Working as a ski representative was, to put it simply, the best experience I have ever had. To wake up in the morning, see fresh snow has fallen overnight and know you will be able to get out on the piste is an incredible feeling that repeats itself, daily, for 6 months! If you’re going to work a season, you do it for the experience and because you have a passion for skiing or boarding. Working in resort may not mean bringing in a huge wage but it’s something you will never forget and it also looks great on your CV! I made friends for life in resort and along with this I learnt so much about the French language and culture. Of course my skiing skills aren’t too shabby now either!
Being a ski rep isn’t all fun and games though; it’s hard work. The rep’s core hours are breakfast; 8-10am; dinner; 5-7pm and après; 7-9pm. However reps will need to be available at all hours of the day. If an injured guest arrives at the hotel at midday, it is the rep’s job to take them to the medical centre and communicate the problem between the guest and medical staff. Having at least a basic knowledge of French is therefore generally desirable for this role. In addition, following injuries and medical centre visits, the rep will be in charge of paperwork and insurance claims. You will also be in charge of the sale and provision of lift passes which, for obvious reasons, is hugely important to your guests.
One of the most fun and interactive parts of this job is planning and running après activities. These can vary from karaoke and discos to ice skating, igloo building and bumboarding followed by delicious hot chocolates all round. Après activity plans change weekly and reps are required to plan these events with teachers at the beginning of each stay and they will then have to run the events, often with help from the ski technician. Reps will ideally have some sales experience as they will need to try and reach and exceed targets by promoting après activities and helping to sell extras such as ski upgrades. Après evenings aim to ensure the guests have fun after skiing but they’re also an opportunity to help some of the quieter members of the group come out of their shell and gain confidence throughout the week.
Transfer day is also an important part of the rep role. You will be the first face of the company that guests will see so you will need to make a great first impression by being smiley, chatty and willing to help. Reps will need to provide an informative, professional transfer to and from the airport on a weekly basis. This could involve telling the guests about the ski area and lift system or the resort itself and providing information about buying or upgrading ski packs or extras such as ‘afternoon tea and cake’ for the week. Transfers are a great time to get to know the groups you will be working with for the week and to answer any questions guests may have before arriving in resort.
There are many other responsibilities involved when employed in the position of a ski rep, including filling out reports and completing health and safety audits, as well as constantly liaising with the hotel manager and assisting the ski technician with ski fits and returns throughout the week. As you can see the role of a rep is varied and certainly not 9-5, but it’s extremely rewarding and great fun.
"Working as a ski representative was, to put it simply, the best experience I have ever had!"
There are so many fantastic benefits of being a ski rep. Firstly, during the week it is likely that you will get more than enough ski time and you will probably be fortunate enough to ski (or board!) more than a lot of other job roles would allow. In addition to this you are the main face of the company for the guest’s stay and this gives a great feeling of satisfaction in knowing that you have made someone’s holiday memorable. When working a ski season you will also get the benefits of accommodation, meals, ski pass, equipment hire and insurance, among other benefits. Of course a major plus point is simply having the opportunity to live and work in such stunning resorts and to be able to look out of the window every single day and not see grey skies and traffic, but children laughing and building snowmen and ski instructors getting their groups ready for the day of skiing ahead. Last but certainly not least, any ski resort job is a great boost to your CV; it shows that you were committed to working long hours in foreign surroundings and with a huge variety of people.
Of course, like any other job, the role has its disadvantages too. Dealing with complaints is not fun. There will be times in the hotel when someone will come up to you complaining about something you have no control over, for example the ski conditions, and you have to be extremely professional and take the blame, regardless of whether or not the situation could have been altered. You will also have a significant amount of paperwork to do and if you do not keep on top of it you will end up having to spend several days trying to clear it all. This obviously means losing valuable mountain time!
To be a great ski rep you need to have fantastic people skills. 90% of your time at work will be spent with guests meaning you will need to have a warm and friendly personality; guests will bounce off of your positive attitude and this will provide them will what we hope will be the holiday of their lives! In addition to this, a background in a hospitality or sales environment will be beneficial due to the nature of the job and the key responsibilities. You will need to be committed and flexible and you will often be required to work alone so having experience of independent work would also be a great boost to your application. You will need to have a calm and professional manner and will also need to be aware of all health and safety regulations as soon as you arrive in resort.
The only advice I can give to those wanting to apply for ski rep positions is to make sure you research the job and know what will be required of you before you attend interviews. It is great fun and if you have a passion for snow sports then you will be in your element, but be prepared for hard work and long hours. As the saying goes ‘Work Hard, Play Hard!’
"It's great fun and if you have a passion for snow sports then you will be in your element..."
Written by Ami Fellows from SkiBound. SkiBound specialise in group travel and operate school ski tours. They recruit Ski Reps evey year to work in their ClubHotels in the French Alps.