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Working at a ski town

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Mag
Posts: 8155 - Karma: 14,809
I'm planning on moving to somewhere in Europe for the 2013/14 season and I have quite a few questions and would appreciate some advice, I'm currently living in the UK and will be 18 by February.

First off I have never had a job working for an actual employer (although I'm going to try to get a job at a local outdoor/ski shop or my local mountain this year) would this make it very hard to get a job or not?(not necessarily for a ski job, just a job in general at a ski town.)

Secondly what sort of jobs would you guys recommend? Bare in mind that I haven't had a job before.
I wouldn't mind working nights and in fact I would prefer it. I've heard a lot of people just work in supermarkets, and It's something I've been considering, If you had any pros and cons of any jobs or just what jobs are a poor choice and what are good. I'm not looking for money, but It'd have to be enough to pay for accommodation and living.

Thirdly do you have any recommendations on where to go? I went to Alpe D'huez in France a few years ago and It was pretty great, everything about the town/village where we stayed I just thought was great, wasn't even that busy and that was February week. I'd like to go to France because I speak the language a little, and it's something I'd like to get better at, also the country in general has always appealed to me. Again any pros and cons of specific resorts, or if you feel I'm being too specific in choosing France please suggest other resorts in different countries.

Finally do you have any tips that would help me in getting a job abroad, if there's anything I can do within the next year to help me further my chances of employment let me know, and also is it really as hard as I hear to get a job working in a ski town? Any other information would be great if you think it would be useful.

Thanks
Jul 23 2012 9:58PM
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50Kal
Posts: 2828 - Karma: 5,373
One of the easiest jobs in the ski industry on a Mountain is a Lift operator. If you have the basic high school degree or European equivalent( not sure what that is) That is the most basic job on a mountain to get on. I work over in aspen,CO .we take are job semi-seriously At the mountain I work at so we get some respect from the other workers on the mountain. I Know most ski places hire stoners who sit inside all say and do nothing but give liftys a bad name.

If you have a decent amount of ski experience and can back it up with proof to an employer(part of a established skier group or club.) Then you could probably get a ski tech job or rental/retail job.  

Jul 24 2012 12:09AM
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Mag
Posts: 8155 - Karma: 14,809
Yeah working as a lifty appeals to me least as its such a lonesome monotonous job, id still do it, it's just it'd be my least choice, I thought about doing a ski tech course(because it's necessary to work in France with one) but if I didn't get a ski tech in itd end up having been a bit of a waste.
Jul 24 2012 11:11AM
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TheGnarwhal
Posts: 871 - Karma: 49
You won't get a lifty job in Europe, don't try.
In honesty the main jobs are bar work, chalet hosting (don't do this, it sucks), cleaning and driving. I used to do cleaning and it's great. It's only ever saturday and sunday and all you do is make beds and maybe scrub a few toilets.
Jul 24 2012 11:28AM
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Mag
Posts: 8155 - Karma: 14,809
Cleaning sounded good too haha, why wouldn't I get a lifty job? I can't do bar work because apparently they all are like 21, you need experience and it's really competitive, and yeah I didn't want to do chalet hosting really, It seems like it'll suck.
Jul 24 2012 11:37AM
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SurfaceHoar
Posts: 311 - Karma: 240
Remember to lie on your resume. Nobody wants to hire some kid that has never worked before. Make shit up.

Obviously you can't fake anything you don't know, Can't say you worked a cash register or worked with heavy equipment if you don't know what you are doing. Things like cleaning/general labor/volunteer work/ Academic awards are easy to fake and no one is going to call you out on it.

Just my 2cents,
Jul 24 2012 11:49AM
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Mag
Posts: 8155 - Karma: 14,809
Would they not ask for references?
Jul 24 2012 12:06PM
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COCKTOMUS_PRIME
Posts: 385 - Karma: 22
just put down your friends or family member i got a job as a ski instructor and the only prior experince i had was volunteer park crew and i work at a grocery store
Jul 24 2012 12:25PM
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Mag
Posts: 8155 - Karma: 14,809
Will they call up those people? I don't want to lie on it, I'd rather just try and get a job before then, or I'd I have to volunteer.
Jul 24 2012 3:07PM
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razors-chaz
Posts: 2255 - Karma: 1,250
i dont know if you have heard of this website or where you are looking at jobs but this site is a good start to finding a job and getting some info on things to do with working in a resort. http://www.natives.co.uk/
Jul 24 2012 5:58PM
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Mag
Posts: 8155 - Karma: 14,809
yeah I've seen natives, I'm just sort of looking for the sort of information you can't get on there, and also information outside of working for a british ski company.
Jul 25 2012 6:48PM
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YoungJah
Posts: 1106 - Karma: 66
The english have single-handedly ruined europe since the 90's.
Jul 25 2012 7:50PM
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Mag
Posts: 8155 - Karma: 14,809
Luckily I'm Scottish.
Jul 25 2012 7:56PM
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Mag
Posts: 8155 - Karma: 14,809
bump
Jul 28 2012 4:58PM
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TheGnarwhal
Posts: 871 - Karma: 49
People like you have single-handedly ruined europe since the 90's. Why can't we all just be nice and learn from eachother and be chill as cucumbers. Fuck it, let's grab a beer, we all love to ski, that should be enough.
Jul 28 2012 5:58PM
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