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Time for a real job?
Now BUSC is over, it’s just a matter of a few exams before summer – and for most of us that means having to find a job…
We asked Natives – the specialists in seasonal work – to give us their tips on finding a summer or ski job.
SUMMER JOBS
‘There is a huge variety of summer work available, relative to winter,’ explained Anne McClellan, Recruitment Manager for the Natives Jobs Network, ‘so it’s difficult to generalise.’
‘The key to remember in summer is that the season is long,’ Anne told us ‘so even if you aren’t available to start work in June, there will still be other jobs available from July or August onwards.’
Anne recommends job seekers check out ResortJobs.co.uk (www.resortjobs.co.uk), which not only allows you to apply online to employers, but has lots of useful background information about working summer seasons.
Jobs currently advertised on the site include:
• Rugby Tour Reps – For weekend trips with school groups
• Host/Child-carer – Villa company in the Algarve, Portugal
• Resort Rep – Customers from the fire brigade, based in Italy
• Activity Instructor – Instructing kids in motor sport, team sports, ICT
• Entertainer – The ‘life and soul of the party’ for guests in Greece/Spain
SKI JOBS
Surprisingly, many ski companies have started their recruitment for next winter season already.
Anne again: ‘Many of the larger tour operators run year round jobs on Natives (
www.natives.co.uk
), but to be honest, recruitment doesn’t start properly until late-May at the earliest’
The number of employers advertising reaches a peak in October, but Natives recommend applying well in advance of that. ‘Many of the best jobs are already allocated by the start of the autumn,’ advised Iain Martin, MD at Natives. ‘There are always jobs available, but most are for the skilled positions that are left, such as chalet cooks and chefs.’
Iain also recommends that job seekers think about extra qualifications, such as cookery courses, to increase their employability.
‘Lots of people have experience of bar work, but the reality is that there are simply not that many bar jobs in the Alps,’ Iain told us. ‘On the other hand, if you can cook well or speak fluent French, we can pretty much guarantee you a job’
Natives run their own cookery courses (that do guarantee a job), and the site includes details about courses as an instructor or ski/snowboard technician.
‘Starting off on the road to a season can be a daunting task,’ said Iain ‘but that’s where we come in. I warn you though – it’s highly addictive. I went for one season after a graduated, and six seasons later, I’m still working in the industry!’
Check out Natives at
www.natives.co.uk
, plus details about courses at:
Cookery courses:
www.natives.co.uk/skijobs/cookery
Instructor courses:
www.natives.co.uk/instructor
Ski Tech courses:
www.natives.co.uk/skitech
Job Workshops:
www.natives.co.uk/skijobs/workshops
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