Seasonal work during your gap year
Gap year jobs in ski resorts
Ski resorts are always looking for new recruits and experienced skiers and snowboarders could find work as instructors in Europe, North America or New Zealand. If you’re not yet that good, you can work in hospitality and enjoy the piste in your spare time.
Find out about training and working as a ski or snowboard instructor with Base Camp Group, Ski le Gap or Nonstop Ski.
Chalets require trained chefs, so many companies run courses, for a few hundred pounds, and may guarantee a job on completion. Wages vary – some employers pay little but include lift passes, equipment hire, and even travel from the UK; others have higher hourly rates but you have to pay for the extras. You can explore ski jobs and other seasonal gap year opportunities through Natives and the Overseas Job Centre
Work in a holiday resort during your gap year
Tourism offers plenty of seasonal job opportunities for gap year travellers, as tour operators need workers of all sorts to ensure their customers have a good holiday. If you’re taken on as a tour rep, you’ll have lots of direct contact with holiday-makers, so you’ll need a cheerful temperament – be prepared to smile until your face aches!
Alternatively, there are other hospitality opportunities behind the scenes. Tourist jobs don’t always pay well, but you do get to spend months in the sun, usually with a very active social life. You’ll probably have free accommodation and food, and the tour operator may pay for your travel.
There are also all sorts of sports-related opportunities in tourism. Jobs include sailing, surfing and scuba diving instruction. You will need a qualification before you go, and courses aren’t exactly cheap. It’s possible to train abroad, but you might end up spending the first few months after graduation working your socks off to pay for your training and travel.
- Explore gap year jobs at sports camps and summer camps
- Find out about gap year sports projects for international volunteers
Gap year jobs on sailing yachts and cruise ships
Sailing yachts often need crew – though many positions are unpaid, they do provide food and the opportunity to travel. Without experience, you’re likely to end up as a deckhand. Cruise ships and motor yachts are in a different league, catering to wealthy clients and requiring all the hospitality staff you’d expect in a hotel. Working conditions can be harsh, but you may be richly rewarded. Some positions are advertised online, but you’re likely to have to be at a port for an interview. Major cruise ports such as Antibes have agencies, or you may be able to find a job just by asking on the quays.