It may seem silly to think about ski season in the heart of a sweltering summer, but not if you’re looking for one of the greatest jobs a young person can have.
Sunshine Village is officially accepting resumes for the upcoming snow season, which will kick off Nov. 11, weather permitting. The resort is looking to fill 450-500 positions, most of them full-time throughout the seven-month season.
Alison Anderson, manager of Human Resources for Sunshine, says these “front-line”, customer service positions include lift operators, gondola staff, guest services agents, hotel staff, food-and-beverage employees, cooks, services and ski instructors.
In keeping with the resort’s reputation for providing outstanding customer service, Sunshine will be looking for upbeat individuals, who are eager to please the customer. Anderson says previous customer service experience will be a definite asset for would-be Sunshine employees.
Working at a snow resort like Sunshine comes with an incredible list of side-benefits. Many young people say their year at Sunshine will stay in their memories for the rest of their lives. And, many of the friendships last a lifetime, too.
Staff who work at Sunshine have the benefit of free skiing or snowboarding at the resort, including first access to the mountain on those big powder days. A series of reciprocal agreements with other area resorts ensure staff can ski free at those resorts, or at a deep discount. In addition, friends and family of staff are entitled to discounts on their Sunshine Village lift tickets. Pay is consistent with rates in the ski industry.
Special trips, including day and overnight trips to other resorts, are a regular occurrence, as are other staff activities, like trips to see the Calgary Flames play hockey or ice-fishing excursions. Some of Sunshine’s most outstanding staff members are honoured at monthly employee-of-the-month dinners, as well.
About 180 employees stay on the mountain, in staff accommodation priced well below market rates. There is also room for about 60 more employees in the staff accommodation units at the Fairmont Banff Springs hotel, and at a hostel in that world-famous mountain town.
Anderson says that typically about 40 per cent of seasonal employees come from Alberta and the rest of North America. Others are hired from around the world, including the U.K., Australia and New Zealand.
If you’re interest in learning more, check out the current vacancies at: http://www.skibanff.com/employment/working_at_sunshine.php , the employment page of skibanff.com. You can find a link there to submit your resume, plus lots of other helpful information. The Ski Hub, in Banff, will also be accepting resumes in person in late August. And there will be a hiring fair in Banff on Oct. 13.
Have the winter season of your life, working for the team that has made Sunshine Village Alberta’s favourite ski resort.
