So I have had my ski holiday for the year (3rd time skiing) ... in which my skiing came on leaps and bounds to the point that I feel I could confidently tick that box of annoyance that held me back last year "could confident escort a group of guests down red runs" .... so is 2011/12 finally the year to make the leap, take a career break and become a ski rep / chalet host extraordinaire?
I read War and Piste whilst on holiday, which was an excellent book .... so I want to meet my own Swedish friends and ski in to swimming pools lol!
Just wanted to get advice on when to start looking/applying for positions ... I know Natives have got a jobs fair in October .. but that seems awfully late?
I am also looking to sign up to one of Natives' cooking courses this summer, as it seems like a great thing to do to help stand out from the crowd. Has anyone done one of these courses? ... did it prove useful?
Sorry about all the questions, just don't want to have overlooked something and have to put it off for another year!
Hoping to get out on the slopes again late March .... haven't been skiing long ... but absolutely love everything about it!
Any comments / advice would be much welcomed.
Cheers
Al 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Hi! I'm in the exact same position and posted a very similar post not long ago!
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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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| Millie10 wrote: |
| Hi! I'm in the exact same position and posted a very similar post not long ago! |
haha, I have just noticed your thread, so am reading through it now - lots of useful information!
Although if it's true about needing to speak a foreign language, it looks like I might have to start brushing up on my German!
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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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I don't speak any foreign languages either unless you count welsh but that's hardly going to help me!!
Do you mind me asking how old you are and if you are giving up a full time job to do a season?
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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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lol - you might have a point there ... although when I went on holiday in January .. only 1 of the reps spoke german to a high standard, so I'm not sure quite how important it is!
No I don't mind at all ... I'm 23 and am currently in full time work , but hoping I might be able to do a season as a career break rather than ditching my job completely, at least it leaves my options open then when I get back. I haven't explored the career break option with my employers yet though.
How about you? I know you mentioned trying to do a career break 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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I have a meeting with my boss in the next few weeks about a career break! I'm 25 and work full time as a physiotherapist.
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Well I hope it goes well - nice to know you have a job waiting for you when you get back.
Will you only be going if they agree to it, or may you still consider it even if they don't allow you take it as a career break? ... although I can't think why they wouldn't, what a great reason to take one!
I know a lot of people make it out to be hell ... and I'm sure it is really hard work at times, but still, it has to be an amazing experience and I bet it opens up a lot of opportunities too.
Officially can't wait ... although I must work on my cooking before then.
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| Ski_AL wrote: |
I am also looking to sign up to one of Natives' cooking courses this summer, as it seems like a great thing to do to help stand out from the crowd. Has anyone done one of these courses? ... did it prove useful?
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Last autumn my 18 year old daughter did a Natives Cookery Course. A couple of TO bods interviewed on the last day of the course. On the way home she was offered a job. She has been running a chalet for 6 in VT since early December. She had little experience of cooking beforehand and can't speak a foreign language.
So, it worked for her!
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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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The best advice is apply early. and keep applying.
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:[/quote]
Last autumn my 18 year old daughter did a Natives Cookery Course. A couple of TO bods interviewed on the last day of the course. On the way home she was offered a job. She has been running a chalet for 6 in VT since early December. She had little experience of cooking beforehand and can't speak a foreign language.
So, it worked for her![/quote]
Thanks for the reply!
If that is the case it definitely seems worthwhile! .... the only reason I was slightly reluctant is because the courses seem to be July/August .. and I have read on other posts that you need to start applying April/May ... so I wasn't sure how useful it would prove to be ... but I guess I can still mention it in interviews and if there is a chance I may get an interview at the end of the course, ever better!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| nixmap wrote: |
| The best advice is apply early. and keep applying. |
Thanks , I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for the vacancies to start popping up again and make sure I'm getting my application in early.
As far as who to apply for, is it best to stick to the main TO's or would it be worth looking for some of the smaller family run companies too?
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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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Ski_AL, you do not need to speak a foreign language. As I already pointed out about four times on the other thread.
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is it best to stick to the main TO's or would it be worth looking for some of the smaller family run companies too?
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Other way round - prioritise the small ones. Assuming you like to be treated like a human being, at any rate.
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If youre over 25 and are a confident driver its worth looking at resort driver jobs for TOs, small ones are better. When I was working in Tignes our driver never seemed to do much. I have a mate who works in Meribel this season as a driver, he does airport runs and dropping people off in resort, ski school ect , however its a ski in ski out chalet. Other than that he lights the fire at night and turns the hot tub on. Tough job.
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