So you want to work at a winter resort in Canada, but don’t know much about what kind of jobs are available. Let us give you a brief overview of some of the roles available at Canadian ski resorts as we list some of the pros and cons that come with each role. Hopefully this will help you make an informed decision for when you are selecting your jobs for the Work Canada Winter Jobs program.

 

Types of Jobs at Canadian Jobs

 

Rental Shop

 

Organising/fitting boots/skis/boards for customers. This is a popular job for a couple of key reasons!

 

Pros

  • It’s social; you’re indoors all day interacting with customers and other team members, unlike lift ops where you could be working solo.
  • Ride breaks; who doesn’t want to do some turns on their breaks? When it is slow you typically get to ride

Cons

  • It’s repetitive – sorting and sizing equipment

Lift Operator

 

Greeting all customers and ensuring they safely get on the lifts.

 

Pros

  • Great vibe; it always seems like the lift ops team is having a great time at work having a chat with the guests
  • Ride Breaks; quality runs on your breaks since you are already up the mountain!
  • Fresh tracks; this is what ski bums dream of and working lift ops allows you to be first up the mountain in the morning

Cons

  • Shovelling snow; a major part of your role is keeping the ramps smooth for guests. It may be a novelty at first, but you will quickly see why most Canadians dislike this winter job
  • It’s cold; yah, this should be obvious… it’s a Canadian ski resort, but some don’t realise how cold it gets. Be sure to check that out before you apply for this role.

On Mountain Food & Beverage

 

Feeding and caffeinating the masses as they come off the mountain to re-energize themselves for more runs. Typically there are a lot of these roles available at the resort, so they are definitely worth a look when selecting your job.

 

Pros

  • Team environment; you work with the same people so you develop a ‘work family’ which is nice when so far away from home
  • It’s warm; you’re working indoors and don’t have to battle the snow and the wind chill
  • Free food; A definite perk of this role is the free or discounted meals!

Cons

  • Fewer ride breaks than other roles (lift ops), but it is possible when slow

Bars & Restaurants

 

Pulling pints, taking food orders and delivering food… all with a smile and a bit of personality. These roles are very popular and competitive to get.

 

Pros

  • Tips; Canada is a tipping culture, so with some good customer service and your lovely accent you tend to do quite well
  • Nightshifts: Most shifts are in the evening allowing you time to ride during the day!

Cons

  • High pressure: You will constantly be serving people, and it must be done at a very high level of customer service.
  • Experience required: Serving jobs require more experience in Canada than they do in Australia or New Zealand. Generally if you have less than a few years of experience you’ll be starting out as a busser or runner, not a server.

Retail Shops

 

Selling the latest gear and kit to resort customers, plus stocking the store and keeping things tidy! This is a great indoor role.

Pros

  • Discounts; you will access discounts on gear, which is always good! Plus you will be up to date on the latest kit & gear!
  • Fun; retail tends to be a fun and team oriented department which makes it a very popular choice amongst participants

Cons

  • Fewer ride breaks; you’re typically busy all day, so it is harder to get out for a run on your break

 

Guest Services

 

You will be dealing with loads of customers face to face, selling tickets and answering any enquiry. Another very popular resort job.

Pros

  • Interaction with guests; you’re chatting to guests, selling tickets, answering questions…it’s a very social position
  • Indoors; if you don’t like the cold, this is a great indoors option

Cons

  • Crazy customers; you know the ones, irrational/angry because there was no fresh powder falling from the skies overnight… as if you control Mother Nature.

 

Night Cleaner/housekeeper

 

Don’t knock cleaning… this is a great winter resort job!

Pros

  • Out of the elements; you’re indoors and it’s warm! This is a huge perk when it’s – 20
  • Chill; In general this role is not too taxing as you are typically making beds and organising the room
  • Less facetime; you’re not really dealing with customers face to face that often so you can put your headphones in and get the job done. Great if you are not keen on people, or looking for a low-pressure role
  • Lost & found; generally you get dibs on stuff that you find if it’s not claimed by the owner

Cons

  • Fewer ride breaks; you’re indoors so you won’t get as many ride breaks compared to lift ops

 

Ski & Snowboard Instructor

 

Teaching people how to shred the gnar… typically teaching kids how to get down the kiddie slopes safely.

Pros

  • Ride time; you’re on the mountain every day! When there’s powder you’re taking advantage of it.
  • Tips; a good instructor can do very well with tips!
  • Career potential – if you’re motivated to move up to Level 2 or 3 instructing you can be hired by resorts all over the world

Cons

  • Hierarchical; return instructors get precedence over new instructors, so filling your day can be difficult
  • Low wages; as a new instructor you won’t get many hours or make a lot of money so you may have to take extra jobs to cover expenses

 

Want a ski job in Canada?

 

If you are interested in securing a ski resort job in Canada apply for Work Canada Winter Jobs today! IEP’s Work Canada Winter Jobs program pre arranges an amazing ski resort job all before you leave Australia or your money back! Not only do you get a job in Canada but we assist with getting the working holiday visa for Canada, tax numbers, bank accounts and you get some sweet perks like free ski pass, staff accommodation, resort discounts and more!

We work with some of Canada biggest and best winter resorts! You can check out what jobs our resort offer by visiting our Winter Employers page here.

For only a $295 deposit you can secure your spot on the program. Don’t wait too long as this program always sells out. Learn how to apply here. 

 

Questions

 

If you have questions about your Canadian adventure come to one of our free info session to learn more.

Can’t make it – no worries – request a call back here – email us here.