Job availability in the winter

Yackisback

Yackisback

Member
I've been thinking about taking a gap year in college, because I haven't been able to ski for a couple of years now (more or less). I was wondering to any of you that live in Colorado, Utah, Montana, Washington, or Oregon, how easy is it to acquire a job at a mountain resort in the winter? It doesn't matter what it is, I simply want to know how easy it is to score a job because I live on the East Coast and have no clue how jobs out West work on mountains. Any help or info would be much appreciated
 
I heard, not from personal experience, that it's relatively easy to get a job at Park City.
 
I've never worked out west but it def depends on the job you want and if you have any prior experience. If you have some experience on the east coast that will help you. If you don't it might not be a bad idea to work here while you're in high school. Also if you work at a mountain, make sure to kill it even if it isn't your dream job. Good references and job experience go a long way.

 
Curiously, why no California/Nevada?

Do you have any experience as a waiter or cook or bartender?

Those are all good jobs.

Experience in cusotmer service? You can work front desk at a hotel/resort.

Could deliver pizza etc. Generally if you are a motivated, smart young person who obviously has his shit together you should have no problem finding a job if you start contacting places in late summer, early fall.

Can you move to the new area during the summer? Industry is usually booming in mtn towns during the summer. I know that Tahoe's busy season is the summer, so getting a good job and being a good, reliable employee during the summer will likely lead to you being retained for the dead winter season.
 
and dont get a job at a mountain. you will have to worrk during the day and being comped for a $300 pass in exchange for not being able to ski 4 days out of the week is not a good trade.

get a job off the hill were you work evenings.
 
why not get a mountain job with a shift that starts at noon so you get the first few hours of the best snow of the day regardless? that way you still don't have to buy a pass, potential free food (if you work in the lodge, or schmooze cashiers), and you still get to ski everyday.

just be ready to have some eskimo bro's and you'll be fine.
 
exactly what mountain jobs have a shift that starts at noon...? haha

Unless of course you mean a job at a restaurant that is affiliated with the mountain to get a free pass. Although that's really only common for vail resorts places. I doubt it'd be as easy at smaller ski areas...
 
There are a lot of food service jobs that start around 11am/noon at a number of mountains (lunch rushes, closing shifts, etc).

I've worked 11am/noon shifts at multiple places from corporate resorts to mom and pop outfits including Steamboat, CO and Mt Baker, WA. They are out there you just have to be willing to take a shitty food service job, and not be lazy about it.
 
Do this. work at some restaurant bussing/serving/bartending to gain experience.

then start applying for jobs in september, which is usually when they start posting them on their websites. ideally, work nights at restaurants affiliated with the resorts to get a free pass and free food. cooking at night isn't bad, but front of house is ideal. buying a pass beforehand is a good backup in case you can't find a job on mountain; if you do, they'll comp it for you once hired. finding super part-time work for a pass is another possibility. work in the ritziest place you can, a lot of the time it sucks, but if you're in the right place the money is usually worth it.

if it comes down to it a job is a job and if you really wanna ski you'll make it happen. but if you get out here in fall with some money and good work experience you shouldn't have much of an issue getting at least a foot in the door. I've seen some straight-up fools hired for jobs 95% of people would've been better suited for.
 
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