The Beginners’ Career Guide to Ski Resort Work in Canada

A career at a ski resort in Canada offers an unparalleled blend of adventure, community, and professional development.

In this guide, we delve into the unique lifestyle of ski resort workers including the unique environments, types of roles and career growth opportunities and how to navigate the seasonal job market.

Finding work at a ski resort can be as exciting as the job itself. Let’s dive in!

Table of Contents

• The Experience
• Types of Roles
• The Incomparable Benefits
• Things to Consider When Applying
• Tips for Finding Work
• Using Evolia to Find Seasonal Work
• Other Resources

The Experience of a Ski Resort

As a young person working at a ski resort, you can expect a dynamic and engaging work environment. Much different than a typical retail storefront or fast-food experience.

Your days might be filled with interacting with guests from around the world, working in a range of weather and conditions, while juggling various responsibilities. The work can be demanding but equally rewarding.

And the perks of working at a ski resort are incomparable. Many ski resorts offer their staff free or discounted seasons passes, accommodations and benefits like healthcare and dental plans. It’s hard to compete when your office is a beautiful place to ski and you get access to it every single day.

The social aspect is also a highlight – expect to meet people with diverse backgrounds and stories. Because of the seasonality and type of work, ski resorts attract people who travel a lot, which can be enriching both personally and professionally.

Take a peek…Blue Mountain and their career page that explains the experience of ski resort work in Canada.

Types of Roles at Ski Resorts

Ski resorts can be fantastic places of employment as there is a diverse range of options and roles. There are so many more job types and career opportunities that go beyond the staff on the ski hills and runs. There is something for everyone, let’s explore.

1. Ski and Snowboard Instructors

If you want to be on the mountain all season and enjoy teaching, becoming a ski or snowboard instructor is the perfect position for you.

One thing to consider is these jobs typically require some sort of seniority at the mountain. Previous experience can get you there quicker but it’s usually a highly regarded and in-demand job given the benefits of skiing year round, while working.

Responsibilities: Ski and snowboard instructors are pivotal in ensuring a safe and enjoyable experience on the slopes. They teach various skill levels, from beginners to advanced, and tailor their instructions to individual needs. If you have a passion for teaching and helping people pick up the sport, and are more advanced, consider being a ski or snowboarding instructor.

Role Benefits: The biggest job benefit for this position is the ability to be on the mountain, skiing or snowboarding, and get paid to do it!

2. Culinary Staff: Chefs and Kitchen Workers

Not all jobs on the ski resort require you to work outside in the different conditions of the mountain.

If you have a love for food and cooking for others, being a chef in a ski resort can still afford you the same benefits of employment, without the need for your winter jacket all day.

There are various options, depending on the resort, too. This could include fine-dining restaurants, cafeteria style, breakfast/lunch bars, etc.

Responsibilities: The culinary team, including chefs and kitchen staff, plays a crucial role in delivering high-quality food services. They manage kitchen operations, ensure food safety standards, and provide a diverse culinary experience to guests.

Role Benefits: Culinary staff often have creative freedom in menu planning, opportunities for career growth in the culinary arts, and exposure to diverse cuisines and cooking techniques.

3. CAT Drivers and Grooming Specialists

If you have any experience operating heavy duty equipment, working the CAT is the perfect opportunity for you to expand your career and work at a ski resort. If you’re mechanically and scientifically minded, but don’t have previous experience, definitely consider this role. There are interesting job aspects that change based on weather and hill conditions.

Hill groomers usually have an early start, in order to get the hill ready for the ski day, or after the day has finished and before sun down. But these change by resort.

Responsibilities: CAT drivers and grooming specialists are responsible for maintaining the ski trails and ensuring they are safe and well-groomed. This involves operating heavy machinery and working in challenging weather conditions.

Role Benefits: These roles offer unique experiences in outdoor and heavy machinery operations, with a focus on safety and precision, and often come with competitive compensation due to the specialised skills required.

4. Accommodation and Hospitality Staff

This is another role, similar to the cook staff, where you don’t have to be out in the cold weather all season in order to grow your career and benefit from ski resort employment. These types of positions could include front reception for hotels or hostels, guest management services, cleaning services and other hospitality-based jobs.

Responsibilities: These teams ensure guests have a comfortable and pleasant stay. Responsibilities include managing reservations, providing customer service, and maintaining the cleanliness and readiness of accommodation facilities.

Role Benefits: Staff in these roles gain valuable experience in customer service and hotel management.

5. Lift Operators and Maintenance Crew

If you don’t have the passion for teaching but still want to interact with guests and play a role in hill operations, being a lift operator or maintenance crew could be the role for you.

“Lifties” as they’re also referred to is also a dynamic and changing job that requires you to be alert and on your feet most of the shift. Conditions change daily, so that could mean changing what lifts you operate, having different maintenance schedules for lifts, and even having a watchful eye so every guest has a smooth experience going up the hill.

The maintenance crew is often more specialised and paid high-level salaries for their specialisation in chair lift and gondola operations.

Responsibilities: Lift operators manage the ski lifts, ensuring the safety and efficiency of these vital transport systems. The maintenance crew handles the upkeep of resort facilities, addressing any repairs or technical issues.

Role Benefits: These roles provide practical experience in technical operations and maintenance, with a focus on safety and guest satisfaction.

6. Retail and Rental Staff

While these jobs responsibilities are very similar to other retail jobs in any city or town, you can still enjoy the perks of working at a ski resort.

Responsibilities: Staff in the resort’s retail outlets and rental centres assist guests with equipment rentals and purchases, offering advice on suitable gear and managing inventory.

Benefits: These positions offer insights into retail management and customer service, with additional perks like discounts on gear and apparel.

7. Ski Patrol

For those with a keen sense of responsibility and a passion for ensuring the safety of others, a role in Ski Patrol or “Patrollers” is an ideal fit. Ski Patrol members are the guardians of the ski slopes, ensuring that all guests have a safe and enjoyable experience.

Their job is dynamic and crucial, requiring them to be vigilant, quick-thinking, and ready to respond to any situation. Whether it’s providing first aid, rescuing injured skiers, or ensuring that the slopes are safe for everyone, Ski Patrol members are always on the move, adapting to the ever-changing conditions of the mountain.

The role of a Ski Patroller goes beyond just emergency response. They are also responsible for preventative measures, such as monitoring slope conditions, setting up safety signage, and even conducting avalanche control when necessary.

Responsibilities: Ski Patrol members are responsible for responding to emergencies on the slopes, providing first aid and rescue services, and ensuring overall slope safety. They also play a key role in preventative safety measures and educating skiers about safe practices on the mountain.

Role Benefits: This role offers the opportunity to develop and utilise a wide range of skills, from emergency medical response to ski and snowboard proficiency. It’s also deeply rewarding, like a nursing or medical staffing job, as Patrollers directly contribute to the safety and well-being of resort guests.

And many more…

There are so many other career and job types at a ski resort. The bigger they are, the larger the operations are, presenting more work opportunities.

Work Where and When You Want

If you’re ready to work on your terms, and find shifts that suit your life, head to Evolia’s Shifts Board, and start your journey toward a more flexible, fulfilling work life.

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The Incomparable Benefits of Working at a Ski Resort

There are so many benefits to working at a ski resort. While every place of employment is different, here are some of the main perks that you should look out for on your job hunt.

A Unique Chance Outside the Urban Jungle

It’s rare that you’ll find a job and career in a place that allows you to connect with nature on a daily basis. Breaking outside the regular retail work or urban centre jobs can be a wonderful experience. A unique opportunity to explore a different side of work and live the lifestyle of a mountain town resident.

Ski and Stay for Free!

Many ski resorts offer their employees free or deeply discounted season ski passes, so there is no issue with getting in some laps on the hill before or after your shifts.

Ski resorts are also often located outside main urban centres and cities, so there is usually limited accommodations for employees. Because of this, it’s quite typical to see a ski resort employer provide living accommodations as part of employment or provide additional subsidies for accommodation. They understand the higher cost of living in resort towns and the need for you to live close to work, so it’s another major benefit.

For example, Vail Resorts provides information on employee housing for certain resorts and how to secure employee housing.

Endless Discounts

Ski resorts know that in order to recruit you and keep you happy, there needs to be rewards and perks to being an employee, beyond what other employers can provide. That’s why there are almost endless discounts and perks when you work for the right ski resort.

These benefits could include:

• Childcare;
• Gym passes;
• Discounted fitness wear;
• Discounted ski & snowboard equipment;
• Spa discounts;

And more…

A great example of extensive discounts and benefits of employment is Jay Peak Resort. On their employment page, they have tons of discounts and perks for their employees! Here is a snapshot of a few of them:

Healthcare Benefits

Healthcare benefits are another major perk to working at a ski resort. It’s now quite common for ski resort employers to offer comprehensive benefits while you’re working on the hill.

In some cases, resorts may also offer year round benefits coverage, to help you when ski season is over and get you through the next year. It’s often used as a recruitment tool to help keep their seasonal workers for the following year, so definitely look into that if you’re applying.

See it for real

This promotional video of SilverStar Resort showcases some of the great benefits and lifestyle choices that employees look for in a ski resort.

Things to Consider When Applying to Ski Resorts

Applying for a position at a ski resort is an exciting opportunity, but there are several important factors to consider to ensure that you find a role that is both enjoyable and beneficial for your career and lifestyle. Here are key aspects to keep in mind.

Accommodation & Benefits Arrangements

If you have the option to apply for several different ski resorts, make a comparison checklist or chart for all the benefits and additions you could receive. This would include many of the benefits we reviewed like accommodations, healthcare, childcare, ski passes, and more.

Position, Career Growth and Pay

Depending on the ski resort and position, there could be a myriad of factors to consider with career growth. For example, if it’s a small local mountain resort, career growth could look like starting in the ski rental shop and working your way up to Resort Manager.

For a larger, world renowned resort, career growth will be much deeper for the different roles. For example, starting as a cashier in retail could be the start to a career leading to Head of Retail Business for the resort. Understanding how your career could change will help you find the right resort to work for.

Location and Accessibility

Consider the resort’s location and its accessibility, especially if you don’t have your own transport. Some resorts might be located in remote areas that are challenging to reach.

Assess the local amenities and lifestyle. The location of the resort can significantly impact your daily life outside of work hours.

Contract Length and Seasonal Commitments

Understand the duration of the contract and any commitments required, especially for seasonal work which might only be for a few months. Consider the stability and security of the role, especially if you are seeking long-term employment. Does it provide summer employment opportunities or year-round benefits? Things to consider…

Recommended Reading: Work Where and When You Want With Evolia

Tips for Finding Work

So now that you know about the many unique and different career paths for working at a ski resort, as well as the amazing benefits, it’s time to help you find a ski resort job in Canada. Before we give you step by step instructions on the job search, here are some tips to consider:

Understand Seasonal Timelines

Ski resorts primarily operate in the winter, so start your job search a few months before the season begins. If you’re reading this in December, don’t worry, there is still time to get a job. Many resorts will still have positions open, so don’t wait.

Keep in mind that some resorts also offer summer activities, providing year-round employment opportunities, too. The sweet spot to apply for seasonal work will be in September or October for winter jobs and in April and May for the summer jobs.

Take Time to Consider Different Roles

While we did go over the jobs and types of roles, it’s important you actually spend time considering your strengths and weaknesses, how you see your career trajectory and what you love doing.

In many cases, you may end up in a role that allows you to explore other opportunities, so come next season you’re able to have a better understanding of the new position or change you want.

Use Evolia or Resort Websites

There are two great options for finding work at a ski resort:

1. Evolia’s shift map, or
2. Resort career sites.

Many ski resorts have job portals that they post on their site, so check your local mountain to see what they have available.

Another great industry resource is Canada West Ski Areas Association (CWSA). They have a dedicated careers and jobs page that many different ski resorts use to find seasonal workers.

If that’s not enough and you want to expand your job search, follow the next steps for searching on Evolia.

Using Evolia to Find Shift Work / Seasonal Work at a Ski Resort

Evolia has a new platform for people looking for flexible work and it simplifies every step of finding a shift or seasonal work. Follow these three steps:

Step 1: Create Your Profile on Evolia

Sign up and create a detailed profile, highlighting your skills, experience, and preferred roles. The great thing, you only need to do this once. Gone are the days of filling out hundreds of boxes that list the same experiences as your resume.

Step 2: Explore Opportunities and Apply

Use Evolia’s search tools to filter and find job listings that match your skills and preferences at various ski resorts. Apply directly through the platform, ensuring your application is targeted and relevant to the positions you’re interested in.

Step 3: Apply in a click of a button

Avoid the annoying process of filing out hundreds of information boxes on various application sites. No need to input your resume into a job portal 3 times to apply for a single position. Sound familiar?

With Evolia, once you create your account, upload your resume, provide any other relevant information and submit your application. Easy.

Step 4: Track Your Applications

Keep an eye on all your applications in one central location. This feature is particularly useful when applying to multiple shifts, ensuring you stay organized and informed about your job-seeking journey.

Other Resources for Working at a Ski Resort

A great resource for Canadians is The Canadian Ski Areas Association (CWSAA). The CWSAA is a not-for-profit trade association that represents the Ski Areas of Western Canada. You can find jobs listed from various resorts here, too.

Evolia is a proud partner of the CWSAA.

Ready to Find Your First or Next Ski Resort Opportunity?

Finding your next shift has never been easier. With Evolia, simply check out the flexible job board and find out what shifts are available that you’d like to pick up.

To begin, head over the live shift board to see what available shifts are near you. Once you’ve found some shifts you’d like to pick-up and work, create a free Evolia account so you can apply.

Once the account is created, you’re ready to showcase your awesome skill sets and show interest for a shift. From there, the employer will see your interest and will invite you to work that shift if your skill set fits what they are looking for.

And, that’s it! We wish you the best of luck in your potential career at a ski resort!

Find shifts and work now.

Work Where and When You Want

If you’re ready to work on your terms, and find shifts that suit your life, head to Evolia’s Shifts Board, and start your journey toward a more flexible, fulfilling work life.

Get Started FREE