Working in the Alps

Do you ever think about packing it all in and heading out to the Alps for a season? Maybe it’s the weather at home that’s getting you down, or perhaps one weeks skiing a year is simply just not enough! What if you’re just leaving school or uni and aren’t really sure what you want to do next?

For many people, doing a ski season has become the ultimate glamorous dream. 5 months spent in a spectacular mountain resort, skiing waist deep powder every day, riotous parties every night, tottie galore…….. Sounds like heaven, doesn’t it? And it is! However, there’s a bit more to the actual reality of doing a ski season than its glossy image will have you believe. For starters, most people need to get some sort of job when they’re here which will inevitably impinge on your powder skiing/Mutzig drinking/tottie grabbing time! Working in a ski resort can be very tough with long hours, demanding clients, notoriously bad pay and shared accommodation with people of very dubious personal hygiene standards. A paid holiday it is not! ... see "Doing a Ski Season in Courchevel" for more

Whilst some jobs require you to have specific qualifications or experience, for example, child care, chef, ski tech etc; all of them will require you to be enthusiastic and flexible. Employers in the Alps do realise that most people come out to make the most of the skiing, snowboarding and après opportunities in resort; however, they still expect you to take your responsibilities to them seriously and get on with the job at hand first and foremost.

It is worth taking some time to consider the different jobs that are available and deciding which one you feel you would be most suited to. Some pointers to think about are: ... see "Types of Jobs in Courchevel" for more

If you’re really keen to do a season but are either not sure exactly what you want to do or are unsure if you have the necessary skills and qualifications, then there are a number of different courses and training seminars available to help you on your way. Read on for more suggestions... ... see "Courchevel Job Courses & Qualifications" for more

If you’re serious about doing a season then you should get in early so that you can get the pick of the jobs. Most tour operators start recruiting as early as May/June for the following winter season and demand for positions is high. You can usually apply through the company’s website and will need to complete an application form either on-line or by post. Some companies will accept on spec CVs but you will generally need to fill out their own application form at some point so you may as well find out the correct procedure in the beginning.

Interviews are carried out throughout the summer months but jobs are offered out on a “first come, first served basis” so it is in your interest to try and see prospective employers as soon as possible. If you are successful and get offered the job you want, you may be asked to pay a commitment bond (approx. £100) to secure your offer. As it is quite normal for job seekers to “do the rounds” of tour operators, many companies adopt this policy as a safeguard that you will turn up at the start of season. However, the bond is usually fully refunded on the successful completion of the winter. ... see "Applying for Courchevel Jobs" for more

So you want to ski all season in the Alps but you’ve got a house in England, perhaps a family at school there too, commitments, bills to pay, letters to answer etc etc. You don’t understand ‘the French System’, French bank accounts, the French school system, Insurance and a million other daunting things. Most of all you don’t know where to go to find out about all those things that you don’t know.

As Donald Rumsfeld, the American Secretary of Defence once famously said about the Unknown… ... see "Doing a season in the Alps" for more