by Kim Ruehl, PayScale.com
Considering the recent economic turbulence, you might have given up on a winter getaway this year. Who can afford the time off work, much less the high price of flights, hotels, and rental cars? Hang on, snow lover! There is a golden path to free lift tickets! Why not work for a season at your favorite ski resort?
Whether you'd like an easy job that lets you ski most days or you're actually looking for career advancement, there are plenty of options for getting away this winter without breaking the bank. Check out these two success stories for some inspiration.
Hard-Core Ski Nut
Does the sight of fresh powder sailing past your goggles make you come alive? Well, you should consider following the tracks of Jeremy Milo. A Stanford University grad planning to get an MBA, Milo decided to take a break before business school and work ski patrol at North Star ski resort near Lake Tahoe. Now working for Google, Milo wistfully recalls the joys and challenges he experienced during that awesome winter.
Great friends. Milo especially enjoyed the interesting folks he met from around the world. He says, "A lot of the people would be seasonal then go to South America or Australia to work during winter there. It was a very international crew."
Paid with perks. Just how much is that season's ski pass worth to you? Hopefully, a lot -- since you're unlikely to find a high-paying seasonal gig outside of waitressing and bartending. Milo recalls making barely more than $8/hour in 2001. But, for him, it wasn't about the paycheck; it was about more moguls. Plus, he says that resorts often work together so that you can ski for free on nearby mountains and trails. This is a great advantage, Milo says, because "sometimes skiing where you work is the last thing you want to do on your day off."
Physically demanding. Whether you drive a snow plow, stand at the lifts all day, or fit ski rentals, mountain gigs can be hard work for your body. If your current job has you sitting at a desk all day, some physical activity might come as a welcome relief. Ski patrol is an extreme example of that, says Milo: "You're an ambulance on skis out there. You feel like you worked hard at the end of day."
Spa Bunny
Maybe you'd like to experience the relaxed mountain lifestyle but don't want to work outdoors. There are always office, retail, and restaurant gigs to choose from. Or, how about working in a spa? Sarah Komyate moved to Big Sky Resort in Montana a year ago to join an independent massage practice.
"When I finished massage school in Seattle," she says, "I found an ad looking for a massage therapist out here. I came on vacation in February 2007, interviewed, and moved out for the job last November."
Plenty of clients. Business really thrives in the winter because demand is high. "Our massage business has a location in the village, a room in one of the hotels, and we do a lot of outcalls to people's homes," Komyate says.
Back to nature. For most seasonal workers the greatest perk of working in a ski town is the natural beauty. "We get to live in a remote, very peaceful place in the world. We rarely drive on the freeway, there is wildlife all around us, and it's beautiful here," says Komyate. She adds that despite the increasingly high amount of clients and busy days on the job, "It's just a low-stress place. If you're looking for some peace, solitude, and a few good people then definitely [try working a season]."
Deep discounts. While working for an independent firm doesn't score you unbridled free access to the mountains, your employer may be able to afford you discount lift tickets. Komyate says, "I would rather work for a small business and make better money." Meanwhile, her employer is still able to afford her a sizable discount on a pass for the whole season: $500 off the retail price.
So, if you find yourself daydreaming of double black diamonds, apply now! Seasonal positions are already filling up for this winter. Just pick your favorite place -- Breckenridge, Jackson Hole, Alta, or Sugarbush -- and make your "working vacation" happen this year.
Considering the recent economic turbulence, you might have given up on a winter getaway this year. Who can afford the time off work, much less the high price of flights, hotels, and rental cars? Hang on, snow lover! There is a golden path to free lift tickets! Why not work for a season at your favorite ski resort?
Whether you'd like an easy job that lets you ski most days or you're actually looking for career advancement, there are plenty of options for getting away this winter without breaking the bank. Check out these two success stories for some inspiration.
Hard-Core Ski Nut
Does the sight of fresh powder sailing past your goggles make you come alive? Well, you should consider following the tracks of Jeremy Milo. A Stanford University grad planning to get an MBA, Milo decided to take a break before business school and work ski patrol at North Star ski resort near Lake Tahoe. Now working for Google, Milo wistfully recalls the joys and challenges he experienced during that awesome winter.
Great friends. Milo especially enjoyed the interesting folks he met from around the world. He says, "A lot of the people would be seasonal then go to South America or Australia to work during winter there. It was a very international crew."
Paid with perks. Just how much is that season's ski pass worth to you? Hopefully, a lot -- since you're unlikely to find a high-paying seasonal gig outside of waitressing and bartending. Milo recalls making barely more than $8/hour in 2001. But, for him, it wasn't about the paycheck; it was about more moguls. Plus, he says that resorts often work together so that you can ski for free on nearby mountains and trails. This is a great advantage, Milo says, because "sometimes skiing where you work is the last thing you want to do on your day off."
Physically demanding. Whether you drive a snow plow, stand at the lifts all day, or fit ski rentals, mountain gigs can be hard work for your body. If your current job has you sitting at a desk all day, some physical activity might come as a welcome relief. Ski patrol is an extreme example of that, says Milo: "You're an ambulance on skis out there. You feel like you worked hard at the end of day."
Spa Bunny
Maybe you'd like to experience the relaxed mountain lifestyle but don't want to work outdoors. There are always office, retail, and restaurant gigs to choose from. Or, how about working in a spa? Sarah Komyate moved to Big Sky Resort in Montana a year ago to join an independent massage practice.
"When I finished massage school in Seattle," she says, "I found an ad looking for a massage therapist out here. I came on vacation in February 2007, interviewed, and moved out for the job last November."
Plenty of clients. Business really thrives in the winter because demand is high. "Our massage business has a location in the village, a room in one of the hotels, and we do a lot of outcalls to people's homes," Komyate says.
Back to nature. For most seasonal workers the greatest perk of working in a ski town is the natural beauty. "We get to live in a remote, very peaceful place in the world. We rarely drive on the freeway, there is wildlife all around us, and it's beautiful here," says Komyate. She adds that despite the increasingly high amount of clients and busy days on the job, "It's just a low-stress place. If you're looking for some peace, solitude, and a few good people then definitely [try working a season]."
Deep discounts. While working for an independent firm doesn't score you unbridled free access to the mountains, your employer may be able to afford you discount lift tickets. Komyate says, "I would rather work for a small business and make better money." Meanwhile, her employer is still able to afford her a sizable discount on a pass for the whole season: $500 off the retail price.
So, if you find yourself daydreaming of double black diamonds, apply now! Seasonal positions are already filling up for this winter. Just pick your favorite place -- Breckenridge, Jackson Hole, Alta, or Sugarbush -- and make your "working vacation" happen this year.
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