Get your skis on
If you’re a ski buff and have a little bit of hospitality experience under your belt you might want to consider working a ski season in a lodge, hotel or chalet. As an EU passport holder, for
now you’ll find it easier to pick up opportunities across the Alps in France, Italy, Austria or Switzerland. If you’ve
already done a few seasons and can find a company to sponsor your visa there are often opportunities in North America, too. Competition is fierce, so it’s best to
get your applications in between May and July. But don’t panic, there are so many companies to choose from – Mark Warner, Scott Dunn Ski, Thomson
Ski, Crystal Holidays, Purpleski... the list goes on. Most packages include a wage,
season lift pass, food allowance, seasonal ski/board and boot hire and insurance (including off-piste cover). Some companies, such as Ski Verbier, throw in perks such as free lessons with instructors.
Case study
Rakhee Patel, people and talent manager, Dorchester Collection
You’ve travelled a lot with your job – talk us through it Over three years I gained work experience across the world, including as resort assistant manager trainee at Four Seasons Koh Samui in Thailand; front desk/reservations agent at Four Seasons Boston; food and beverage at Mandarin Oriental Macau; and housekeeping at Island Shangri-La in Hong Kong.
And then in the UK? I joined Dorchester Collection in 2012 and requested a career change to work in the human resources field at a corporate level, even though had never worked in HR before. I started as people and organisational development co-ordinator and rose to people and talent lead, attracting young individuals and raising their profiles in the industry.
What do you love about the industry? I am fascinated by the different cultures within hotels. I studied at the Oxford School of Hospitality Management and instantly loved the challenges it brought. I like being part of an industry where you get to make people feel happy.
● Be sure it’s what you want – disadvantages include the fact you can’t always get home to visit family.
● Look for an internship abroad. This is a great way to understand your field and to learn about different cultures.
● Take relevant training, particularly in people development areas. In many locations, expats are there to develop local talent.
● Volunteer for ‘task force’ secondments overseas to underline your interest in working abroad.
● Be systematic and set goals. Work for an international group where there are natural transfer opportunities globally.
● Use opportunities. Try to be the one who is willing to go to the training session, workshop, meeting, ceremony and free course. You will meet new people and your superiors will
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see how passionate you are to develop yourself.
● Network with expats within the company and attend hospitality trade shows, such as World Travel Market.
● Focus your CV on your suitability for an overseas position and tailor it for each regional opportunity.
● You may have to take a first position in a less attractive
Before you jet off...
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