Looking for a Job in the Snowsports World...

[NMU Alpine Boarder]

So, long story short:

I graduated in May with my degree in Entertainment and Sports Promotions... Since then, it's been a rough go for me in the resume/job application game... Luckily, I was able to fall back onto my usual Summer job and earn enough to get by while looking for something permanent... With that job coming to an end, I'm once again looking for something to pay the bills... This got me thinking about maybe trying to get a foot in the door in the snowboard/ski world...

I know many of you guys and gals are currently involved in this type of career, so if you don't mind, I would like to get any input you would be willing to share.

Is there anything I can expect to find in the snowsports industry dealing in Marketing/PR? If so, where can I find these job postings? I know someone has to be promoting all of these competitions that happen, I just haven't come across very many on job boards I have been looking at that cater to the stick and ball sports...

Also, for more of a temporary job, I have given thought to trying to get an instructing job at one of the hills here in the MidWest... What is the best way to go about getting my foot in that door? Do I need AASI Certification before I get considered, or is that something that you can get down the road? I really am thinking that this might be the more fun option for me if I can't get something permanent locked down by October or so...

Basically, I am a kid just out of college who is trying to deal with a down economy :(

Thanks for your input

[spil]

I don't work in the industry, but I know of this website, which has classifieds for jobs and probably some other information that could be helpful to you.

[boostertwo]

...Is there anything I can expect to find in the snowsports industry dealing in Marketing/PR?

Most ski areas have marketing departments. Contact them directly. A good resource is the White Book of Ski Areas, which lists details and contact info for key depts. at each ski area in N. America. You can get a copy through the interlibrary loan program at your public/university library, or by contacting NSAA.

...I have given thought to trying to get an instructing job at one of the hills here in the MidWest... What is the best way to go about getting my foot in that door? Do I need AASI Certification before I get considered, or is that something that you can get down the road?

Certification isn't necessary, but can help you to pull a higher wage and have higher priority for lesson assignments. Most areas hire inexperienced instructors with good communication and interpersonal skills.

Teaching can also help get you foot in the door for a marketing/PR position.

<img src="http://i37.tinypic.com/2cy0ch3.jpg" border="0" alt="Callan Chythlook-Sifsof, A-Basin, CO.">

FWIW, you might consider working at a powder/carving heaven (the same place where you'd book a vacation)--because that's where you'll be living, working, and riding.

Good luck,

B-2

[carvedog]

Good thoughts from B2 as usual.

I was thinking some of the same things.

Here in Sun Valley we have the 48Straight thing that is going on. Some other big events too.

Also think of ski town chamber of commerce contacts. Google chamber in whatever town you want. They are always throwing events of one kind or another.

Put in a year or two in your dream town, work it and you will make your way.

For instructing here cert isn't mandatory at all. If you have one you can almost guarantee a job if you aren't a complete a$$ during the hiring clinic.

Almost everyone who has skills of some kind gets hired.

You pay your dues in ski school too. The folks with the initiative to have cards made, work the shops, build your own clientele etc can work up to almost all request privates the first year. This will happen from your ability to keep it fun ( and safe) more than any certs or a tremenduous amount of experience.

Pm me - I might have some contacts for you.

[NMU Alpine Boarder]

Thanks for the replies guys... The info got me looking into things I never would have considered... I honestly never thought you would get solid consideration out west without any significant teaching experience/certs (I guess that's just me being an uneducated, midwestern rider )... I might seriously consider making the move out west and trying to be a snow bum this winter with the economy sucking so much here in the Chicago area...

As I look deeper into this, some other (and probably noobie-ish) questions have come up:

- It seems like resorts hire many people that come from out of town based on how they offer housing and such... Will resorts hire based off of my resume + phone interviews or would I have to plan on attending one of these clinics that they offer just before the season?

- With multiple ski resorts being owned by the same companies, should I apply at each individual resort? I'm assuming that each resort would be independent when hiring staff like this... I just don't want to tick off someone at say Intrawest by sending the same person the same application 3 or 4 times...

I know these probably seem like questions that seem very noobie like and make me sound pretty uneducated on the subject of snowboarding... I've just never had the time/money to make it out west, so I'm not sure how things work compared to what we have here in the Midwest... I just want to make sure I have all my ducks in a row if I consider this as a viable option.... Y'all are a great resource, and I appreciate all of the info I have been able to gather off of Bomber over the years.... Thank you very much...

Derek K.

[boostertwo]

...Will resorts hire based off of my resume + phone interviews or would I have to plan on attending one of these clinics that they offer just before the season?

Hey Derek,

I can't speak for all resorts, but at the ones where I've worked resume/phone interviews might be used for international staff or folks from away w/ high qualifications (I'm assuming you're asking about teaching, not marketing/PR). If you're new to snowboard instructing, you'll likely need to participate in a hiring clinic. As Carvedog said, if you present yourself well and have good interpersonal, leadership, and communication skills you might likely receive a job offer. Not surprisingly, most areas don't weight riding skills as heavily as people skills--the reason being that they can almost always help a less-skilled rider develop their snowboarding/skiing skills, rather than to help someone with hot feet to develop strong interpersonal skills.

...With multiple ski resorts being owned by the same companies, should I apply at each individual resort? I'm assuming that each resort would be independent when hiring staff like this... I just don't want to tick off someone at say Intrawest by sending the same person the same application 3 or 4 times...

I suggest contacting each individual area directly with employment queries. They will not flip out if you are checking out other areas (it is, after all, a good job search strategy).

<img src="http://i38.tinypic.com/3450chh.jpg" border="0" alt="Luke Wynen, PA Roll, Mammoth Mt. CA.">

In my experience, the best approach is to find out who is responsible for hiring in the snowboard school and contact that person directly (do not go through the HR dept.) It it were me, I'd take the same approach if I were applying for a marketing/PR position. For instructing, you can find some areas that might be hiring and appropriate contacts here (click on the division where you might want to work and search employment).

Hope this helps.

Good luck,

B-2

[EnisiWaya]

Derek after 42 years in snow sports business I would say presenting your self as a professional, or in your case as a professional in process is of the utmost importance. Most mt managers and marketing managers either hold teaching/coaching certification or held it in the past. Many a time in Colorado, and especially here in New England have I seen several unexpected bus groups show up. In these cases it was all hands on deck to teach lessons, including upper management.

Join AASI NOW

http://www.aasi.org/01/home/Benefits_Of_Membership.asp

I do not know if they still have the affiliate (non certified ) membership level.

Most folks go to a Level one clinic as they join. In your case you could join and register for an early season level one in the area of the country you want to go to. If you get hired elsewhere you will have time by nov-dec to change your level one clinic location.

By joining and registering for your level 1 now you accomplish the following:

1) you have proven that you are serious and and plan a professional career in the industry.

2) you can then order all the teaching manuals and videos to study now and be totally up to date and in step with current teaching models and progressions. You CAN dry land practice most of the level one and two material for certification exams. This professional attitude and commitment can in many case get you hired without waiting for a hiring clinic. I myself have many times in the past hired instructors who were certified or in progress of becoming certified pre-season start.

3) You will probably be able to purchase PSIA/ASSI gear and receive significant discounts on pro form for equipment purchases.

4) through the AASI PSIA website you will be able to access extensive info about the National Ski Areas Association.

www.nsaa.org,

Maybe even who to contact at specific areas.

If you want to go to Colorado talk to Rocky MT division of AASI.

Then I would recommend contacting the smaller areas that still need full time personnel. I taught at Eldora while attending CSU Fort Collins. The cost of fuel has already started a trend in skier/rider visits towards the smaller more local areas.

hope this helps

Grandfather Wolf

also know as "Dances With Trees" by my scout groups.

[EnisiWaya]

One year I hired a guy from CT that worked at a marina in the summer. He had grown up before college working to help his dad in dad's landscaping business. put him together with our head of maintenance and he spent the fall helping to clear brush and prepare the trails and lift and snow making equipment.

Just a thought

Grandfather Wolf

[skipuppy]

You could try to work for redbull too. They put on huge events including in Brazil during the summer. I'm in a similar position as you but I will probably ski bum in Lake Tahoe this winter and bartend until then.