For winter sports enthusiasts, working at a ski resort has many benefits. Here are the nicest jobs at a winter resort.
The snow has come, to the delight of the ski resorts… and of the instructors, who can begin their work.
“The recruitment period begins in October,” explains Réal Lapointe, human resources advisor at the Association des stations de ski du Québec. “Since there are many vacant positions, you have to begin early to have the time to interview candidates and give them the necessary training.”
In both good years and bad years, this sector creates between 11,000 and 13,000 direct jobs. “With the exception of management positions, which are permanent jobs, ski resorts need operations staff from September to April… if Mother Nature agrees!,” Réal Lapointe says.
The vast majority of ski instructors are actually students. “Some of them come back every year. These are young people who are passionate about winter. The greatest benefit of this work, in addition to sharing your passion for the sport, is of course being able to enjoy the slopes between ski lessons,” points out Réal Lapointe.
With its 500 instructors, Ski Saint-Bruno in Montérégie is the largest ski school in Canada. “Saint-Sauveur peak, in the Laurentians, has close to 800 instructors, but they are distributed over five ski resorts,” adds the human resources consultant.
Trades in the shade
Instructors are not the only jobs at ski resorts. “Too frequently the mechanics, lift operators, groomers and snow machine operators are overlooked. These people are artists. They are the ones preparing the slopes. These employees are not always obvious, because many of them have night shifts. But without them the ski resort would not be able to operate,” points out Réal Lapointe.
There are also patrollers who are ready to respond to an incident. “Although some positions required recognized certifications, there is always a way to start as a parking attendant or at the ski rental and repair shop, and then train and get to the top,” concludes Réal Lapointe.