October 9, 2009

Ski resorts hold job fairs for upcoming season

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Gaze at almost any horizon in Seattle this weekend and, with the exception of Mt. Rainier, you will be hard pressed to find a single snowflake on the local mountain ranges. It doesn't exactly get you jazzed about hitting the slopes anytime soon.

But while the ski runs are still grassy meadows in early October, this is the month when the major resorts will lock in all of their employment spots for the 2009/10 ski season. Kari Quaas, community manager for Cool Works, an online clearinghouse for seasonal job listings at resorts and national parks, says she is currently seeing an increase in ski resort jobs up and down the West Coast, including Western Washington.

In fact, those job seekers who are hoping to spend at least part of this winter working at a resort need to jump into those ski pants and start filling in applications ASAP. As of today, the Mission Ridge resort near Wenatchee already says that there are no jobs currently available.

However, there is still time for powder-happy applicants to be part of the ski-bum scene, as several nearby resorts are currently taking applications and will be holding job fairs in the coming days and weeks. Here's a quick rundown:

White Pass Ski Resort, near Mt. Rainier, will hold a Job Fair tomorrow, Sat., Oct. 10, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the White Pass Day Lodge. The resort currently has openings for food and beverage service; ski and snowboard instruction; lift operations; ticketing; rental services; and custodial/maintenance. If you cannot make the Job Fair, the resort is still taking applications via its Web site.

Mt. Baker Ski Area is still accepting applications for various rental, retail, repair, custodial and instruction positions for the upcoming season. To apply, register at the resort's Web site, fill in the general application, list your job preferences and complete the department questionnaire. Deadlines for the applications are Mon., Oct. 12, for rental, retail or repair jobs; Tues., Oct. 13, for custodial jobs; and Thurs., Oct. 15, for ski instruction. Interviews will be held a few days after each deadline.

The Summit at Snoqualmie recently posted more than 40 seasonal positions, ranging from instructors to lift operators to human resources personnel. The resort is taking applications online, but is also holding two Job Fairs at the Summit West headquarters next Sat., Oct. 17, from noon to 4 p.m., and the following Wed., Oct. 21, from 3 to 7 p.m.

Crystal Mountain, a few miles southeast of Enumclaw, will hold a Winter Job Fair for the resort on Sat., Oct. 24, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., for a wide range of jobs, including restaurant managers, cooks, dishwashers, servers, bartenders, cashiers, road maintenance crews, drivers, sales clerks, lift operators, instructors, equipment technicians and more. For more details on registering online, see the application page.

Stevens Pass will also hold two Job Fairs for the ski season: one on Sat., Oct. 24 at the Sky Valley Inn in Monroe, and another on Sun., Oct. 25, at the resort's Granite Peaks Lodge. Both fairs will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and will provide information on dozens of full- and part-time seasonal jobs. For details on how to register for jobs online, visits the resort's application page.

Randy Woods writes about job-search tools, networking techniques and other tips to help you land your dream job.

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